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the thing you wot of. He makes me no more | A fox, to be shepherd of thy lambs; ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him many masters would do this for their servant? That with his very heart despiseth me? Nay, I'll be sworn, I have sat in the stocks for Because he loves her, he despiseth me; puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been Because I love him, I must pity him. executed I have stood on the pillory for geese This ring I gave him, when he parted from he hath killed, otherwise he had suffered for't; me, thou think'st not of this now !-Nay, 1 remem- To bind him to remember my good will: ber the trick you served me, when I took my And now am I (unhappy messenger) leave of madam Silvia; diù not I bid thee still To plead for that, which I would not obtain; mark the, and do as I do? When didst thou see To carry that which I would have refus'd me heave up my leg, and make, water against To praise his faith, which I would have dise a gentlewoman's fartingale? didst thou ever see prais'd. me do such a trick?

Enter PROTEUS and JULIA.
Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee
well,

And will employ thee in some service presently.
Jul. In what you please ;-I will do what I

can.

Pro. I hope thou wilt.-How now, you whoreson peasant? [TO LAUNCE. Where have you been these two days loitering? Laun. Marry, Sir, 1 carried mistress Silvia the dog you bade me.

Pro. And what says she to my little jewel? Laun. Marry, she says, your dog was a cur; and tells you, currish thanks is good enough for such a present.

Pro. But she received my dog?

Laun. No, indeed, she did not: here have I brought him back again.

Pro. What, did'st thou offer ber this from me?

Laun. Ay, Sir; the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman's boys in the market place and then I offered ber mine own; who is a dog as big as ten of your's, and therefore the gift the greater.

Pro. Go, get thee hence, and find my dog
Or ne'er return again into my sight. [again,
Away, I say: Stay'st thou to vex me here?
A slave, that, still an end, turns me to shame.
[Exit LAUNCE.

Sebastian, I have entertained thee,
Partly, that I have need of such a youth,
That can with some discretion do my business,
For 'tis no trusting to yon foolish lowt;
But, chiefly, for thy face and thy behaviour:
Which (if my augury deceive me not)
Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth:
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
Go presently, and take this ring with thee,
Deliver it to madam Silvia:

She loved me well, deliver'd it to me.

I am my master's true confirmed love;
But cannot be true servant to my master,
Unless I prove false traitor to myself,
Yet I will woo for him: but yet so coldly,
As heaven, it knows, I would not have him
speed.

Enter SILVIA, attended.
Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my

mean

To bring me where to speak with madam Silvia.

Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she?

Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your pa-
tience

To hear me speak the message I am sent on.
Sil. From whom?

Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam.
Sil. O!-be sends you for a picture!
Jul. Ay, madam.

Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there.

[Picture brought. Go, give your master this: tell him from me, One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, would better fit his chamber than this shadow.

Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.-
Pardon me, madani; I have unadvis'd
Deliver'd you a paper that I should not;
This is the letter to your ladyship.

Sil. I pray thee let me look on that again.
Jul. It may not be; good madam, pardon me.
Sil. There hold.

1

I will not look upon your master's lines:
I know, they are stuff'd with protestations,
And full of new-found oaths; which he will
break

As easily as I do tear his paper.

Jul. Madam, be sends your ladyship this ring.

Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it me;

For, I have heard him say a thousand times,

Jul. It seems, you loved her not, to leave her His Julia gave it him at his departure:

token:

She's dead, belike.

I

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Pro. Not so; I think she lives.

Jul. Alas!

Pro. Why dost thou cry, alas ?

ul. I cannot choose but pity her.

Pro. Wherefore should'st thou pity ber?

Jul. Because, methinks, that she loved you
as well

As you do love your lady Silvia :
She dreams on him, that has forgot her love;
You dote on her, that cares not for your love.
ris pity, love should he so contrary;
And thinking on it makes me cry, alas !

Pro. Well, give her that ring, and there-
withal

This letter;-that's "her chamber. Tell my
lady,

I claim the promise for her heavenly picture.
Your message done, hie home unto my chamber,
Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary.

[Exit PROTEUS. Jul. How many women would do such a message?

Alas, poor Protens! thou hast entertain'd]

In the end.

Though his false finger hath profan'd the ring
Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong."
Jul. She thanks you,

Sil. What say'st thou ?

