A little time will melt her frozen thoughts, How now, Sir Proteus? Is your countryman, Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. (For thou hast shown much sign of good desert), Makes me the readier to confer with thee. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your trust, Let me not live to look upon your grace. Duke. Thou know'st how willingly I would effect ́ The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord. Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant Pro. She did, my lord, while Valentine was here. Duke. Ay, but she'll think, that it is spoke in hate. Therefore it must, with circumstance, be spoken Duke. Then you, Sir Proteus, must undertake it. Especially against his very friend. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him, Your slander never can endamage him; Therefore, the office is indifferent, Being entreated to it by your friend. Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it, She shall not long hold out affection to him: But, for this purpose, I must have access To Silvia; who, if my advice may sway you, Should straight be enfranchis'd from her close confine ment: For 'tis a verity of daily proof, That love in youthful hearts takes fastest root, Yet, say that this estrange her heart from Valentine, Thu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, You must provide to bottom it on me : Which must be done, by praising me as much As you in worth dispraise Sir Valentine. Duke. Good Proteus, you are fram'd for this employ ; For well we know, on Valentine's report, You are already love's firm votary; Therefore most fit to plead Sir Thurio's suit. Her limit of confine we will extend, And on our warrant shall you have access, And, for your friend's sake, will be glad of you : Duke. Ay, much the force of heaven-bred poesy. I can write sonnets, sir, and set them too; Pro. Say, that upon the altar of her beauty For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews; Forsake unsounded deeps, to dance on sands :- Visit by night your lady's chamber-window Will well become such sweet complaining grievance: Duke. This discipline shows thou hast been in love. Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in practice; Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, Let us into the city presently, To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music; To give the onset to thy good advice. Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. [Crosses, c.] We'll wait upon your grace till after supper; And afterwards determine our proecedings. Duke. Even now about it; I will pardon you. [Exeunt Duke, R., Thurio and Proteus, L. END OF ACT III. ACT IV. SCENE I.-A Garden, and Silvia's Apartments in the Duke's Palace, in Milan.-Stage rather dark. Enter PROTEUS, L. U. E. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; [Thurio and Musicians without, L. v. E. Thu. This way, this way; follow me. Pro. But here comes Thurio :-now must we to her window, And give some early music to her ear. Enter THURIO and Musicians, L. U. E. Thu. How now, Sir Proteus? Are you crept before us? Thu. Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here. Pro. Ay, Silvia,-for your sake. Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Let's tune, and to it lustily awhile. Enter, at a distance, Host, and JULIA in boy's clothes, L. U E. Host. Now, my young guest! methinks, you're allycholly: I pray you, why is it? Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry. Host. Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that you asked for. Jul. But shall I hear him speak? Jul. That will be music. Host. Hark! hark! Jul. Is he among these? Host. Ay but peace,-let's hear 'em. QUINTETTO. Who is Silvia? What is she, [Music plays. That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair, and wise is she; The heavens such grace did lend her, Is she kind, as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness: To help him of his blindness; Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; Host. How now? You are sadder than you were before. How do you, man? the music likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not. Host. Why, my pretty youth? Jul. He plays false, father. Host. How? out of tune on the strings? Jul. Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart strings. Host. I perceive you delight not in music. Jul. Not a whit, when it jars so. [Proteus and Thurio take leave of each other, L. Peace! stand aside! the company parts. [Julia and Host retire (L.)—the Host sits down, and presently falls asleep. Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you! I will so plead, That you shall say my cunning drift excels. Thu. Where meet we? Pro. At Saint Gregory's fount. Thu. Farewell.-Come, friend. [Exeunt Thurio and Musicians, L. U. E. SILVIA appears above, at a Balcony, R. Sil. I thank you for your music, gentlemen. Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth, You'd quickly learn to know him by his voice. Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it. Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant. Pro. That I may compass yours. Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this, That presently you hie you home to bed. [Going, R. Pro. O, lovely Silvia, by yon chaste-eyed moon,Sil. Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man! Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless, To be seduced by thy false flatteries, That hast deceived so many with thy oaths ? Return, return, and make thy love amends. For me-by this pale queen of night I swear, I am so far from granting thy request, That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit; And, by and by, intend to chide myself, Even for this time I spend in talking to thee. Pro. I grant, sweet Silvia, I did woo a lady; But she is dead. |