Thu. Not I.

Pro. Nor I.

Duke. Saw you my daughter?

Pro. Neither.

Duke. Why then

She's fled unto that peafant Valentine;
And Eglamour is in her company.

'Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the foreft.
Him he knew well, and guefs'd that it was she;
But, being mask'd, he was not fure of it.
Befides. fhe did intend confeffion

At Patrick's cell this ev'n, and there fhe was not.
Thefe likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you prefently, and meet with me
Upon the rifing of the mountain-foot

That leads tow'rds Mantua, whither they are fled.
Difpatch, fweet gentlemen, and follow me.

[Exit Duke;

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, That flies her fortune where it follows her. I'll after, more to be revenge'd of Eglamour, Than for the love of recklefs Silvia.

Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.

Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exeunt;

SCENE III. Changes to the foreft.
Enter Silvia and Outlaws.

Out. Come, come, be patient: we must bring you to our captain.

Sil. A thousand more mifchances, than this one, Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.

2 Out. Come, bring her away.

1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? Out. Being nimble-footed he hath outrun us;

3

But Moyfes and Valerius follow him.

Go thou with her to th' weft-end of the wood,

There

There is our captain: follow him that's fled.
The thicket is befet, he cannot 'scape.

1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain'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. The Outlaws cave in the foreft.
Enter Valentine.

Val. How ufe doth breed a habit in a man!
This fhadowy defart, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns.
Here can I fit alone, unfeen of any,

And to the nightingale's complaining notes
Tune my distresses, and record my woes.
O thou that doft inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the manfion fo long tenantless;
Left, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was.
Repair me with thy prefence, Silvia;

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn fwain.
What hallo'ing, and what stir, is this to-day?

These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have fome unhappy paffenger in chace.

They love me well, yet I have much to do

To keep them from uncivil outrages.

Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here ? Enter Protheus, Silvia, and Julia.

Pro. Madam, this fervice have I done for you. (Tho' you refpect not aught your fervant doth), To hazard life, and refcue you from him,

That wou'd have force'd your honour and your love.
Vouchfafe me for my meed but one fair look.
A fmaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And lefs than this, I'm fure, you cannot give.
Val. How like a dream is this I fee and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while.

Sil. O miferable, unhappy that I am!
Pro. Unhappy were you, Madam, ere I
But by my coming I have made you happy.

[Afide.

came;

Sil. By thy approach thou mak'ft me most unhappy.
Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your prefence,
[Afide.

Sil. Had I been feized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have falfe Protheus refcue me.
Oh, heav'n be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whofe life's as tender to me as my foul;
And full as much, for more there cannot be,
I do deteft falfe perjur'd Protheus.
Therefore be gone, folicit me no more.

Pro. What dang'rous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look?
Oh, 'tis the curfe in love, and still approv❜d.
When women cannot love where they're belov'd.

Sil When Protheus cannot love where he's belov'd. Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

For whofe dear fake thou then didft rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all thofe oarhs
Defcended into perjury, to love me.

Thou haft no faith left now, unless thoud'st two,
And that's far worse than none: better have none
Than plural faith, which is too much by one.
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

Pro. In love,

Who refpects friend?

Sil. All men but Protheus.

Pro. Nay, if the gentle fpirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form;

I'll move you like a foldier, at arms end,

And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you.
Sil. Oh heav'n!

Pro I'll force thee yield to my defire.

Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch, Thou friend of an ill fashion!

Pro. Valentine!

Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or

love;

For fuch is a friend now: thou treach'rous man! Thou haft beguil'd my hopes: nought but mine eye Could have perfuaded me. Now I dare not fay,

I have one friend alive; thou wouldt difprove me.

Who fhould be trufted now, when the right hand

Is perjur'd to the bofom? Protheus,

I'm forry I must never trust thee more,

But count the world a stranger for thy fake.

The private wound is deepest. Oh time, mcft accurs'd,
'Mongst all foes, that a friend fhould be the worst!
Pro. My fhame and guilt confound me.
Forgive me, Valentine; if hearty forrow

Be a fufficient ranfor for offence,

I tender't here; I do as truly fuffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid;

And once again I do receive thee honest.
Who by repentance is not fatisfy'd,

Is nor of heav'n, nor earth; for these are pleas'd.
By penitence th' Eternal's wrath's appeas'd.

And that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia, I give thee *.
Jul. Oh me unhappy!

Pro. Look to the boy.

[Swoons.

Val. Why, boy! how now? what's the matter? look up, speak.

Jul. O good Sir, my mafter charge'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?
Jul. Here 'tis: this is it.

Pro. How? let me fee.

This is the ring I gave to Julia.

Jul. Oh, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook;

This is the ring you fent to Silvia.

I

Pro. How cam'ft thou by this ring? at my depart,

gave this unto Julia.

Ful. And Julia herself did give it me.

And Julia herfelf hath brought it hither.

Pro. How, Julia?

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

This paffage either hath been much fophifticated, or is one great proof that the main parts of this play did not proceed from Shakepear for it is impoffible he could make Valentine act and (peak fo much out of character; or give to Silvia fo unnatural a behaviour as to take no notice of this ftrange declaration if it had been made.

VOL. I.

Z

And

And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart.
How oft halt thou with perjury cleft the root?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou afham'd that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment, if fhame live
In a difguife of love.

It is the leffer blot, modefty finds,

Women to change their fhapes, than men their minds: Pro. Than men their minds? 'fis true; oh heav'n!

were man

But conftant, he were perfect; that one error

Fills him with faults, makes him run through all fins :
Inconftancy 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 Come, come, a hand from either.

Let me be blefs'd to make this happy clofe;
'Twere pity two fuch friends thould long be foes.
Pro. Bear witnefs, heav'n, I have my wifh for ever
Jul. And I mine.

Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio.

Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

Val. Forbear, forbear, it is my Lord the Duke, Your Grace is welcome to a man disgrace'd,

The banish'd Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine?

Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine.

Val. Thurio, give back; or else embrace thy death. Come not within the measure of my wrath. Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,Milan fhall not behold thee. Here the stands, Take but poffeffion 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 her not; and therefore she is thine. Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,. To make fuch means for her as thou haft done,

And