When she did think my master lov'd her well,
She, in my judgement, was as fair as you;
But since she did neglect her looking-glass,
And threw her sun-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 I.
Sil. How tall was she?”

8

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 judgement,
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 flight;
Which I so lively acted with my tears,
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
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 left! -

I 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.

7 How tall was she?] We should read "How tall is she?"

8

9

weep a-good,] i. e. in good earnest. Tout de bon, Fr.
'twas Ariadne, passioning-] To passion is used as a verb,

by writers contemporary with Shakspeare.

'twas Ariadne, passioning-] On her being deserted by Theseus in the night, and left on the island of Naxos.

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 flatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow :
If that be all the difference in his love,
I'll get me such a colour'd periwig. 2

Her eyes are grey as glass3; and so are mine:
Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as high.
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 thou senseless form,

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."

1

my mistress' love so much.] She had in her preceding speech called Julia her mistress; but it is odd enough that she should thus describe herself, when she is alone. Sir T. Hanmer reads — "his mistress;" but without necessity. Our author knew that his audience considered the disguised Julia in the present scene as a page to Proteus, and this, I believe, and the love of antithesis, produced the expression. MALONE.

2 I'll get me such a colour'd periwig.] It should be remembered, that false hair was worn by the ladies, long before wigs were in fashion. These false coverings, however, were called periwigs. 3 Her eyes are grey as glass;] So Chaucer, in the character of his Prioress:

"Ful semely hire wimple y-pinched was;

Hire nose tretis; hire eyen grey as glas."

THEOBALD.

her forehead's low,] A high forehead was in our author's

time accounted a feature eminently beautiful.

5 respective ] i. e. respectable.

6 My substance should be statue in thy stead.] It appears from hence, and a passage in Massinger, that the word statue was formerly used to express a portrait.

I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That us'd me so; or else, by Jove I vow,
I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes,
To make my master out of love with thee.

[Exit.

Enter EGLAMOUR.

Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky;
And now, it is about the very hour

That Silvia, at Patrick's+ cell, should meet me.
She will not fail; for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;
So much they spur their expedition.

Enter SILVIA.

See, where she comes: Lady, a happy evening!
Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern by the abbey-wall;

I fear, I am attended by some spies.

Elg. Fear not the forest is not three leagues off: If we recover that, we are sure enough.7

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

7 sure enough.] Sure, is safe, out of danger.

Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was; And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. What, that my leg is too long?

Pro. No; that it is too little.

Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder. Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths. Thu. What says she to my face?

Pro. She says, it is a fair one.

Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black.
Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.8
Jul. 'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes;
For I had rather wink than look on them.

Thu. How likes she my discourse?

Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.

[Aside.

Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace? Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

[Aside.

Thu. What says she to my valour?

Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

[Aside.

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well deriv'd.

Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool.

[Aside.

Thu. Considers she my possessions?

Pro. O, ay; and pities them.

Thu. Wherefore?

Jul. That such an ass should owe them.

[Aside.

Pro. That they are out by lease.9

Jul. Here comes the duke.

s Black men are pearls, &c.] "A black man is a jewel in a fair woman's eye," is one of Ray's proverbial sentences.

9 That they are out by lease.] Because Thurio's folly has let them on disadvantageous terms; or, because they are let to others, and are not in his own dear hands; or, by Thurio's possessions, he himself understands his lands and estate. But Proteus chooses to take the word likewise in a figurative sense, as signifying his mental endow

Enter Duke.

Duke. How now, sir Proteus? how now, Thurio? Which of you saw sir Eglamour of late?

Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant Va

lentine;

And Eglamour is in her company.

'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both,
As he 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

At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not:
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently; and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain-foot

That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled.
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,1
That flies her fortune when it follows her:

[Exit.

I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour,
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.2

[Exit.

Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love,

Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.

[Exit.

Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love,

Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.

[Exit.

ments: and when he says they are out by lease, he means they are no longer enjoyed by their master, (who is a fool,) but are leased out to another.

1

a peevish girl,] i. e. in ancient language, foolish.

- reckless Silvia.] i. è. careless, heedless.