Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was the ;
But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it.
Besides, she did intend confession
At Patrick's cell this Ev'n, 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 tow'rds Mantua, whither they are filed.
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. [Exit Dukę.

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That Aies her fortune where ir follows her:
I'll after, more to be reveng'd of Eglamour,
Than for the love of reckless Silvia.

Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love,
Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.

Jul. 'And I will follow, more to cross that love,
Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exeunt,
SCEN E changes to the FOREST.

Enter Silvia and Out-laws.
. OME, 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.

2 Out. Come, bring her away.
i Out. Where is the gentleman, that was with her?

Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us ;
Buc Moyses and Valerius follow him.
Go thou with her to th’west end of the wood,
There is our captain: follow him, that's filed.
The thicker is beset, he cannot 'scape.

i 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

SCENE, the Out-law's Cave in the Forest.

Enter Valentine. Val. a

This shadowy desart, unfrequented woods, I better brook than flourishing peopled towns. Here can I fit 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, 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 hallo'ing, 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?

Enter Protheus, Silvia, and Julia. Pro. Madam, this service have I done for you. (Tho' you respect not ought your servant doth) To hazard life, and rescue you from him, That wou'd have forc'd 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. [Afide.

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 presence.

[Aside.

Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Protheus rescue me.
Oh, heav'n 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 deteft false perjur'd Protheus ;
Therefore be gone, sollicit me no more.

Pro. What dang’rous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look?
Oh, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,
When women cannot love, where they're belov'd.
Sil. When Protheus cannot

love, where he's belov’d.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear sake thou then didît 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
Than plural faith, which is too much by one.
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

Pra, In love,
Who respe&s 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 soldier, at arms end,
And love you 'gainst the nature of love; force ye.

Sil. Oh heav'n!
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 ;
For such is a friend now: thou treach'rous man!
Thou hast beguild my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me.

Now I dare not say,
Į have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me,
Who should be trusted now, when the right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus,

I'm sorry, I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy lake.
The private wound is deepest. Oh time, most accurst!
'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!

Pro. My shame and guilt confound me;
Forgive me, Valentine ; if hearty sorrow
Be à sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender't here; I do as truly suffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid :
And once again I do receive thee honeft.
Who by repentance is not satisfy'd,
Is nor of heav'n, nor earth; for these are pleas'd ,
By penitence th’Eternal's wrath's appeas'a.
And that my love may appear plain and free,
All, that was mine in Silvia, I give thee.
Jul. Oh me unhappy!

[Sxoons, Pro. Look to the boy.

Val. Why, boy! how now? what's the matter? look up; speak.

Jul. O good Sir, my master charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.

Pro. Where is that ring, boy?
Jul. Here 'tis : this is it.

Pro. How ? let me see :
This is the ring I gavę to Julia.

Jul. Oh, cry you mercy, Sir, I have mistook ;
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

Pro. How cam'ft thou by this ring? at my depart, 1

gave this unto Julia.

Ful. And Julia her self did give it me. And Julia her self hath brought it hither.

Pro. How, Julia ?

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain’d 'em deeply in her heart :
How oft haft thou with perjury cleft the root ?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou afham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest rayment : if shame live

In

In a disguise of love.
It is the lefser blot, 'modesty finds,
Women to change their shapes, 'than men their minds.
Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true; oh heav'n!

were man
But constant, he were perfect ; that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all fins:
Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins.
What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?

Val. Come, come, a hand from either : Let me be blest to make this happy Close ; 'Twere pity, two such friends should 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 disgrac'd,
The banish'd Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine ?
Thu. Yonder is Silvia : and Silvia's mine.

Val. Thurio, give back; or else embrace thy death :
Come not within the measure of my wrath.
Do not name Silvia thine ; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee. Here the stands, (17)
Take but possession of her with a touch;
I dare thee but to breath upon my love,

Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I.
I hold him but a fool, that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not.
I claim her not; and therefore she is thine.

(17) Verona Mall not hold thee.] Thus all the Editions, but, whether thro' the Mistake of the first Editors, or the Poet's own Carelessness, this Reading is abfurdly faulty. For the Threat here is to Thurio, who is a Milanese ; 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 these Circumstances, I ventur'd to adjust the Text, as, I imagine, the Poet must have intended: i. e. Milan, thy Country, shall never see thee again : thou shalt never live to go back thither,

Duke,