Sil. Amen, amen! go on, good Eglamour! Out at the postern by the abbey-wall; I fear, I am attended by some spies. Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia. Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was; And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. What, that my leg is too long? Pro. No; that it is too little. Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder. Pro. But love will not be spurr'd to what it loaths. Thu. What says she to my face? Pro. She says, it is a fair one. Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. Thu. How likes she my discourse? [Aside. Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace? Jul. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace. Thu. What says she to my valour? Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. [Aside. Jul. She needs not, when she knows it coward ice. • Safe. [Aside. Thu. What says she to my birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [Aside. Pro. O, ay; and pities them. Thu. Wherefore? Jul. That such an ass should owe them. Pro. That they are out by lease. Jul. Here comes the duke. Enter Duke. [Aside. Duke. How now, sir Proteus? how now, Thurio? Which of you saw sir Eglamour of late? Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant Valentine; And Eglamour is in her company. "Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled : • Own. + Foolish. [Exit. Careless. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Erit. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. SCENE III. Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Enter Silvia, and Out-laws. Out. Conie, come; [Exit. Be patient, we must bring you to our captain. 1 Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her? 3 Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath out-run us, But Moyses, and Valerius, follow him. Go thou with her to the west end of the wood, There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled; The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape. 1 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 IV. Another part of the Forest. Enter Valentine. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! Here can I sit alone, unseen of any, Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!- 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. And less than this, I am 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[Aside. sence. 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. Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look? For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou hadst 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! Pro. Who respects friend? Sil. In love, All men but Proteus. 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! * Felt, experienced. |