Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure

Trenched in ice; which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.-
How now, Sir Proteus? Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, goue ?

Pro. Gone, my good lord.

Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously.

Pro. A little time, my lord, will kill that grief.

Duke. So I believe: but Thurio thinks not 80.

Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee, (For thou hast shown some sign of good desert,) Makes me the better to confer with thee.

Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace, Let me not live to look upon your grace. Duke. Thou know'st, how willingly I would effect

The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord.

Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant How she opposes her against my will.

Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here.

Duke. Ay, and perversely she persévers so. What might we do, to make the girl forget The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio?

Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent : Three things that women highly hold in hate. Duke. Ay, but she'll think, that it is spoke in hate.

Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it: Therefore it must, with circumstance, be spoken By one, whom she esteemeth as his friend.

Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him.

Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loath to do: 'Tis an ill office for a gentleman; Especially, against his very friend.

Duke. Where your good word cannot advan-
tage him,

Your slander never can endamage him;
Therefore the office is indifferent,
Being entreated to it by your friend.

Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can

do it,

By aught that I can speak in his dispraise,
She shall not long continue love to him.
But say, this weed her love from Valentine,
It follows not that she will love Sir Thurio.
Thu. Therefore as you unwind her love from
him,

Lest it should ravel, and be good to none,
You must provide to bottom it on me:
Which must be done, by praising me as much
As you in worth dispraise Sir Valentine.
Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in
this kind;

Because we know, on Valentine's report,
You are already love's firm votary,

And cannot soon revolt and change your mind.
Upon this warrant shall you have access,
Where you with Silvia may confer at large;
For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy,

And for your friend's sake, will be glad of you;

Where you may temper her, by your per

suasion,

Will

well become such sweet complaining grievance.

This, or else nothing, will inherit her. Duke. This discipline shows thou hast beea in love.

Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in practice:

Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver,
Let us into the city presently

To sort + some gentlemen well skill'd in music:
I have a sonnet, that will serve the turn,
To give the onset to thy good advice.
Duke. About it, gentlemen.

Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper:

And afterward determine our proceedings. Duke. Even now about it; I will pardon you. [Exeunt.

Val. To Verona.

1 Out. Whence came you?

Val. From Milan.

3 Out. Have you long sojourned there?
Val. Some sixteen months; and longer might
have staid,

If crooked fortune had not thwarted me.
1 Out. What, were you banish'd thence?
Val. I was.

2 Out. For what offence ?

Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse :

I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent;
But yet 1 slew him manfully in fight,
Without false vantage, or base treachery.

1 Out. Why ne'er repent it, if it were done

3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar,

This fellow were a king for our wild faction.

1 Out. We'll have him: Sirs, a word.
Speed. Master, be one of them;

It is an honourable kind of thievery.
Val. Peace, villain !

2 Out. Tell us this:
take to ?

Have you any thing to

Val. Nothing but my fortune.

3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentlemen,

Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth,
Thrust from the company of awful + men:
Myself was from Verona banished

For practising to steal away a lady,
An heir, and near allied anto the duke.

2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Whom, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart. 1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these.

But to the purpose,-(for we cite our faults,
That they may hold excus'd our lawless lives,)
And, partly, seeing you are beautified

With goodly shape; and by your own report
A linguist; and a man of such perfection,
As we do in our quality much want;--

2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our general?

To make a virtue of necessity,

And live, as we do, in this wilderness?

3 Out. What say'st thou wilt thou be of our consort ?

Say ay, and be the captain of us all :
We'll do thee homage, and be rul'd by thee,
Love thee as our commander, and our king.

1 Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest.

2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd.

Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; Provided that you do no outrages

On silly women, or poor passengers.

3 Out. No, we detest such vile base practices. Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our

crews,

And show thee all the treasure we have got ;
Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.-Milan.-Court of the Palace.

Enter PROTEUS.

Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, And now I must be as unjust to Thurio. Under the colour of commending him, I have access my own love to prefer; But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy, To be corrupted with my worthless gifts. When I protest true loyalty to her, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; When to her beauty I commend my vows, She bids me think, how I have been forsworn In breaking faith with Julia whom I lov'd: And, notwithstanding all her sudden quips, The least whereof would quell a lover's hope, Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love, The more it grows and fawneth on her still. But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window,

And give some evening music to her ear.

Enter THURIO, and Musicians. Thu. How now, Sir Proteus? are you crept before us?

Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know, that love

Will creep in service where it cannot go.

Thu. Ay, but I hope, Sir, that you love not bere.

Pro. Sir, but I do; or else would be hence. Thu. Whom? Silvia ?

Pro. Ay, Silvia,-for your sake.

Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen,

Let's tune and do it lustily a while.

Enter HOST, at a distance; and JULIA in boy's clothes.

Host. Now, my young guest! methinks you're allycholy: I pray you, why is it?

Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry.

Host. Come, we'll have yon merry: I'll bring you where you will hear music, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for.

Jul. But shall I hear him speak?
Host. Ay, that you shall.
Jul. That will be music.
Host. Hark! hark!

[Music plays.

Jul. Is he among these?
Host. Ay: but peace' let's hear 'em.

SONG.

Who is Silvia? What is she,

That all our swains commend her?
Holy, fair, and wise is she;

The heavens such grace did lend her
That she might admired be.

Is she kind as she is fair?

For beauty lives with kindness :
Love doth to her eyes repair,

To help him of his blindness;
And, being help'd, inhabits there.
Then to Silvia let us sing,

That Silvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing,

Upon the dull earth dwelling.
To her let us garlands bring.

Host. How now? are you sadder than you were before?

How do you, man? the music likes you not. Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not.

Host. Why, my pretty youth?

Jul. He plays false, father.

Host. How? out of tune on the strings?

Jul. Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart-strings.

Host. You have a quick ear.

Jul. Ay, I would I were deaf! it makes me have a slow heart.

Host. I perceive, you delight not in music.
Jul. Not a whit, when it jars so.
Host. Hark, what fine change is in the

music!

Jul. Ay, that change is the spite.

Host. You would have them always play but one thing?

Jul. I would always have one play but one thing. But, host, doth this Sir Proteus, that we talk on, often resort unto this gentlewoman?

Host. I tell you what Launce, his man, told me, he loved her out of all nick.

Jul. Where is Launce?

Host. Gone to seek his dog; which, to-morrow, by his master's command, he must carry for a present to his lady.

Jul. Peace! stand aside ! the company parts. Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you! I will so

plead,

That you shall say, my cunuing drift excels.
Thu. Where meet we?
Pro. At saint Gregory's well.
Thu, Farewell,

[Exeunt THURIO and Musicians. SILVIA appears above, at her window. Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship. Beyond all reckoning.

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; be bears an honourable mind,
Aud will not use a woman lawlessly.

Sil. O Valentine, this I endure for thee!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Another part of the Forest.

Enter VALENTINE.

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 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! What balloing, and what stir, is this to-day? These are my mates, that make their wills their law,

Have some unhappy passenger in chase : 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. 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 awhile.

[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.

presence.

Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your
[Aside.
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
death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look ?
Oh! '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 be-
lov'd.

Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!

Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.-
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,

I tender it here; I do as truly suffer,
As e'er I did commit.

Val. Then I am paid;

And once again I do receive thee honest:--
Who by repentance is not satisfied,

Is nor of heaven, nor earth; for these are pleas'd;

By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd :-
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia, I give thee.
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. Pro. How! let me see : Why this is the ring I gave to Julia. Jul. O cry your mercy, Sir, I have mistook; This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

[Gives a ring.

[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 bither. Pro. How! Julia!

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy

oaths,

faith

Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.

Pro. Than men their minds? 'tis true: O beaven! were man

But constant, he were perfect that one error

all 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 have mine.

Enter OUTLAWS, with DUKR and THUR10. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize!

Val. Forbear, I say; it is my lord the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, Banish'd Valentine !

Duke. Sir Valentine !

Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine.
Val. Thurio give back, or else embrace thy
death;

Come not within the measure of my wrath;
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands,
Take but possession of her with a touch;
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.-
Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;
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 empresss' love.
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
↑ Interact.

• Length of my sword.

Plead a new sate 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.

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 endued 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.
Duke. Thop hast prevail'd: I pardon them,
and thee;

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 boy.

Duke. What mean you by that saying?

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 mariage shall be your's ; One feast, one house, one rautual happiness.

• Conclude.

[Exeunt,

↑ Masks, revela.