When a man's servant shall play the cur with 1821him, look you, it goes hard - one that I brought up of 1822a puppy; one that I saved from drowning when three or 1823four of his blind brothers and sisters went to it. I have 1824taught him, even as one would say precisely, "Thus I 1825would teach a dog." I was sent to deliver him as a pre1826sent to Mistress Silvia from my master, and I came no 1827sooner into the dining-chamber, but he steps me to her 1828trencher and steals her capon's leg. Oh, 'tis a foul 1829thing when a cur cannot keep himself in all compa1830nies. I would have, as one should say, one that takes up1831on him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it were, a dog at all 1832things. If I had not had more wit then he, to take a fault 1833upon me that he did, I think verily he had been hanged 1834for't. Sure as I live, he had suffered for't. You shall judge: 1835he thrusts me himself into the company of three or 1836four gentleman-like-dogs under the Duke's table. He 1837had not been there, bless the mark, a pissing while, but 1838all the chamber smelt him. "Out with the dog!" says one. 1839"What cur is that?" says another. "Whip him out!" says the 1840third. "Hang him up!" says the Duke. I, having been ac1841quainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab, and 1842goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs. "Friend," 1843quoth I, "You mean to whip the dog?" "Ay, marry do I," 1844quoth he. "You do him the more wrong," quoth I. "'Twas 1845I did the thing you wot of." He makes me no more ado, 1846but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters 1847would do this for his servant? Nay, I'll be sworn I have 1848sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise 1849he had been executed; I have stood on the pillory for 1850geese he hath killed, otherwise he had suffered for't. [To Crab.] Thou1851 think'st not of this now. Nay, I remember the trick you 1852served me when I took my leave of Madam Silvia. Did 1853not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? When did'st 1854thou see me heave up my leg and make water against a 1855gentlewoman's farthingale? Did'st thou ever see me do 1856such a trick?

Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well

4.4.61858And will employ thee in some service presently.

In what you please; I'll do what I can.

I hope thou wilt.

[To Lance.] How now, you whoreson peasant,

4.4.101862Where have you been these two days loitering?

Marry, sir, I carried Mistress Silvia the dog you 1864bad me.

And what says she to my little jewel?

Marry, she says your dog was a cur, and tells you 1867currish thanks is good enough for such a present.

But she received my dog?

No, indeed, did she not. 1870Here have I brought him back again.

What, didst thou offer her this from me?

4.4.18Ay, Sir, the other squirrel was stolen from me 1873by the hangman's boys in the market place, 1874and then I offered her mine own, who is a dog 1875as big as ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater.

Go, get thee hence and find my dog again,

4.4.201877Or ne'er return again into my sight.

4.4.211878Away, I say! Stayest thou to vex me here?

4.4.221879A Slave that still an end turns me to shame.

4.4.231880Sebastian, I have entertained thee

4.4.241881Partly that I have need of such a youth

4.4.251882That can with some discretion do my business,

4.4.261883For 'tis no trusting to yond foolish lout,

4.4.271884But chiefly for thy face and thy behavior,

4.4.281885Which, if my augury deceive me not,

4.4.291886Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth.

4.4.301887Therefore, know thou, for this I entertain thee.

4.4.311888Go presently, and take this ring with thee.

4.4.321889Deliver it to Madam Silvia.

4.4.331890She loved me well delivered it to me.

It seems you loved not her, to leave her token.

4.4.351892She is dead, belike?

Not so; I think she lives.

Alas.

Why dost thou cry "Alas"?

I cannot choose but pity her.

Wherefore shouldst thou pity her?

Because methinks that she loved you as well

4.4.421899As you do love your lady Silvia.

4.4.431900She dreams on him that has forgot her love;

4.4.441901You dote on her that cares not for your love.

4.4.451902'Tis pity Love should be so contrary,

4.4.461903And thinking on it makes me cry alas.

Well, give her that ring, and therewithal

4.4.481905This letter. That's her chamber. Tell my lady

4.4.491906I claim the promise for her heavenly picture.

4.4.501907Your message done, hie home unto my chamber,

4.4.511908Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary.

How many women would do such a message?

4.4.531910Alas, poor Proteus, thou hast entertained

4.4.541911A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs.

4.4.551912Alas, poor fool, why do I pity him

4.4.561913That with his very heart despiseth me?

4.4.571914Because he loves her, he despiseth me;

4.4.581915Because I love him, I must pity him.

4.4.591916This ring I gave him when he parted from me,

4.4.601917To bind him to remember my good will,

4.4.611918And now am I, unhappy messenger,

4.4.621919To plead for that which I would not obtain;

4.4.631920To carry that which I would have refused;

4.4.641921To praise his faith, which I would have dispraised.

