Already have I been false to Valentine,
And now I must be as unjust to Thurio.
Under the colour of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer.
But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy
To be corrupted with my worthless gifts.
When I protest true loyalty to her,
She twits me with my falsehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vows,
She bids me think how I have been forsworn
In breaking faith with Julia, whom I loved;
And notwithstanding all her sudden quips,
The least whereof would quell a lover’s hope,
Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love,
The more it grows and fawneth on her still.
But here comes Thurio. Now must we to her window,
And give some evening music to her ear.
I've already betrayed Valentine by my treachery, and now I have to be equally unjust to Thurio. Under the pretense of praising him, I get access to advance my own love. But Silvia is too fair, too genuine, too pure to be corrupted by my worthless gifts. When I swear true loyalty to her, she reminds me of my betrayal to my friend. When I praise my devotion to her beauty, she tells me to think how I've broken my oath to Julia, whom I loved. And yet despite all her cutting remarks, any one of which would destroy a lover's hope, like a desperate dog, the more she rejects my love, the more it grows and clings to her still. But here comes Thurio. Now we must go to her window and serenade her with music.
I've already screwed Valentine by betraying him, and now I'm being a jerk to Thurio too. I pretend to help him so I can get close to Silvia for myself. But Silvia's too good, too honest, too perfect to be swayed by my pathetic gifts. When I tell her I'm loyal, she throws my betrayal of my friend in my face. When I tell her how much I love her, she reminds me I promised myself to Julia. And even though she keeps shooting me down in ways that would kill most guys' feelings, I just keep coming back like some needy dog, the more she pushes me away. But here's Thurio. Let's go play music under her window.
i betrayed valentine. i'm screwing thurio. i'm using him to get to silvia. but she's too good. nothing works. she keeps throwing my broken promises back at me. yet i keep coming back like a sad puppy
How now, Sir Proteus, are you crept before us?
How now, Sir Proteus? Have you arrived before us?
Hey, Sir Proteus. Did you get here first?
you beat us here?
Ay, gentle Thurio, for you know that love
Will creep in service where it cannot go.
Yes, gentle Thurio, because love will crawl into service where it cannot walk.
Yeah, Thurio. Love makes you do things you wouldn't normally do.
yeah. love makes you show up early
Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.
Yes, but I hope, sir, that you're not in love here.
But I hope you're not the one in love here.
you're not in love with her though, right?
Sir, but I do, or else I would be hence.
Sir, I am, or else I would have left.
I am, or I wouldn't still be here.
i am. that's why i'm staying
Who? Silvia?
Who? Silvia?
who? silvia?
who? silvia?
Ay, Silvia, for your sake.
Yes, Silvia, for your sake.
Yeah, Silvia. For you.
silvia. for you
I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen,
Let’s tune, and to it lustily awhile.
I thank you for that. Now, gentlemen, let's tune our instruments and play with energy.
Thanks for that. Okay, guys, let's get in tune and really go at it.
thanks. let's tune up and play hard
Now, my young guest, methinks you’re allycholly. I pray you, why is it?
Now, my young guest, I think you're melancholy. I pray you, why is it?
Hey, my young guest, you seem sad. What's wrong?
young guest, why u sad?
Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry.
Indeed, my host, because I cannot be cheerful.
Well, host, because I just can't be happy.
because i can't be merry
Come, we’ll have you merry. I’ll bring you where you shall hear music,
and see the gentleman that you asked for.
Come, I'll make you happy. I'll bring you where you'll hear music and see the gentleman you asked about.
Come on, I'll cheer you up. I'll take you to hear music and you'll see the guy you wanted to see.
i'll cheer you up. you'll hear music and see the guy you asked about
But shall I hear him speak?
But will I hear him speak?
But will I get to hear him talk?
will he talk though?
Ay, that you shall.
Yes, you will.
Yeah, you will.
yeah
That will be music.
That alone would make me happy.
That would be the best thing.
hearing him = bliss
Hark, hark!
Listen, listen!
Hey, listen up!
hey listen
Is he among these?
Is he part of this group?
Is he one of these musicians?
he's in this group?
Ay; but peace, let’s hear ’em.
