Jul.
How many women would do such a message?
Alas, poor Protheus, thou has entertain'd
A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs:
Alas, poor fool, why do I pity him,
That with his very heart despiseth me?
Because he loves her, he despiseth me;
Because I love him, I must pity him.
This ring I gave him when he parted from me,
To bind him to remember my good will;
And now I am, unhappy messenger,
To plead for that which I would not obtain;
To carry that which I would have refus'd;

To praise his faith, which I wou'd have disprais'd.
I am my master's true confirmed love,
But cannot be true servant to my master,
Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly,
As, heav'n it knows, I would not have him speed. [Exit. Scene changes to an open Part of the Palace. Enter Silvia.
Tis now near nine, now for St. Patrick's cell,
To meet my faithful friend, my Eglamore. [Going. Enter Julia.

Jul.
Lady, good morn, I pray you be my mean,
To bring me where to speak with lady Silvia.

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

Jul.
If you be she, I do intreat your patience
To hear me speak the message I am sent on.

Sil.
From whom?

Jul.
From my master sir Protheus, madam.

Sil.
Oh! he sends you for a picture?

Jul.
Ay, madam.

Sil.
Go, give your master this:
It may divert him from my intended flight.
Tell him from me,
One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,
Would better fit his chamber than this shadow.

Jul.
Madam, may't please you to peruse this letter.
Pardon me, madam, 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:
I will not look upon your master's lines,
I know they're stuff'd with protestations,
And full of new-found oaths, which he will break
As easily as I do tear his paper. [She tears it and throws it down.

Jul.
Madam, he 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,
His Julia gave it him at his departure:
Tho' his false finger have prophan'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 tender 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 an hundred several times.

Sil.
Belike she thinks that Protheus hath forsook her.

Jul.
I think she doth, and that's her 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 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 brown as I.

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 act the woman's part,
And I was trimm'd in madam Julia's gown,
Which served me as fit, by all men's judgments,
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 agood,
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 lady, mild and beautiful.
Alas! how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture; let me see; I think,

If I had such atire, 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.
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.
Come, shadow!—
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake. [Exit. SCENE changes near the Friar's Hall. Enter Eglamour.

Egl.
The morn advances, here's the friar's cell,
And now it is about the very hour
Silvia, near this place, 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.
See where she comes. Lady, a happy morning. Enter Silvia disguis'd and mask'd.

Sil.
Amen, Amen. Go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern, by the abbey-wall:
I fear I am attended by some spies.

Egl.
Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off;
If we recover that, we're safe enough. [Exeunt. End of the FOURTH ACT.

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