JUL. Here comes the duke.

Enter DUKE.

DUKE. How now, fir Proteus? how now, Thurio? Which of you faw fir Eglamour 4 of late?

DUKE. Why, then fhe's fled unto that peafant

Valentine;

And Eglamour is in her company.

'Tis true; for friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander'd through the foreft:
Him he knew well, and guefs'd that it was fhe;
But, being mafk'd, he was not sure of it:
Befides, the did intend confeffion

At Patrick's cell this even; and there fhe was not:
Thefe likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, ftand not to discourse,
But mount you prefently; and meet with me
Upon the rifing of the mountain-foot

That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled.
Despatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. [Exit.
THU. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,5

he fays they are out by leafe, he means they are no longer enjoyed by their mafter, (who is a fool,) but are leafed out to another." Edinburgh Magazine, Nov. 1786. STEEVENS.

fir Eglamour-] Sir, which is not in the old copy, was inferted by the editor of the fecond folio. MALONE. a peevish girl,] Peevish, in ancient language, fignifies foolish. So, in King Henry VI. P. I:

"To fend fuch peevish tokens to a king." STEEVENS,

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 mifchances 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 Moyfes, and Valerius, follow him.

Go thou with her to the weft end of the wood, There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled; The thicket is befet, he cannot 'fcape.

1 OUT. Come, I muft bring you to our captain's

cave:

Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not ufe a woman lawlessly.

SIL. O Valentine, this I endure for thee. [Exeunt.

recklefs Silvia.] i. e. careless, heedlefs. So, in Hamlet: -like a puff'd and reckless libertine." STEEVENS,

SCENE IV.

Another part of the Foreft.

Enter VALENTINE.

VAL. How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This fhadowy defert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I fit alone, unfeen of any,
And, to the nightingale's complaining notes,
Tune my diftreffes, and record my woes."
O thou that doft inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the manfion fo long tenantless;
Left, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was !8
Repair me with thy prefence, Silvia;

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn fwain !

7

record my woes.] To record anciently fignified to fing. So, in The Pilgrim, by Beaumont and Fletcher:

66

O fweet, fweet! how the birds record too?" Again, in a paftoral, by N. Breton, published in England's Helicon, 1614:

"Sweet Philomel, the bird that hath the heavenly throat, "Doth now, alas! not once afford recording of a note." Again, in another Dittie, by Thomas Watson, ibid:

"Now birds record with harmonie."

Sir John Hawkins informs me, that to record is a term ftill ufed by bird-fanciers, to exprefs the firft effays of a bird in finging. STEEVENS.

80 thou that doft inhabit in my breast,

Leave not the manfion fo long tenantless;
Left, growing ruinous, the building fall,

And leave no memory of what it was!] It is hardly poffible to point out four lines, in any of the plays of Shakspeare, more remarkable for ease and elegance. STEEVENS.

And leave no memory of what it was!] So, in Marlowe's Jew of Malta:

"And leave no memory that e'er I was." RITSON.

What halloing, and what stir, is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have some unhappy paffenger 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 afide.

Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.

PRO. Madam, this fervice I have done for you, (Though you refpect not aught your fervant doth,) To hazard life, and refcue you from him

That wou'd have forc'd your honour and your love. Vouchfafe me, for my meed, but one fair look; A fmaller boon than this I cannot beg,

And lefs than this, I am fure, you cannot give.

VAL. How like a dream is this I fee and hear! Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Afide. SIL. O miferable, 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'fi me most unhappy.

JUL. And me, when he approacheth to your prefence. [Ahde. SIL. Had I been feized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beaft,

9

my meed,] i. e. reward. So, in Titus Andronicus :

"Of noble minds, is honourable meed." STEEVENS.

Again, in Gammer Gurton's Needle, 1575:

"O Chrift! that I were fure of it! in faith he should

have his mede."

See also Spenfer, and almoft every writer of the times. REED.

Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
O, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine,
Whofe life's as tender to me as my foul;
And full as much, (for more there cannot be,)
I do deteft falfe perjur'd Proteus:

Therefore be gone, folicit me no more.

PRO. What dangerous action, ftood it next to death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look ?
O, 'tis the curfe in love, and ftill 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 firft beft, love,
For whofe dear fake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all thofe oaths
Defcended into perjury, to love me.

Thou haft 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 refpects friend?

SIL.

In love,

All men but Proteus.

PRO. Nay, if the gentle fpirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form,

I'll woo you like a foldier, at arms' end;

And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you. SIL. O heaven!

PRO.

I'll force thee yield to my defire.

VAL. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch; Thou friend of an ill fashion!

and ftill approv'd,] Approv'd is felt, experienced.