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 cowardice.

Thu. What says she to my birth?

Pro. That you are well deriv'd.

Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool.
Thu. Considers she my possessions?
Pro. O, ay; and pities them.

Thu Wherefore?

(Aside.)

Jal. That such an ass should owe them. (Aside.) Pro. That they are out by lease.

Jul. Here comes the duke.

Enter DURB

Neither.

Pro. Duke. Why, then she's fled unto that peasant nd Eglamour is in her company. [Valentine; is true; for friar Laurence met them both,

he in penance wander'd through the forest: im he knew well, and guess'd that it was she; at. being mask'd, he was not sure of it: esides, she did intend confession

Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not: hese likelihoods confirm her flight from hence. herefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse, at mount you presently; and meet with me pon the rising of the mountain-foot

[Exit.

[Exit.

hat leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled. espatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. That. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl, hat flies her fortune when it follows her: Il after, more to be reveng'd on Eglamour, han for the love of reckless Silvia. Pro. And I will follow more for Silvia's love, han hate of Eglamour that goes with her. [Exit. Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love, han hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. KENE III-Frontiers of Mantua. The Forest. Enter SILVIA and Outlaws.

10ut. Come, come;

le patient, we must bring you to our captain.

[Exit.

Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one have learn'd me how to brook this patiently. 2 Out. Come, bring her away.

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.

3 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.

[cave: 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's Fearnot; 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! 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, Tane 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; Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain! What hallooing, and what stir, is this to-day? These are my mates, that make their wills their law,

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 ine 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 for 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?
O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,
When women cannot love where they're belov'd.

Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's belov'd.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
Descended into perjury, to love me.

Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou had'st two,
And that's far worse than none; better have none
Than plural faith, which is too much by one:
Thon counterfeit to thy true friend!

In love,

Pro.
Who respects friends?
Sil.
All men but Protens.
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! [love;
Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or
(For such is a friend now,) treacherous man!
Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say,
I have one friend alive; thou would'st disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest: O time, most curst'
'Mougst 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 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:

Who by repentance is not satisfied,

Is not of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd:-
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.

(Faints

were man

sins;

But constant, he were perfect: that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all
Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins:
What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?

Val. Come, come, a hand from either:

Let me be blest to make this happy close;
Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
Pro. Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for
Jul. And I have mine.
Lever.

Enter Outlaws, with DUKE and THURIO.
Out.
A prize, a prize, a prize!
Val. Forbear, I say: it is my lord the duke.
Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd,
Banish'd Valentine.

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, 1;
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.
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.

Duke. I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.
Val. These banish'd men, that I have kept withal,
Are men, endued with worthy qualities;
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their exile:
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
Duke. Thou hast prevail'd: I pardon them and
Dispose of them, as thou know'st their deserts.
Come, let us go; we will include all jars
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.

[thee:

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? [blushes.
Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him; he
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.-
Come, Protens; '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. [Exeunt.

0000000

ACT I.

SCENE I.

P. 31, c. 1, l. 11. shapeless idleness.] The expression is fine, as implying that idleness prevents the giving any form or character to the manners. WARBURTON.

Id. 1. 24

some shallow story of deep love, How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont.] The poem of Musaus, entitled HERO AND LEANDER, is meant. Marlow's translation of this piece was extremely popular, and deservedly so, many of Marlow's lines being as smooth as those of Dryden.

Id. 1. 30. —— nay, give me not the boots.] A proverbial expression, though now disused, signifying, don't make a laughing stock of me; don't play with me.

Id. 1. 40. However, but a folly, &c.] This love will end in a foolish action, to produce which you are long to spend your wit, or it will end in the loss of your wit, which will be overpowered by the folly of love. JOHNSON. Id. c. 2, 1. 10. At Milan.] Mr. Malone reads "To Milan"-which may here be intended as an imperfect sentence. I am now bound for Milan; or let me hear from thee by letters addressed to me at Milan.

Id. 1. 24. Mr. Pope's opinion that this scene was interpolated by the players seems advanced without any proof, only to give a greater license to criticism. JOHNSON.

Id. l. 52. a laced mutton,] A laced mutton was in our author's time so established a term for a courtezan, that a street in Clerkenwell, which was much frequented by women of the town, was then called Mutton-lane. P. 32, c. 1, l. 12.

why that's noddy.] Mr. Steevens says noddy was a game at cards; but this play upon syllables is hardly worth explaining. The speakers intend to fix the name of noddy, that is, fool, on each other. ld. 1. 38. -in telling her mind.] The old copy has "in telling your mind,"-which Mr. Malone adopts. The meaning is She being so hard to me who was the bearer of your mind, I fear she will prove no less so to you, when you address her in person.

Id. 1. 43. you have testern'd me;] You have gratified me with a tester, testern, or testen, that is, with a sixpence. JOHNSON.

SCENE 11.

Id. 163. What think'st thou of the fair sir Eglamour] This sir Eglamour must not be con

founded with the persona dramatis of the same name. The latter lived at Milan, and had vowed "pure chastity" upon the death of his "true love." Perhaps sir Eglamour was once the common cant term for an insignificant inamorato.

Id. l. 74. Should censure thus, &c.] To censure, in our author's time, generally signified to give one's judgment.

Id. e. 2. l. 6. "that's "— MALONE.
Id. l. 18.

--a goodly broker!] A broker was used for matchmaker, sometimes for a procuress. JOHNSON.

Id. l. 32.

say No, to that, &c.] A paraphrase on the old proverb, "Maids say nay, and take it." Id. 1. 48.- stomach on your meat,] Stomach was used for passion or obstinacy. JOHNSON. Id. 1. 50. "that you"- MALONE. Id. l. 77. too harsh a descant:] Descant is a term in music, signifying in general that kind of harmony in which one part is broken, and formed into a kind of paraphrase on the other. Id. l. 78. -but a mean, &c.] The mean is the

what sad talk-] Sad is the same as grave or serious. Id. l. 56. of slender reputation,] i. e. who are thought slightly of.

Id.

1. 59. Some, to discover islands far away;]
In Shakspeare's time, voyages for the dis-
covery of the Islands of America were much
in vogue.
And the sons of the best families
in England, went very frequently on these ad-
ventures. WARBURTON.

Id. l. 65. great impeachment to his age,]
Impeachment, i. e. reproach or imputation.
Id. 1.77 Attends the emperor in his royal court.)
Shakspeare has been guilty of no mistake in
placing the emperor's court at Milan in this