SONG
Yes, but be quiet. Let's listen to them.
Yeah, but shush. Let's hear them.
yeah. shhh, listen
Who is Silvia? What is she,
That all our swains commend her?
Holy, fair, and wise is she;
The heaven such grace did lend her,
That she might admired be.
Is she kind as she is fair?
For beauty lives with kindness.
Love doth to her eyes repair,
To help him of his blindness;
And, being helped, inhabits there.
Then to Silvia let us sing,
That Silvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing
Upon the dull earth dwelling.
To her let us garlands bring.
Who is Silvia? What is she, that all our shepherds praise her? Holy, fair, and wise is she; heaven has given her such grace that she might be admired. Is she kind as she is beautiful? For beauty lives with kindness. Love comes to her eyes to help himself regain his sight; and once healed, he dwells there. Then let us sing to Silvia, since Silvia is extraordinary; she exceeds every mortal thing that lives on this dull earth. To her let us bring garlands.
Who is Silvia? What makes her so special that everyone around here loves her? She's holy, beautiful, and smart. Heaven blessed her with so much grace that everyone admires her. Is she as kind as she is gorgeous? Because kindness goes with beauty. Love itself comes to her eyes to heal his blindness; and once he can see again, he stays there. So let's sing about Silvia, since she's exceptional; she's better than anyone else living on this boring earth. Let's bring her garlands.
who is silvia? why does everyone love her? she's holy, beautiful, smart heaven blessed her she's kinder than she's beautiful she makes love see again silvia is perfect
How now, are you sadder than you were before?
How do you, man? The music likes you not.
How now, are you sadder than before? How are you, friend? The music doesn't please you.
You look even sadder now. What's wrong? The music not helping?
you sadder now? the music not working?
You mistake; the musician likes me not.
You're mistaken. It's not the music I don't like—it's the musician.
That's not it. It's not the music—it's the guy playing.
not the music. the musician
Why, my pretty youth?
Why, my pretty young man?
Why's that, my young friend?
why's that?
He plays false, father.
He plays with false emotion.
He's faking it.
dude's a faker
How, out of tune on the strings?
Are the instruments not playing correctly?
What, are his instruments out of tune?
his instrument off?
Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart-strings.
Not that. But his falseness is so strong that it breaks my heart strings.
No. But he's so false that it breaks my heart.
his fake love destroys me
You have a quick ear.
You have a keen ear.
You've got good instincts.
you got a sharp ear
Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes me have a slow heart.
Yes, I wish I were deaf. It would make me less quick to feel pain.
Yeah, I wish I were deaf. It wouldn't hurt so much.
i wish i were deaf. hurts less
I perceive you delight not in music.
I see that you don't enjoy music.
Seems like you don't like music.
so music's not your thing
Not a whit, when it jars so.
Not at all, when it sounds so discordant.
Not when it's this jarring.
not when it clashes
Hark, what fine change is in the music!
Listen, what a nice change happens in the music!
Hey, hear how the music changed?
hear that change?
Ay, that change is the spite.
Yes, and that change is the cruelty.
Yeah, and that change is what hurts.
yeah and that's what kills me
You would have them always play but one thing?
Would you want them to always play the same thing?
Do you want them to play the same song forever?
want them to play one song forever?
I would always have one play but one thing.
But, host, doth this Sir Proteus, that we talk on,
Often resort unto this gentlewoman?
I would always have one person play just one thing faithfully. But tell me, does this Sir Proteus you speak of often come to visit this lady?
Yeah, I'd want one person to always be faithful. But hey, does this Sir Proteus guy come see this lady a lot?
one guy should stay faithful does proteus visit her a lot?
I tell you what Lance, his man, told me: he loved her out of all nick.
I'll tell you what Proteus's servant Lance told me: he loved her beyond all limits.
Well, Lance, Proteus's servant, told me he was absolutely crazy about her.
lance told me he loves her beyond all measure
Where is Lance?
Where is Lance?
where is lance?
where is lance?
Gone to seek his dog, which tomorrow, by his master’s command, he must
carry for a present to his lady.
