A smaller boon than this I cannot beg, And less than this I am sure you cannot give. Pro Oh, may this rescue make you happy, madam! Sil. Had I been seized on by a hungry lion, Therefore, begone, solicit me no more. Val. How like a dream is all I see and hear! O, 'tis the curse of fate, When women cannot love where they're beloved. Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved : For whose dear sake thou then didst rend thy faith Descended into perjury.-False man! Thou counterfeit to thy true friend! Pro. In love, Who respects friend? Sil. All men but Proteus. Val. Heaven, lend me patience to endure awhile! I'll woo you, like a soldier, at arms' end. Sil. O, heaven! [As Proteus goes to seize Silvia, Valentine rushes be- Val. Ruffian, forbear that rude, unhallow'd touch! Pro. Valentine! Val. Comrades, lay hold on him. [The Outlaws seize Proteus,-Julia runs to him. My dearest Silvia ! Indulgent heaven at length has heard my prayer, And brought again my Silvia to my arms; Val. Dismiss those fears, my love; here I command: Thou common friend,-that's without faith or love(For such is a friend now)-thou treacherous man, How thou'st beguil'd my hopes! Naught 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 the right hand Is perjured to the bosom? To die, but lightly expiates thy offence. Pro. My shame and guilt confound me: Thy wrath is just; and I as freely suffer, As e'er I did commit: I merit death. Val. Go,-bear him from my sight;-and in my cave Await my further will. [The Outlaws are taking Proteus away, R. Jul. O me, unhappy! [She faints.] Sil. Look to the youth. Val. Why, boy, look up. [She recovers.] What is the matter? Speak. Jul. Hold, hold awhile: [The Outlaws stop.] My master charged me, sir, To give a ring to Lady Silvia; Which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. 'Tis true; I do confess it. Jul. This is it. Pro. How? Let me see : This is the ring I gave to Julia. [Gives a ring to Proteus. Jul. O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook; This is the ring you sent to Silvia. [Offers Proteus another ring. Pro. How cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart I gave this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me. And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How? Julia! [Discovers herself. Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertained them deeply in her heart: How hast thou with thy falschood cleft the root on't Val. He's touch'd to the very soul. Sil. Mine pities them. Jul. O, Proteus, let this habit make thee blush; Be thou ashamed that I have ta'en upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love : Modesty finds it is the lesser blot, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect; that one blemish Fills him with faults, makes him run through all errors: Inconstancy falls off ere it begins : The magic spell dissolves that dimm'd my sight, And my true day-spring dawns to me again : All Silvia boasts of beauty I may see More fresh in Julia with a constant eye. Sil. Give me your hand, sweet Julia,-yours, Sir Proteus ; Let me be bless'd to reconcile your vows: [Silvia joins their hands. [To Valentine.] Nor must you hold out enmity for ever. Pro. If to repent me, Valentine; if hearty sorrow Be an atoning ransom for offence, If truest penitence can be forgiven, Val. Forgiven, say'st thou? Who by repentance is not satisfied, Is nor of heaven nor earth;-by penitence The Eternal's wrath's appeased.-Shall man be more? Thus once again I do receive thee honest! [He embraces Proteus. Thy friend, and lovely Julia, both are thine. Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever. [Ubaldo, Duke, Luigi, Thurio, Eglamour, Frederigo, Leonzio, Roberto, and Pietro, without, L. Egl. This way they bore her, good my lord, this way. Duke. Thanks, good Sir Eglamour, lead on. Uba. & Lui. A prize, a prize! Sil. My father and Sir Eglamour escaped! Enter UBALDO, DUKE, LUIGI, THURIO, EGLAMOUR, FRE- And answer to our chief. Val. Hold off your hands,-it is the duke; forbear. F those fears, my love; here I command friend,-that's without faith or lovefriend now)-thou treacherous man, Teguil'd my hopes! Naught but mine eye persaded me;-now I dare not say, end alive; thou wouldst disprove me: Be trusted now, when the right hand the bosom? dly expiates thy offence. Same and guilt confound me: st; and I as freely suffer, Commit: I merit death. Bear him from my sight;-and in my cave Val. He's touch'd to the very soul. Sil. Mine pities them. Jul. O, Proteus, let this habit make thee blush; Be thou ashamed that I have ta'en upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love : Modesty finds it is the lesser blot, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect; that one blemish Fills him with faults, makes him run through all errors: Inconstancy falls off ere it begins : The magic spell dissolves that dimm'd my sight, And my true day-spring dawns to me again : All Silvia boasts of beauty I may see More fresh in Julia with a constant eye. Sil. Give me your hand, sweet Julia,-yours, Sir Proteus ; Let me be bless'd to reconcile your vows: [Silvia joins their hands. [To Valentine.] Nor must you hold out enmity for ever. Pro. If to repent me, Valentine; if hearty sorrow Be an atoning ransom for offence, If truest penitence can be forgiven, Val. Forgiven, say'st thou? Who by repentance is not satisfied, Is nor of heaven nor earth;-by penitence The Eternal's wrath's appeased.-Shall man be more? Thus once again I do receive thee honest! [He embraces Proteus. Thy friend, and lovely Julia, both are thine. Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever. [Ubaldo, Duke, Luigi, Thurio, Eglamour, Frederigo, Leonzio, Roberto, and Pietro, without, L. Egl. This way they bore her, good my lord, this way. |