Jul. I thank you, madam, that you fender her:

Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much.

Sil. Dost thou know her?

Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself:
To think upon her woes, I do protest,
That I have wept a hundred several times.

Sil. Belike, she thinks that Proteus hath for-
sook her.

Jul. I think she doth, and that's ner cause of

sorrow.

Sil. Is she not passing fair?

Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she
is:

when she did think my master lov'd her well,
She, in my judgment, was as fair as you;
But since she did neglect her looking-glass,
And threw her son-expelling mask away,
The air hath starv'd the roses in her cheeks
And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face,
That now she is become as black as 1.
Sil. How tall was she?

Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost, * When all our pageants of delight were play'd, Our youth got me to play the woman's part, And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown ; Which served me as fit, by all men's judgment, As if the garment had been made for me; Therefore, I know she is about my height. And, at that time, I made her weep a-good, † For I did play a lamentable part: Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning For Theseus' perjury, and unjust fight; Which I so lively acted with my tears, That my poor mistress, moved there withal, Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead, If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!

Sil. She is beholden to thee, gentle youth !Alas, poor lady! desolate and leftI weep myself, to think upon thy words. Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lov'st her.

Farewell.

[Exit SILVIA.

Jul. And she shall thank you for't, if e'er you know her.

A virtuous gentlewoman, mild, and beautiful.
I hope my master's suit will be but cold,
Since she respects my mistress' love so much.
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: Let me see; I think,
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers :
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,
Unless I fiatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow :
If that be all the difference in bis love,
I'll get me such a colour'd periwig.
Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine:
Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as bigh.
What should it be, that he respects in her,
But I can make respective in myself,
If this fond love were not a blinded god?
Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 'tis thy rival. O thon senseless forin,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, lov'd, and
ador'd;

And, were there sense in his idolatry,
My substance should be statue in thy stead.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That us'd me so; or else by Jove 1 vow,

I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes,
To make my master out of love with thee.

ACT V.

[Erit.

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Pro. Neither.

Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant And Eglamour is in her company. [Valentine; 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, As be in penance wander'd through the forest: Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she; But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it: Besides, she did intend confession

[not: At Patrick's cell this even and there she was These likelihoods confirm her flight from tence, Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse, But mount you presently; and meet with me Upon the rising of the mountain foot {fed: That leads towards Mantua, whither they are Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. [Exit.

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Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish+ girl. That flies her fortune when it follows her: I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, Than for the love of reckless Silvia. [Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Kit. Jul. And I will follow more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. {Erit. SCENE III.-Frontiers of Mantua-The Forest.

Enter SILVIA and OUTLAWS.
Out. Come, come,

Be patient, we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mischances than this

one

Have learn'd me how to brook this patien1ly. 2 Out. Come, bring her away.

1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her ?

In good earnest. Respectable.

• Own.

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3 Out. Being nimble footed, he hath outrun | And that's far worse than none; better have us,

But Moyses, and Valerius, follow him.

Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fed;

The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape.

1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our cap-
taiu's cave :

Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee !
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Another part of the Forest.

Enter VALENTINE.

Val. How use doth breed a babit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns :
Here can I sit alone unseen of any,
And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,
Tune my distresses, and record my woes.

O thou, that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long teuantless;
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was!
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain
What balloing, and what stir, is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their
law,

none

Than plural faith, which is too much by oue:
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

Pro. In love,

Who respects friend!

Sil. All men but Proteus.

Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Can no way change you to a milder form,
I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end;
And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force
you.

Sil. O heaven !

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I have one friend alive; thou would'st disprove Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand

Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more, !-But count the world a stranger for thy sake.. The private wound is deepest: O time, juost

Have some unhappy passenger in chase:
They love me well; yet I have much to do,
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes
here ?
[Steps aside.
Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.
Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you,
(Though you respect not aught your servant
doth,)

To hazard life, and rescue you from him
That would have forc'd your honour and your
love.

Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Val. How like a dream is this I see and
hear!

Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

[Aside.

Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am!
Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
But, by my coming, I have made you happy.
Sil. By thy approach thou makʼst me most un-
happy.

Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your
presence.
[Aside.
Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Proteus rescue ine.
O heaven be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul;
And full as much (for more there cannot be,)
1 do detest false perjur'd Proteus :
Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.
Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to
death,

Would not undergo for one calm look ?
Oh! 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd. †
When women cannot love where they're belov'd.
Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's be-
lov'd.

Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

curst!

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[Shows another ring. Pro. But, how cam'st thou by this ring? at my depart,

I gave this unto Julia.

Jul. Aud Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
Pro. How! Julia!

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy
oaths,

And entertain'd them deeply in her heart:
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root ? +
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush !
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon we
Such an immodest raiment; if shame live
In a disguise of love:

For whose dear sake thou did'st then rend thy It is the lesser blot, modesty fiuds,

faith

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Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.

Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis truè : 0 heaven! were man

But constant, he were perfect: that one error

• Direction.

+ An allusion to cleaving the pin in archery

Fills him with faults; makes him run through Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again.→

all sins;

Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins :
What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?
Val. Coine, come, a hand from either:
Let me be blest to make this happy close ?
Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish
for ever.

Jul. And I have mine.

Enter OUTLAWs, with DUKE and THURIO. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

Vul. Forbear, I say; it is my lord the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banish'd Valentine!

Duke. Sir Valentine!

Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. Val. Thurio give back, or else embrace thy

of my wrath;

death;
Come not within the measure
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands,
Take but possession of her with a touch;
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.-

Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;
I hold him but a fool, that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not;
I claim ber not, and therefore she is thine.

Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions.—
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an empresss' love.
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
↑ Interest.

• Length of my sword.

Plead a new sate in thy unrivall'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe,-Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her.
Val. I thank your grace; the gift hath made
me happy.

I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.
Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept
withal,

Are men endued with worthy qualities:
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile :
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
Duke. Thop hast prevail'd: I pardon them,
and thee;
Dispose of them, as thon know'st their deserts.
Come, let us go; we will incinde all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.

Val. And, as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile: What think you of this page, my lord?

Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blusbes.

Val. I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.

Duke. What mean you by that saying †

Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass aleng, That you will wonder what hath fortuned.Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear The story of your loves discovered: That done, our day of mariage shall be your's; One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.

• Conclude.

[Exeunt.

↑ Masks, revels.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

SHAKSPEARE'S first draught of this triffing play, (which all the editors have concurred in censuring, and some have rejected as unworthy of its author) was written in or before 1594, and some additions were probably made to it between that year and 1597, when it was exhibited before Queen Elizabeth. Like the Taming of the Shrew, it was undoubtedly one of his earliest essays to dramatic writing; as the frequent rhymes, the imperfect versification, the artless and desultory dialogue, and the irregularity of the composition, sufficiently prove. The fable does not seem to be a work entirely of invention; and perhaps owes its birth to some novel which has yet to be discovered. The character of Armado bears some resemblance to Don Quixotte, but the play is older than the work of Cervantes; of Holofernes, another singular character, there are some traces in à masque of Sir Philip Sidney, presented before Queen Elizabeth at Wansted. Dr. Johnson says, that in this play "there are many passages mean, childish, and vulgar; and some which ought not to have been exhibited, as we are told they were, to a maiden Queen. But there are scattered through the whole many sparks of genius; nor is there any play that has more evident marks of the hand of Shakspeare."

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SCENEI.-Navarre.-A Park, with a Palace That his own hand may strike his honour down,

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Live register'd upon our brazen tombs,
And then grace us in the disgrace of death;
When, spite of cormorant devouring time,
The endeavour of this present breath may buy
That honour, which shall bate his scythe's keen
edge,

And make us heirs of all eternity.
Therefore, brave conquerors!-for so you are,
That war against your own affections,
And the huge army of the world's desires,—
Our late edict shall strongly stand in force:
Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;
Our court shall be a little Academe,
Still and contemplative in living art.
You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville,
Have sworn for three years' term to live with

me,

My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes
That are recorded in this schedule here:

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Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified;
The grosser manner of these world's delights
He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves :
To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;
With all these living in philosophy.

biron. I can but say their protestation over,
So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,
That is, To live and study here three years,
But there are other strict observances:
As, not to see a woman in that term;
Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there :
And, one day in a week to touch no food ;
And but one meal on every day beside;
The which, I hope, is not enrolled there :
And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,
And not be seen to wink of all the day;

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