SCENE IV.-Another Part of the Forest.

Enter VALENTINE.

4

Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths 48
Descended into perjury to love me.

8Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou 'dst two,
And that's far worse than none: better have

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desart, 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 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!
II
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!
[Noise within.
What halloing and what stir is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their
law,

Sil. All men but Proteus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, 16 I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end, And love you 'gainst the nature of love,force ye.

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

20

To hazard life and rescue you from him
That would 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, 24
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Val. [Aside.] How like a dream is this I see
and hear!

Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

28

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. [Aside.] And me, when he approacheth
to your presence.

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 perjur'd Proteus.
Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.

32

Sil. O heaven!
Pro.

I'll force thee yield to my desire.

Val. [Coming forward.] Ruffian, let go that
rude uncivil touch;

Thou friend of an ill fashion!
Pro.

Valentine!

60

'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confound me.
Forgive me, Valentine. If hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender't here: I do as truly suffer

36 As e'er I did commit.

40

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look!

Val.
Then, I am paid;
And once again I do receive thee honest.
Who by repentance is not satisfied

76

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd.
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd: 81
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

Jul. O me unhappy!
Pro. Look to the boy.

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

Look up; speak.

128

[Swoons. Come not within the measure of my wrath;
85 Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands;
Take but possession of her with a touch;
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.
Thu. Sir Valentine, care not for her, I. 132
I hold him but a fool that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not:

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.

88

92

Here 'tis: this is it. [Gives a ring.
Pro. How! let me see.
Why this is the ring I gave to Julia.
Jul. O, cry you mercy, sir; I have mistook:
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

96

[Shows another ring.
Pro. But 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!

100

140

I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. 135
Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight 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 unrivall'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman and well deriv'd;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserv'd her.
Val. I thank your Grace; the gift hath made
me happy.

I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.

144

148

Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.

Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal

152

Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts.
Come, let us go: we will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your Grace to smile.
What think you of this page, my lord? 164
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 saying?

Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, That you will wonder what hath fortuned. 169 Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance, but to hear The story of your loves discovered:

That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;

One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. 173 [Exeunt.

Shal. Did her grandsire leave her seven hun24 dred pound? Eva. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.