Enter Duke. Duke. How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio! Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late? 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, At Patrick's cell this even: and there she was not: That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled. 4 Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, That flies her fortune when it follows her. I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, Than for the love of reckless Silvia. [Exit. [Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exil. Jul. And I will follow more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exit. sense, as signifying his mental endowments: and when he says they are out by lease, he means, that they are no longer enjoyed by their master (who is a fool), but are leased out to another." Lord Hailes. • Peevish in ancient language signified foolish. See page 205. SCENE III. Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Enter SILVIA, and Out-laws. Out. Come, come; 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. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us, But Moyses 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; The thicket is beset, 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. Another part of the Forest. Enter VALENTINE. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! And, to the nightingale's complaining notes, To record, anciently signified to sing. It is still used by bird fanciers to express the first essays of a bird to sing; and is evidently derived from the recorder or pipe with which they were formerly taught. The second line of this speech reads thus in the folio: This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods." Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall, Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain !— "Tis sure my mates, that make their wills their law, Have some unhappy passenger in chase? They love me well; yet I have much to do Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here? [Steps aside. 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, And less than this, I'm sure, you cannot give. Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear! Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Aside. Sil. O miserable! unhappy that I am! Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came; But, by my coming, I have made you happy. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your pre[Aside. sence. 20 thou that dost inhabit in my breast, &c. It is hardly possible (says Steevens) to point out four lines in Shakspeare more remarkable for ease and elegance than these. 3 The old copy has "These are my mates," which does not connect itself with what follows. The correctors of Mr. Collier's folio would substitute "These my rude mates," but Valentine would not apply the word rude to men that he afterwards affirms are "civil (i. e. cultivated) and fit for great employments!" It is evident that he answers his own question, "What halloing and what stir is this?" doubtingly, by ""Tis sure my mates," &c. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, Therefore be gone! solicit me no more. 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 approv'd", When women cannot love where they're belov❜d. Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's belov'd. 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 now5, unless thou'dst 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. Who respects friend? Sil. In love, All men but Proteus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words And love you 'gainst the nature of love: force you. Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire Enter VALENTINE. Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch; ; Thou friend of an ill fashion. 4 Approv'd, i. e. proved, experienced. The word now was supplied in the folio of 1632. Pro. Valentine! Val Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; (For such is a friend now), treacherous man! I am sorry I must never trust thee more, But count the world a stranger for thy sake. The private wound is deep'st: O time most curst! I tender it here; I do as truly suffer, As e'er I did commit. Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest :— Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; 6 This is the reading of the folio 1632. 7 Pope observed that it was very odd for Valentine to give up his mistress at once, without any reason alleged," and various expedients have been suggested to obviate the objection, but none satisfactory. It has been conjectured that the last lines should be given to Thurio, to Silvia, and even to Proteus: and again that Valentine means to give up his wrath and not his mistress, but it is obvious by Julia's emotion that this at least was not understood by her. We are reduced, therefore, to conclude with Mr. Lloyd, that "Valentine may have had his apprehensions and interfered, it may be, to rescue Silvia scarcely more from Proteus than from herself." Mr. Collier suggests that, if we suppose him not to have overheard all that passed between |