ACT V.

SCENE 1. The same. An Abbey.

Enter EGLAMOUR.

Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky;
And now it is about the very hour

That Silvia, at friar Patrick's cell, should meet me.
She will not fail; for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;
So much they spur their expedition.

Enter SILVIA.

See where she comes; Lady, a happy evening!
Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour!
Out at the postern by the abbey wall;

I fear I am attended by some spies.

Egl. Fear not the forest is not three leagues off:

If we recover that, we are sure enough.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. The same.

A Room in the Duke's

Palace.

Enter THURIO, PROTEUS, and JULIA.

Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit?
Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was;
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.
Thu. What, that my leg is too long?

Pro. No; that it is too little.

Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder. Pro. But love will not be spurred to what it loathes. Thu. What says she to my face?

Pro. She says it is a fair one.

Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is, Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.

[Aside.

Jul. T's trie: such pearls as put out ladies' eyes; For I had rather wink than look on them. Thu. How likes she my discourse? Pro. when you talk of war.

The. But well when I discourse of love and peace? Jul. But better indeed, when you hold your peace.

Thu. What says she to my valor?

[Aside.

Pro. O. sir, she makes no doubt of that.

Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

[Aside.

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well derived.

Jul. True, from a gentleman to a fool.

[Aside.

Thu. Considers she my possessions?

Pro. O. ay; and pities them.

Thu. Wherefore?

Jul. That such an ass should owe1 them. [Aside. Pro. That they are out by lease.

Jul. Here comes the duke.

Enter DUKE.

Duke. How now, Sir Proteus? how now, Thurio? Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?

Thu. Not I.

Pro. Nor I.

Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant Val

entine;

And Eglamour is in her company.

'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wandered through the forest;
Him he knew well, and guessed that it was she:
But, being masked, he was not sure of it:

1 i. e. possess them, own them.

2 By Thurio's possessions he himself understands his lands. But Proteus chooses to take the word likewise in a figurative 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.

Besides, she did intend confession

At Patrick's cell this even: and there she was not:
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently; and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain foot

That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled:

Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, That flies her fortune when it follows her: I'll after; more to be revenged 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. [Exit. Jul. And I will follow more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.

[Exit.

SCENE III. Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest.

Enter SILVIA and Outlaws.

Out. Come, come;

Be patient, we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one
Have learned me how to brook this patiently.
2 Out. Come, bring her away.

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 honorable mind,

And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee! [Exeunt.

VOL. I.

19

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 record1 my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless;
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was!
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!—
What hallooing, and what stir, is this to-day?

These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have some unhappy passenger in chase:

They love me well; yet I have much to do

To keep them from uncivil outrages.

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 honor 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.
Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am!
Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
But, by my coming, I have made you happy.

1 To record anciently signified to sing.

[Aside.

Sil. By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your pres

ence.

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 begone, solicit me no more.

[Aside.

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,1
When women cannot love where they're beloved.

Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved. 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 hadst 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 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 you.

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!

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

love,

1 Approved is confirmed by proof.