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Shakespear Illustrated.

Fable of the Two GENTLEMEN of

VERONA.

ALENTINE, a young Gentleman of Verona, is fent by his Father to travel; he goes to

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Milan to attend the Emperor, and falls in love with Silvia, Daughter to the Duke of that Place: the returns his Affection with equal 'Ardour, but being promised by her Father to Thurio, a Man whom he hates, they are obliged to keep their mutual Paffion fecret.

Protheus, the Friend of Valentine, remains at Verona, courting Julia, a Lady with whom he had been long enamoured; juft as he had obtained her Promise to reward his Love, his VOL. III. Father

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Father fends him likewife to the Emperor's Court he parts with Julia with many Protestations of eternal Conftancy; but, at his Arrival at Milan, being introduced by his Friend Valentine to Sylvia, he forgets Julia, falls paffionately in love with that Lady, and refolves to gain her for himself.

Valentine not fufpecting this Treachery in his Friend, acquaints him with the History of his Love, and begs his Affiftance in ftealing away the Lady, who had confented to marry him privately that Night.

Protheus promifes to ferve him, but pretending Business to avoid him, goes to the Duke, to whom he relates all that his Friend had just before intrufted him with. The Duke in a Rage confines his Daughter in a Tower, and banilhes Valentine from Milan.

Protheus he employs to plead for Thurio to his Daughter, who by that Means getting Accefs to her, declares his own Paffion, and is repulfed with Difdain.

Julia, ignorant of her Lover's Falfhood, and impatient of his Abfence, disguises herself in the Habit of a Page, and travels to Milan; there the lodges at the fame Inn where her Lover does, and is informed by the Hoft that Protheus was in love with the Duke's Daughter, to whom that Night, in Thurio's Name, he gives a Serenade.

Julia is prefent at the Mufic, which being over, Protheus entertains Sylvia with his Paffion, in the hearing of his disguised Mistress, who retires to her Inn in great Discontent, where Protheus coming foon after, fees her, and not knowing her, hires her for his Page.

Valentine in his Journey to Mantua, is feized in a Foreft by fome Out-laws, who make him their King.

Silvia having contrived to escape out of her Tower, follows her Lover, and paffing through the Foreft, is taken by those Outlaws: the Duke, Protheus and Thurio follow her, and Julia Protheus.

Protheus finding her in the Hands of these Ruffians, who were going to offer her Violence, rescues her, but his Service being ill received, and his Love abfolutely denied, he threatens her with Force likewife. This happening near Valentine's Cave, who, unseen, had been a Witness of his Friend's Treachery, he rushes out, delivers Silvia, and making himself known, paffionately upbraids Protheus with his Bafenefs.

Protheus, ftruck with Remorfe and Shame, acknowledges his Guilt, profeffes his Repentance, and implores of his Friend Pardon. Valentine readily grants it, and as a Proof of his fincere Reconcilement, offers to resign Silvia to the disguised Julia being prefent at this Declaration,

him;

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claration, fwoons away; recovering, makes herself known, and Protheus reconciles himself to her. The Out-laws bring in the Duke and Thurio, whom they had taken Prifoners'; Valentine releafes the Duke, but feeing Thurio about to seize Silvia, whom he calls his own. he threatens him with instant Death if he does not refign his Pretenfions. Thurio yields her with Contempt, which fo difpleases the Duke, who declares he is charmed with the Spirit and Conftancy of Valentine, that he beflows her upon him, and pardoning the Outlaws at his Requeft, they all return to Milan, to celebrate the double Nuptials.

Part of the Plot of this Play is taken from the Story of Felismena, in the Second Book of the Diana of George Montemayor, a Paftoral Romance, tranflated from the Spanish in Shakefpear's time; the Loves of Protheus and Julia, in the Play their Characters and Adventures are the fame, with those of Felix and Felismena in this Romance, whose History is thus introduced.

Three Nymphs dedicated to the Service of Diana, ftraying too far from the Temple of that Goddefs, in which they refided, are mét in the Woods by as many favage Men, who, ftruck with their Beauty, attempted to carry them away by force: their Cries drew a young Shepherdefs to their Affiftance, who being armed with a Bow and Quiver, fhot her Arrows fo fuccessfully at the Ravifhers, that, in a few Moments, the laid them all breathlefs at

her

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