4.4.651922I am my master's true confirmed love,

4.4.661923But cannot be true servant to my master

4.4.671924Unless I prove false traitor to my self.

4.4.681925Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly

4.4.691926As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed.

1927Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you, be my mean

4.4.711928To bring me where to speak with Madam Silvia.

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

If you be she, I do entreat your patience

4.4.741931To hear me speak the message I am sent on.

From whom?

From my master, Sir Proteus, madam.

Oh. He sends you for a picture?

Ay, madam.

Ursula, bring my picture there.

4.4.811937Go, give your master this. Tell him from me

4.4.821938One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,

4.4.831939Would better fit his chamber than this shadow.

Madam, please you peruse this letter.

4.4.861941Pardon me, madam. I haue unadvised

4.4.871942Delivered you a paper that I should not;

4.4.881943This is the letter to your ladyship.

I pray thee let me look on that again.

It may not be. Good madam, pardon me.

There, hold. [Tries to return letter, which Julia refuses.]

4.4.931947I will not look upon your master's lines.

4.4.941948I know they are stuffed with protestations,

4.4.951949And full of new-found oaths, which he will break

4.4.961950As easily as I do tear his paper. [Tears letter.]

Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring.

The more shame for him that he sends it me,

4.4.991953For I have heard him say a thousand times

4.4.1001954His Julia gave it him at his departure.

4.4.1011955Though his false finger have prophaned the ring,

4.4.1021956Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.

She thanks you.

What say'st thou?

I thank you, madam, that you tender her.

4.4.1061960Poor gentlewoman, my master wrongs her much.

Dost thou know her?

Almost as well as I do know myself.

4.4.1091963To think upon her woes, I do protest

4.4.1101964That I have wept a hundred several times.

Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her?

I think she doth, and that's her cause of sorrow.

Is she not passing fair?

She hath been fairer, madam, than she is.

4.4.1151969When she did think my master loved her well

4.4.1161970She, in my judgment, was as fair as you.

4.4.1171971But since, she did neglect her looking-glass,

4.4.1181972And threw her sun-expelling mask away.

4.4.1191973The air hath starved the roses in her cheeks,

4.4.1201974And pinched the lily tincture of her face,

4.4.1211975That now she is become as black as I.

How tall was she?

About my stature, for at Pentecost,

4.4.1241978When all our pageants of delight were played,

4.4.1251979Our youth got me to play the woman's part,

4.4.1261980And I was trimmed in Madam Julia's gown,

4.4.1271981Which served me as fit, by all mens judgments,

4.4.1281982As if the garment had been made for me.

4.4.1291983Therefore I know she is about my height,

4.4.1301984And at that time I made her weep agood,

4.4.1311985For I did play a lamentable part.

4.4.1321986Madam, 'twas Ariadne, passioning

4.4.1331987For Theseus's perjury and unjust flight,

4.4.1341988Which I so lively acted with my tears

4.4.1351989That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,

4.4.1361990Wept bitterly. And would I might be dead

4.4.1371991If I in thought felt not her very sorrow.

She is beholden to thee, gentle youth.

4.4.1391993Alas, poor lady, desolate and left.

4.4.1401994I weep myself to think upon thy words.

4.4.1411995Here, youth. There is my purse. I give thee this

4.4.1421996For thy sweet mistress's sake, because thou lov'st her. Farewell.

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

4.4.1441998A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful.

4.4.1451999I hope my master's suit will be but cold

4.4.1462000Since she respects my mistress's love so much.

4.4.1472001Alas, how love can trifle with itself.

4.4.1482002Here is her picture. Let me see, I think

4.4.1492003If I had such a tire, this face of mine

4.4.1502004Were full as lovely as is this of hers,

4.4.1512005And yet the painter flattered her a little,

4.4.1522006Unless I flatter with myself too much.

4.4.1532007Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow;

4.4.1542008If that be all the difference in his love,

4.4.1552009I'll get me such a colored periwig.

4.4.1562010Her eyes are grey as glass and so are mine;

4.4.1572011Ay, but her forehead's low and mine's as high.

4.4.1582012What should it be that he respects in her

4.4.1592013But I can make respective in myself,

4.4.1602014If this fond Love were not a blinded god?

4.4.1612015Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,

4.4.1622016For 'tis thy rival.

[To picture.] O, thou senseless form,

4.4.1632017Thou shalt be worshipped, kissed, loved and adored;

4.4.1642018And were there sense in his idolatry,

4.4.1652019My substance should be statue in thy stead.

4.4.1662020I'll use thee kindly, for thy mistress's sake

4.4.1672021That used me so, or else, by Jove I vow,

4.4.1682022I should have scratched out your unseeing eyes

4.4.1692023To make my master out of love with thee.