He's gone to find his dog, which tomorrow, by his master's orders, he must bring as a gift to his lady.
He went to find his dog. Tomorrow he's supposed to give it to his lady as a gift from Proteus.
he's looking for his dog gonna give it to his lady as a gift tomorrow
Peace, stand aside. The company parts.
Quiet, stand aside. The group is leaving.
Shush, move aside. They're breaking up.
quiet. step back. they're leaving
Sir Thurio, fear not you; I will so plead
That you shall say my cunning drift excels.
Sir Thurio, don't be worried. I will plead so well that you'll say my strategic skill is superior.
Thurio, don't worry. I'll convince her so well that you'll think I'm amazing at this.
thurio don't worry i'll make her fall for you
Where meet we?
Where shall we meet?
Where should we meet?
where we meeting?
At Saint Gregory’s well.
At the well near Saint Gregory's church.
Saint Gregory's well.
by the water
Farewell.
Farewell.
farewell.
farewell.
Madam, good even to your ladyship.
Madam, good evening to you.
Good evening, madam.
good evening
I thank you for your music, gentlemen.
Who is that that spake?
I thank you for your music, gentlemen. Who is the one who spoke?
Thanks for the music, you guys. Who was talking?
thanks for the music who was that talking?
One, lady, if you knew his pure heart’s truth,
You would quickly learn to know him by his voice.
One, lady, if you knew his honest heart's truth, you would quickly learn to recognize him by his voice.
Someone, ma'am. If you knew how sincere his heart is, you'd recognize his voice right away.
someone whose heart is true you'd know him by his voice
Sir Proteus, as I take it.
Sir Proteus, as I understand it.
Sir Proteus, if I'm guessing right.
sir proteus, i think?
Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.
Sir Proteus, madam, and your servant.
Yes, Sir Proteus, and I'm at your service.
that's me. your servant
What’s your will?
What’s your will?
what’s your will?
what’s your will?
That I may compass yours.
That I can do whatever you wish.
That I can give you whatever you want.
i can do anything for you
You have your wish. My will is even this,
That presently you hie you home to bed.
Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man,
Think’st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless,
To be seduced by thy flattery,
That hast deceived so many with thy vows?
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.
Here's what I wish: that you go home to bed right now. You subtle, lying, false, disloyal man, do you think I'm so foolish, so simple-minded, that I can be seduced by your flattery, you who have deceived so many with promises? Go back, and make amends to Julia for what you've done. I swear to you by the moon itself that I am so far from granting what you ask that I despise you for this wrong pursuit, and soon I'll regret even wasting this time talking to you.
That's what I want: go home and go to bed. You lying, deceitful, disloyal creep, do you really think I'm stupid enough to fall for your sweet talk, when you've lied to so many others? Go apologize to Julia. I swear by the moon, I'm nowhere near giving you what you want. I hate you for even asking, and I already regret wasting words on you.
go to bed you're a liar and a cheat stop lying to me go apologize to julia i hate this
I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady,
But she is dead.
I admit, dear love, that I did love a lady, but she is dead.
Okay, I admit I loved someone, but she's dead.
i did love someone. she's dead
[_Aside_.] ’Twere false, if I should speak it,
For I am sure she is not buried.
[Aside.] That would be false if I spoke it, for I am certain she is not buried.
[Aside.] That would be a lie if I said it, because I know for sure she's not dead.
[to self] that's a lie. she's not dead
Say that she be; yet Valentine thy friend
Survives, to whom, thyself art witness,
I am betrothed. And art thou not ashamed
To wrong him with thy importunacy?
Even if she is dead, Valentine your friend still lives. You yourself know that I am promised to him. Aren't you ashamed to wrong him with your relentless pursuit?
Even if she were dead, Valentine is still alive. You know I'm promised to him. How can you be such a jerk to keep pushing like this?
valentine's still alive i'm promised to him how can you do this to him?
I likewise hear that Valentine is dead.
I've also heard that Valentine is dead.
I also heard Valentine died.
i heard valentine's dead
And so suppose am I, for in his grave,
Assure thyself, my love is buried.
And I can only assume the same about myself, because in his grave I assure you my love is buried.
