University of Virginia Library

Actus Quintus.

Scœna Prima.

Enter Eglamoure, Siluia.
Egl.
The Sun begins to guild the westerne skie,
And now it is about the very houre
That Siluia, at Fryer Patricks Cell should meet me,
She will not faile; for Louers breake not houres,
Vnlesse it be to come before their time,
So much they spur their expedition.
See where she comes: Lady a happy euening.

Sil.
Amen, Amen: goe on (good Eglamoure)
Out at the Posterne by the Abbey wall;
I feare I am attended by some Spies.

Egl.
Feare not: the Forrest is not three leagues off,
If we recouer that, we are sure enough.

Exeunt.

Scœna Secunda.

Enter Thurio, Protheus, Iulia, Duke.
Th.
Sir Protheus, what saies Siluia to my suit?

Pro.
Oh Sir, I finde her milder then she was,
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.

Thu.
What? that my leg is too long?

Pro.
No, that it is too little.

Thu.
Ile weare a Boote, to make it somewhat rounder.

Pro.
But loue will not be spurd to what it loathes.

Thu.
What saies she to my face?

Pro.
She saies it is a faire one.

Thu.
Nay then the wanton lyes: my face is blacke.

Pro.
But Pearles are faire; and the old saying is,
Blacke men are Pearles, in beauteous Ladies eyes.

Thu.
'Tis true, such Pearles as put out Ladies eyes,
For I had rather winke, then looke on them.

Thu.
How likes she my discourse?

Pro.
Ill, when you talke of war.

Thu.
But well, when I discourse of loue and peace,

Iul.
But better indeede, when you hold you peace.

Thu.
What sayes she to my valour?

Pro.
Oh Sir, she makes no doubt of that.

Iul.
She needes not, when she knowes it cowardize.

Thu.
What saies she to my birth?

Pro.
That you are well deriu'd.

Iul.
True: from a Gentleman, to a foole.

Thu.
Considers she my Possessions?

Pro.
Oh, I: and pitties them.

Thu.
Wherefore?

Iul.
That such an Asse should owe them.

Pro.
That they are out by Lease.

Iul.
Here comes the Duke.

Du.
How now sir Protheus; how now Thurio?
Which of you saw Eglamoure of late?

Thu.
Not I.

Pro.
Nor I.

Du.
Saw you my daughter?

Pro.
Neither.

Du.
Why then
She's fled vnto that pezant, Valentine;
And Eglamoure is in her Company:
'Tis true: for Frier Laurence met them both
As he, in pennance wander'd through the Forrest:
Him he knew well: and guesd that it was she,
But being mask'd, he was not sure of it.
Besides she did intend Confession
At Patricks Cell this euen, and there she was not.
These likelihoods confirme her flight from hence;
Therefore I pray you stand, not to discourse,
But mount you presently, and meete with me
Vpon the rising of the Mountaine foote
That leads toward Mantua, whether they are fled:
Dispatch (sweet Gentlemen) and follow me.

Thu.
Why this it is, to be a peeuish Girle,
That flies her fortune when it followes her:
Ile after; more to be reueng'd on Eglamoure,
Then for the loue of reck-lesse Siluia.

Pro.
And I will follow, more for Siluas loue
Then hate of Eglamoure that goes with her.

Iul.
And I will follow, more to crosse that loue
Then hate for Siluia, that is gone for loue.

Exeunt.

Scena Tertia.

Siluia, Out-lawes.
1. Out.
Come, come be patient:
We must bring you to our Captaine.

Sil.
A thousand more mischances then this one
Haue learn'd me how to brooke 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 vs.
But Moyses and Valerius follow him:
Goe thou with her to the West end of the wood,
There is our Captaine: Wee'll follow him that's fled,
The Thicket is beset, he cannot scape.

1 Out.
Come, I must bring you to our Captains caue.
Feare not: he beares an honourable minde,
And will not vse a woman lawlesly.

