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 record3 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 halloing, and what stir, is this to-day? These are my mates, that make their wills their law, Have some unhappy passenger in chace: 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 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. [Aside. 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 pre sence. [Aside. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look? Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love, For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst two, Pro. Who respects friend? Sil. In love, All men but Proteus. 5 Felt, experienced. 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, (For such is a friend now,) treacherous man! I am sorry I must never trust thee more, I tender it here; I do as truly suffer, As e'er I did commit. Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest: · Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd: [Faints. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is 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. Jul. 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. [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! Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain❜d them deeply in her heart: How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root ?7 O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush! Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love: It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true: O heaven! were man But constant! he were perfect: that one error Fills him with faults; makes him run through all sins: 6 Direction. 7 An allusion to cleaving the pin in archery. Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins: ever. Jul. And I have mine. Enter Out-laws, with Duke and THURIO. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize! Val. Forbear, I say; it is my lord to the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac❜d, 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 measures of my wrath : Do not name Silvia thine; if once again, Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands, Take but possession 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 His body for a girl that loves him not: I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. 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. Length of my sword. 9 Interest. |