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THEW YORK

STOR, LENOX

YEN FOUNDATIONS

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1 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 outrun 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 fled: The thicket is beset; he cannot 'scape.

[Exeunt all except the First Outlaw and SILVIA. 1 Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's Fear not; he bears an honourable mind, And will not use a woman lawlessly.

[cave.

Sil. O Valentine! this I endure for thee.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Another pari of the Forest.

Enter VALENTINE.

Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! These 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 Tune 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! [Noise heard. What halloing, 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? [Retires.

Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.

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. [Aside.] How like a dream is this I see and Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. 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. [your presence. Jul. [Aside.] And me, when he approacheth to

[hear!

Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to 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 Would I not undergo for one calm look? [death, O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd, When women cannot love, where they're beloved!

Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's beRead over Julia's heart, thy first best love, [lov'd. 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 'dst 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!

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(For such is a friend now) treach'rous man!
Thou hast beguil'd my hopes: naught but mine eye
Could have persuaded me. Now I dare not say,
I have one friend alive: thou wouldst 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!
'Mongst 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 't here; I do as truly suffer,
As e'er I did commit.

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Jul. O, cry you mercy, Sir'; I have mistook: This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

[Shows another ring. Pro. But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart I gave this unto Julia. Ful. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Pro. How! Julia!

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain'd them deeply in her heart: How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root! O Proteus! let this habit make thee blush: Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment,-if shame live In a disguise of love.

It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,

[minds.

Women to change their shapes, than men their Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true. O heaven!

were man

But constant, he were perfect: that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all
Inconstancy falls off, ere it begins.
[the sins:
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
Ful. And I mine.

[ever.

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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 endu'd 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.

[thee:

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.

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?

Duke. I think the boy hath grace in him: he blushes.

Val. I warrant you, my lord,- -more grace than
Duke. What mean you by that saying? [boy.
Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.-
Come, Proteus; '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.

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YEW YORK

#OUNDAT

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