Sil.
O Valentine: this I endure for thee.

Exeunt.

Scœna Quarta.

Enter Valentine, Protheus, Siluia, Iulia, Duke, Thurio, Out-lawes.
Val.
How vse doth breed a habit in a man?
This shadowy desart, vnfrequented woods
I better brooke then flourishing peopled Townes:
Here can I sit alone, vn-seene of any,
And to the Nightingales complaining Notes
Tune my distresses, and record my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my brest,
Leaue not the Mansion so long Tenant-lesse,
Lest growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leaue no memory of what it was,
Repaire me, with thy presence, Siluia:
Thou gentle Nimph, cherish thy for-lorne swaine.
What hallowing, and what stir is this to day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their Law,
Haue some vnhappy passenger in chace;
They loue me well: yet I haue much to doe
To keepe them from vnciuill outrages.
Withdraw thee Valentine: who's this comes heere?

Pro.
Madam, this seruice I haue done for you
(Though you respect not aught your seruant doth)
To hazard life, and reskew you from him,
That would haue forc'd your honour, and your loue,
Vouchsafe me for my meed, but one faire looke:
(A smaller boone then this I cannot beg,
And lesse then this, I am sure you cannot giue.)

Ual.
How like a dreame is this? I see, and heare:
Loue, lend me patience to forbeare a while.

Sil.
O miserable, vnhappy that I am.

Pro.
Vnhappy were you (Madam) ere I came:
But by my comming, I haue made you happy.

Sil.
By thy approach thou mak'st me most vnhappy.

Iul.
And me, when he approcheth to your presence.

Sil.
Had I beene ceazed by a hungry Lion,
I would haue beene a break-fast to the Beast,
Rather then haue false Protheus reskue me:
Oh heauen be iudge how I loue Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soule,
And full as much (for more there cannot be)
I doe detest false periur'd Protheus:
Therefore be gone, sollicit me no more.

Pro.
What dangerous action, stood it next to death
Would I not vndergoe, for one calme looke:
Oh 'tis the curse in Loue, and still approu'd
When women cannot loue, where they're belou'd.

Sil.
When Protheus cannot loue, where he's belou'd:
Read ouer Iulia's heart, (thy first best Loue)
For whose deare sake, thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oathes; and all those oathes,
Descended into periury, to loue me,
Thou hast no faith left now, vnlesse thou'dst two,
And that's farre worse then none: better haue none
Then plurall faith, which is too much by one:
Thou Counterfeyt, to thy true friend.

Pro.
In Loue,
Who respects friend?

Sil.
All men but Protheus.

Pro.
Nay, if the gentle spirit of mouing words
Can no way change you to a milder forme;
Ile wooe you like a Souldier, at armes end,
And loue you 'gainst the nature of Loue: force ye.

Sil.
Oh heauen.

Pro.
Ile force thee yeeld to my desire.

Val.
Ruffian: let goe that rude vnciuill touch,
Thou friend of an ill fashion.

Pro.
Ualentine.

Val.
Thou cōmon friend, that's without faith or loue,
For such is a friend now: treacherous man,
Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could haue perswaded me: now I dare not say
I haue one friend aliue; thou wouldst disproue me:
Who should be trusted, when ones right hand
Is periured to the bosome? Protheus
I am sorry I must neuer trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake:
The priuate wound is deepest: oh time, most accurst:
'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst?

Pro.
My shame and guilt confounds me:
Forgiue me Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient Ransome for offence,
I tender't heere: I doe as truely suffer,
As ere I did commit.

Val.
Then I am paid:
And once againe, I doe receiue thee honest;
Who by Repentance is not satisfied,
Is nor of heauen, nor earth; for these are pleas'd:
By Penitence th'Eternalls wrath's appeas'd:
And that my loue may appeare plaine and free,
All that was mine, in Siluia, I giue thee.

Iul.
Oh me vnhappy.

Pro.
Looke to the Boy.

