Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, That flies her fortune when it follows her: I'll after; more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, Than for the love of reckless 5 Silvia. [Exit. Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love, Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exit. Jul. And I will follow more to cross that love, Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exit. SCENE III. Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Enter SILVIA, and Out-laws. Out. Come, come; 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 outrun 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! 4 Peevish in ancient language signified foolish. Here can I sit alone, unseen of any, Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!— 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 would have forced 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. 1 To record, anciently signified to sing. It is still used by bird fanciers to express the first essays of a bird to sing; and is evidently derived from the recorder or pipe with which they were formerly taught. 20 thou that dost inhabit in my breast, It is hardly possible (says Steevens) to point our four lines in Shakspeare more remarkable for ease and elegance than the preceding. 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, Thou hast no faith left now 5, unless thou hadst two, 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 3 i. e. as dear. approv'd is confirm'd by proof. The word now was supplied in the folio of 1632. 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, Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; Jul. O me, unhappy! Pro. Look to the boy. [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. Pro. Where is that ring, boy! 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?? 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 the sins: Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins: What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy Enter Out-laws, with DUKE and THURIO. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize! Val. Forbear, forbear, I say; it is my lord the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Barished 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: 6 Steevens confounded the phrases of to cry aim (Merry Wives of Windsor, Act iii. Sc. 2) and to give aim, both terms in archery. He who gave aim appears to have been called the mark, and was stationed near the butts, to inform the archers how near their arrows fell to the butt. We are indebted to Mr. Gifford for distinguishing the terms.Vide Massinger, vol. ii. p. 27. Julia meaus to say that she was the mark that gave direction to his vows. i. e. of her heart, the allusion to archery is continued, and to cleaving the pin in shooting at the butts. |