William Shakespeare - William Shakespeare The Complete Works (37 plays, 160 sonnets and 5 Poetry Books With Active Table of Contents)

Jul. [Aside.]

She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

Thu.

What says she to my birth?

Pro.

That you are well deriv’d.

Jul. [Aside.]

True: from a gentleman to a fool.

Thu.

Considers she my possessions?

Pro.

O ay; and pities them.

Thu.

Wherefore?

Jul. [Aside.]

That such an ass should owe them.

Pro.

That they are out by lease.

Jul.

Here comes the Duke.

[Enter] Duke.

Duke.

How now, Sir Proteus? how now, Thurio?

Which of you saw Eglamour of late?

Thu.

Not I.

Pro.

Nor I.

Duke.

Saw you my daughter?

Pro.

Neither.

Duke.

Why then

She’s fled unto that peasant Valentine;

And Eglamour is in her company.

’Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,

As he in penance wander’d through the forest;

Him he knew well, and guess’d that it was she,

But being mask’d, he was not sure of it;

Besides, she did intend confession

At Patrick’s cell this even, and there she was not.

These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence:

Therefore I pray you stand not to discourse,

But mount you presently and meet with me

Upon the rising of the mountain foot

That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fled.

Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me.

[Exit.]

Thu.

Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,

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.

¶

[Enter] Silvia, Outlaws.

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.

1. Out.

Come, I must bring you to our captain’s cave.

Fear not; he bears an honorable mind,

And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Sil.

O Valentine, this I endure for thee!

Exeunt.

¶

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.

[Shouts within.]

What hallowing 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, Julia [disguised as Sebastian].

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 honor 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 hear:

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.

Jul. [Aside.]

And me, when he approacheth to your presence.

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?

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!

Read over Julia’s heart (thy first best love),

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!

Pro.

In love

Who respects friend?

Sil.

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 arm’s end,

And love you ’gainst the nature of love—force ye.

Sil.

O heaven!

Pro.

I’ll force thee yield to my desire.

Val. [Coming forward.]

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,

Thou hast beguil’d my hopes! Nought 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, when one’s right hand

Is perjured 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 accurst!

’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 offense,

I tender’t 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 th’ 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!

[Swoons.]

Pro. Look to the boy.