Val.
Why, Boy?
Why wag: how now? what's the matter? look vp: speak.

Iul.

O good sir, my master charg'd me to deliuer a ring
to Madam Siluia: w
c (out of my neglect) was neuer done.

Pro.

Where is that ring? boy?

Iul.

Heere 'tis: this is it.

Pro.
How? let me see.
Why this is the ring I gaue to Iulia.

Iul.
Oh, cry you mercy sir, I haue mistooke:
This is the ring you sent to Siluia.

Pro.
But how cam'st thou by this ring? at my depart
I gaue this vnto Iulia.

Iul.
And Iulia her selfe did giue it me,
And Iulia her selfe hath brought it hither.

Pro.
How? Iulia?

Iul.
Behold her, that gaue ayme to all thy oathes,
And entertain'd 'em deepely in her heart.
How oft hast thou with periury cleft the roote?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush.
Be thou asham'd that I haue tooke vpon me,
Such an immodest rayment; if shame liue
In a disguise of loue?
It is the lesser blot modesty findes,
Women to change their shapes, then men their minds.

Pro.
Then men their minds? tis true: oh heuen, were man
But Constant, he were perfect; that one error
Fils him with faults: makes him run through all th'sins;
Inconstancy falls-off, ere it begins:
What is in Siluia's face, but I may spie
More fresh in Iulia's, with a constant eye?

Ual.
Come, come: a hand from either:
Let me be blest to make this happy close:
'Twere pitty two such friends should be long foes.

Pro.
Beare witnes (heauen) I haue my wish for euer.

Iul.
And I mine.

Out-l.
A prize: a prize: a prize.

Val.
Forbeare, forbeare I say: It is my Lord the Duke.
Your Grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd,
Banished Valentine.

Duke.
Sir Valentine?

Thu.
Yonder is Siluia: and Siluia's mine.

Val.
Thurio giue backe; or else embrace thy death:
Come not within the measure of my wrath:
Doe not name Siluia thine: if once againe,
Uerona shall not hold thee: heere she stands,
Take but possession of her, with a Touch:
I dare thee, but to breath vpon my Loue.

Thur.
Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I:
I hold him but a foole that will endanger
His Body, for a Girle that loues him not:
I claime her not, and therefore she is thine.

Duke.
The more degenerate and base art thou
To make such meanes for her, as thou hast done,
And leaue her on such slight conditions.
Now, by the honor of my Ancestry,
I doe applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And thinke thee worthy of an Empresse loue:
Know then, I heere forget all former greefes,
Cancell all grudge, repeale thee home againe,
Plead a new state in thy vn-riual'd merit,
To which I thus subscribe: Sir Ualentine,
Thou art a Gentleman, and well deriu'd,
Take thou thy Siluia, for thou hast deseru'd her.

Ual.
I thank your Grace, ye gift hath made me happy:
I now beseech you (for your daughters sake)
To grant one Boone that I shall aske of you.

Duke.
I grant it (for thine owne) what ere it be.

Val.
These banish'd men, that I haue kept withall,
Are men endu'd with worthy qualities:
Forgiue them what they haue committed here,
And let them be recall'd from their Exile:
They are reformed, ciuill, full of good,
And fit for great employment (worthy Lord.)

Duke.
Thou hast preuaild, I pardon them and thee:
Dispose of them, as thou knowst their deserts.
Come, let vs goe, we will include all iarres,
With Triumphes, Mirth, and rare solemnity.

Val.
And as we walke along, I dare be bold
With our discourse, to make your Grace to smile.
What thinke you of this Page (my Lord?)

Duke.
I think the Boy hath grace in him, he blushes.

Val.
I warrant you (my Lord) more grace, then Boy.

Duke.
What meane you by that saying?

Val.
Please you, Ile tell you, as we passe along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned:
Come Protheus, 'tis your pennance, but to heare
The story of your Loues discouered.
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours,
One Feast, one house, one mutuall happinesse.

Exeunt.