a

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 the to my face?
Pro. She says, it is a fair one.
Thu. Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black.

Pro. But pearls are fair ; and the old saying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.

Jul. 'Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies' eyes ;
For I had rather wink than look on them. [Aside.

Thu. How likes the my discourse?
Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.
Thu. But well, when I discourse of love, and peace?
Jul. But better, indeed, when

you
hold your peace.

[ Aside.
Thu. What says she to my valour?
Pro. O, fir, the makes no doubt of that.
Jul. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

[ Afde. Thu. What says she to my

birth? Pro. That you are well deriv'd. Jul. True; from a gentleman to a fool. [ Aside. Thu. Considers the my possessions ? Pro. O, ay; and pities them. Thu. Wherefore? Jul. That such an ass should owe them. [ Afide. Pro. That they are out by lease. Jul. Here comes the duke.

Enter DUKE.

Duke. How now, fir Proteus ? how now, Thurio? Which of you saw fir Eglamour of late ?

Thu,

Thu. Not I.
Pro. Nor I.
Duke.

Saw you my daughter ?
Pro.

Neither. Duke. Why, then she's filed unto that peasant Valentine ; And Eglamour is in her company. 'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both, As he in penance wander'd through the forest : Him he knew well, and guess’d that it was the ; But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it : Besides, she did intend confession At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not : These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence. Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse, But mount you presently; and meet with me Upon the rising of the mountain-foot That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fied : Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

[Exit. 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 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.

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.
Go thou with her to the west end of the wood,
There is our captain : we'll follow him that's fied;
The thicket is beset, he cannot 'scape.

i 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.

a

a

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 fit alone, unseen of any,
And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,

Tune my distresses, and record my woes.
O thou that doft inhabit in

my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless ;
Left, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was !
Repair me with tly presence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain !-
What hallowing, 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.

a

a

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 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 am sure, you cannot give.

Val. How like a dream is this I see and hear ;
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [ Afide.

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 presence.

[ Aside. Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast,

Rather

Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
0, beaven be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul ;
And fuli as much (for more there cannot be,)

do deteft false perjur'd Proteus : Therefore be gone, folicit me no more.

Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look ?
0, '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 belor'd.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear fake 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:
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend !
Pro.

In love,
Who respects friend ?
Sil.

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!
Thou hast beguild my hopes ; nought but mine eye

Could