Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, Sil. O Valentine! this I endure for thee. [Exeunt. SCENE, the Out-laws Cave in the Foreft. WOW ufe doth breed a habit in a man! Val. This fhadowy defart, unfrequented woods, I better brook than flourishing peopled towns. And to the nightingale's complaining notes These are my mates, that make their wills their law, They love me well, yet I have much to do To keep them from uncivil outrages. Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here ? Pro. Madam, this fervice have I done for you. Pro. Unhappy were you, Madam, ere I came; 1 [Afide. Sil. By thy approach thou mak'ft me most unhappy. [Afide. Sil. Had I been feized by a hungry lion, Pro. What dang'rous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look ? J'. Oh, 'tis the curfe in love, and ftill approv'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 Thou haft no faith left now, unless thou’dft two, Than plural faith, which is too much by one. Pro. In love, Who refpects friend? Sil. All men but Protheus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit 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 fafhion! 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 wouldft difprove me. Who should be trufted now, when the right hand Is perjur'd to the bofom? Protheus, I'm sorry, I must never trust thee more, a thoi The private wound is deepest. Oh time, most accurft! I tender't here; I do as truly fuffer, sanga Val. Then I am paid: And once again I do receive thee honeft. Is nor of heav'n, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; And that my love may appear plain and free, Pro. Look to the boy.. [Savoons. Val. Why, boy! how now? what's the matter? look up; fpeak. Jul. O good Sir, my mafter charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy? Pro. How let me fee: This is the ring I gave to Julia. Jul. Oh, cry your mercy, Sir, I have miftook; This is the ring you fent to Silvia. Pro. How cam'ft thou by this ring at my depart, 1 gave this unto Julia. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me. And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, یدری In a disguise of love. It is the leffer blot, modefty finds, Women to change their fhapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis 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 conftant eye? Val. Come, come, a hand from either: Let me be bleft to make this happy clofe; Twere pity, two fuch friends fhould long be foes. Pro. Bear witness, heav'n, I have my wish 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 difgrac'd, The banish'd Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine? Thu. Yonder is Silvia: and Silvia's mine. Val. Thurio, give back; or elfe 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 ftands, (13)` 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 (13) Verona fhall not hold thee.] Thus all the Editions, but, whether thro' the Miftake of the firft Editors, or the Poet's own Carelessness, this Reading is abfurdly faulty. For the Threat here is to Thurio, who is a Milanefe; and has no Concerns, as it appears with Verona, Befides, the Scene is betwixt the Confines of Milan, and Mantua, to which Silvia follows Valentine, having heard that he had retreated thither. And, upon thefe Circumstances, I ventured to adjust the Text, as, I imagine, the Poet muft have intended: i.e. Milan, thy Country fhall never fee thee again: thou shalt never live to go back thither. His body for a girl that loves him not. Duke. The more degenerate and bafe art thou, And think thee worthy of an emprefs' love: To grant one boon that I shall ask of you. Duke. I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be. Duke. Thou haft prevail'd, I pardon them and thee; Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. Val. I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy. Duke. What mean you by that faying? Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pafs along, That you will wonder what hath fortuned. The ftory of your loves difcovered : That done, our day of marriage fhall be yours, One feaft, one houfe, one mutual happiness. [Exeunt omnes. THE |