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 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. 1 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. SCENE IV. Another part of the Forest. Val. How use doth breed a habit in a man! To record, anciently signified to sing. It is still used by bird fanciers to express the first essays of a bird to sing; and is evidently derived from the recorder or pipe with which they were formerly taught. And leave no memory of what it was?! Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!- These are my mates, that make their wills their law, They love me well; yet I have much to do Withdraw thee, Valentine; who's this comes here? [Steps aside. 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 forced your honour and your love. And less than this, I'm 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 me most unhappy. Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your pre sence. [Aside. 2 "O thou that dost inhabit in my breast, It is hardly possible (says Steevens) to point out four lines in Shakspeare more remarkable for ease and elegance than the preceding. O, heaven be judge, how I love Valentine, 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. Thou hast no faith left now 5, unless thou hadst two, Pro. Who respects friend? Sil. In love, 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! i. e. as dear. approv'd is confirm'd by proof. 5 The word now was supplied in the folio of 1632. Thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye 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 accurst! '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 it here; I do as truly suffer, Val. Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest:- Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; And, that my love may appear plain and free, Jul. O me, unhappy! Pro. Look to the boy. [Faints. Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now? what is the matter? Look up; speak. Jul. O good sir, my master charg'd me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia; which, out of my neglect, was never done. Pro. Where is that ring, boy! Jul. Here 'tis: this is it. [Gives a ring. Pro. How! let me see: why this is the ring I gave to Julia. 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. Jul. And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither. Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, upon me Such an immodest raiment; if shame live In a disguise of love: It is the lesser blot modesty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true: O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect: that one error sins: 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 ever. Jul. And I mine. 6 Steevens confounded the phrases of to cry aim (Merry Wives of Windsor, Act iii. Sc. 2) and to give aim, both terms in archery. He who gave aim appears to have been called the mark, and was stationed near the butts, to inform the archers how near their arrows fell to the butt. We are indebted to Mr. Gifford for distinguishing the terms.-Vide Massinger, vol. ii. p. 27. Julia means to say that she was the mark that gave direction to his vows 7 i. e. of her heart, the allusion to archery is continued, and to cleaving the pin in shooting at the butts. |