SCENE III. The frontiers of Mantua. The forest.

Be patient; we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one

Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently.
Sec. Out. Come, bring her away.

First Out.

5

Where is the gentleman that was with her? Third Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us, But Moses and Valerius follow him.

Go thou with her to the west end of the wood;

There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled; 10 The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape.

First 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. 15

SCENE IV. Another part of the forest.

Enter VALENTINE.

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man!

This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,

I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
And to the nightingale's complaining notes
Tune my distresses and record my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,

5

Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,

Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall,

And leave no memory of what it was!

10

Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!
What halloing and what stir is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,

Have some unhappy passenger in chase.

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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 PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.

Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you,
Though you respect not aught your servant doth,
To hazard life, and rescue you from him
That would have forced your honour and your love;
Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,

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25

And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Val. [Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!

Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am!
Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came ;

But by my coming I have made you happy.

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Sil. By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy. Jul. [Aside] And me, when he approacheth to your

presence.

Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
O, Heaven be judge how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!
And full as much, for more there cannot be,

I do detest false perjured Proteus.

Therefore be gone; solicit me no more.

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40

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look!
O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,
When women cannot love where they're beloved !

Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved. 45
Read over Julia's heart, thy first, best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith

Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths

Descended into perjury, to love me.

Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two,
And that's far worse than none; better have none

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Than plural faith which is too much by one :

Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

Pro.

In love

Who respects friend?
Sil.

Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words

Can no way change you to a milder form,

I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end,

And love you 'gainst the nature of love, -force ye.

Sil. O heaven!

Pro.

I'll force thee yield to my desire.

Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,

Thou friend of an ill fashion!

Pro.

Valentine!

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60

Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love, For such is a friend now; treacherous man!

Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say
I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand

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Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,

But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst,
'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.

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Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,

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

And once again I do receive thee honest.
Who by repentance is not satisfied

Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased.

By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased:

And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

Jul. O me unhappy!

Pro. Look to the boy.

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80

[Swoons.

85

Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the mat

ter? Look up; speak.

Jul. O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?
Jul.

Pro. How! let me see:

Here 'tis; this is it.

Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.

Jul. O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook: This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

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