Well, then I'm dead too, because my love was buried in his grave.
then i'm dead too my love is buried with him
Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.
Sweet lady, let me dig it up from the earth.
Beautiful lady, let me unearth it for you.
let me dig it up
Go to thy lady’s grave and call hers thence,
Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine.
Go to your lady's grave and call her out from it, or at the very least, bury yourself in her grave.
Go to your ex's grave and get her out, or just go bury yourself there.
go get your ex from her grave or bury yourself there
[_Aside_.] He heard not that.
[Aside.] He did not hear that.
[Aside.] He didn't hear what she just said.
[to self] he didn't hear
Madam, if your heart be so obdurate,
Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love,
The picture that is hanging in your chamber;
To that I’ll speak, to that I’ll sigh and weep;
For since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow;
And to your shadow will I make true love.
Madam, if your heart is so hardened, give me at least your picture for my love, the picture that hangs in your room. I'll speak to that, I'll sigh and weep to it. Since your real self is no longer available to me, I am just a shadow. And to your shadow I will make true love.
Ma'am, if you won't budge, just give me your portrait. You know, the one in your room. I'll talk to it, I'll cry to it. Since I can't have you, I'm just a ghost anyway. So I'll love your picture instead.
if you won't budge give me your portrait i'll love that instead since you won't have me
[_Aside_.] If ’twere a substance you would sure deceive it
And make it but a shadow, as I am.
[Aside.] If it were a real person you would certainly deceive her too and make her but a shadow, as you have me.
[Aside.] If it was a real woman you'd trick her and turn her into a shadow just like you did to me.
[to self] if she was real u'd deceive her make her shadow like me
I am very loath to be your idol, sir;
But since your falsehood shall become you well
To worship shadows and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning, and I’ll send it.
And so, good rest.
I really don't want to be your idol, sir. But since your falseness will suit you well for worshiping shadows and loving false images, send for my portrait in the morning, and I'll send it. And so, good night.
I really don't want to be your idol. But since you're good at worshiping things that aren't real, come get my portrait in the morning and I'll give it to you. Now get out of here.
i don't wanna be your idol but you worship fake things so whatever get my portrait tomorrow goodbye
As wretches have o’ernight
That wait for execution in the morn.
Like prisoners who spend the night waiting for their execution in the morning.
Like guys on death row waiting for morning to be executed.
like death row prisoners waiting for morning
Host, will you go?
Host, will you come with me?
Host, let's go.
come on. let's leave
By my halidom, I was fast asleep.
By my oath, I was fast asleep.
I swear, I was dead asleep.
i was passed out
Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus?
Tell me, where does Sir Proteus live?
Where does Sir Proteus live?
where's proteus live?
Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think ’tis almost day.
Indeed, at my house. Believe me, I think it's almost dawn.
At my place. And I think it's almost morning.
my place. almost morning
Not so; but it hath been the longest night
That e’er I watched, and the most heaviest.
No, it's not. But it has been the longest night that I have ever been awake for, and the most painful.
No. But this is the longest night I've ever stayed up through, and the worst.
longest night ever most painful too
The Reckoning
In this scene Julia, disguised as a boy, stands in the dark and watches the man she loves serenade another woman and swear she is dead. Proteus's opening soliloquy is honest about his double betrayal, of Valentine and now Thurio, and he compares himself to a spaniel that fawns harder the more it is kicked. The famous song 'Who is Silvia?' is lovely, but it is sung for a lie. Notice how Julia's puns on music ('he plays false', 'I would always have one play but one thing') carry her heartbreak in plain view of the Host, who hears only a moody boy. Silvia, sharp and loyal, is the moral voice here. Proteus's request for her portrait, a 'shadow' to love, shows how empty his love has become.
If this happened today…
You drive across the country to surprise your partner, and a friendly local offers to take you to the open-mic night where he's playing. You stand at the back. He gets up and sings a love song he wrote, but it's for the woman at the front table, and you realize he told her you two broke up long ago. She rolls her eyes and tells him to go home. He asks her for a photo anyway. Your new friend nudges you: 'Not a fan of the music?' You say something about the singer being off-key and leave it there.