Page images
PDF
EPUB

Who should be trusted now, when the right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus,
I'm forry I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy fake.
The private wound is deepest. Oh time, most accurft!
'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confound me:
Forgive me, Valentine; if hearty forrow
Be a fufficient 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 fatisfy'd,

Is nor of heav'n nor earth, for these are pleas'd;
By penitence th' Eternal's wrath's appeas'd.
And that my love may appear plain and free,

All that was mine in Silvia I give thee. f

Jul. Oh me unhappy!

Pro. Look to the boy.

[Swoons.

Val. Why, boy? how now? what's the matter?

look up; fpeak.

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 fee:

This is the ring I gave to Julia.

Jul. Oh, cry you mercy, Sir, I have mistook;

This is the ring you fent to Silvia.

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

I gave this unto Julia.

Ful. And Julia her self did give it me.

And Julia her felf hath brought it hither.
Pro. How, Julia ?

Jul.

It is (I think) very odd to give up his mistress thus at once, without any reason alledg'd. But our author probably followed the stories just as he found them, in kis Novels, as well as in his Histories,

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 immodeft rayment. If shame live
In a disguife of love,

It is the leffer blot modesty finds,

Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.

Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true, oh heay'n,

were man

But conftant, he were perfect; that one error
Fills him with faults, makes him run throughall fins
Inconstancy 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 close;
Twere pity two fuch friends should long be foes.
Pro. Bear witness, heav'n, I have my wish for ever
Jul. And I mine.

[blocks in formation]

Enter Duke, Thurio, and Out-laws.

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,
Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands,
Take but poffession 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..

Duke. The more degenerate and bafe art thou,
To make fuch means for her as thou haft done,.
And leave her on such flight conditions..
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,

And think thee worthy of an empress' love :
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,
Plead a new state in thy unrival'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman, and well deriv'd,
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou haft deserv'd her.
Val. I thank your Grace; the gift hath made me happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughter's fake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
Duke. I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be.
Val. These banish'd men that I have kept withal,

Are men endu'd with worthy qualities:
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile.
They are reformed, civil, full of good,

And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
Duke. Thou hast prevail'd, I pardon them and thee;
Dispose of them as thou know'st their deferts.
Come, let us go; we will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and all folemnity.

condude

Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our difcourse to make your Grace to fimile.
What think you of this page, my lord?

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 pass along,

That you will wonder what hath fortuned.
Come Protheus, 'tis your penance but to hear
The story of your love discovered :

That done, our day of marriage shall be yours,
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.

[Exeunt omnes..

THE

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »