O thou, that doft inhabit in my breaft, Enter Protheus, Silvia, and Julia. Pro. Madam, this fervice have I done for you. (Tho' you refpect not ought your fervant doth) To hazard life, and refcue you from him, That wou'd have forc'd your honour and your love. Vouchfafe me for my meed but one fair look: A fmaller boon than this I cannot beg, And lefs than this, I'm fure, you cannot give. Val. How like a dream is this, I fee, and hear? Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Afide. Sil. O miferable, unhappy that I am! Sil. Had I been feized by a hungry lion, Pro. What dang'rous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look? Oh, 'tis the curfe in love, and ftill approv❜d, When When women cannot love, where they're belov'd. For whofe dear fake thou then didst rend thy faith Thou haft no faith left now, unless thou'dft two, Pro. In love, Who refpects friend! Sil. All men but Protheus. Pro. Nay, if the gentle fpirit of moving words And love you 'gainst the nature of love; force Pro. I'll force thee yield to my defire. Val. Ruffian, let go Pro. Valentine! ye. Val.Thou common friend, that's without faith or love; For fuch is a friend now: thou treach'rous man! Thou haft beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye Could have perfuaded me. Now I dare not say, I have one friend alive; thou wouldst difprove me. Who should be trufted now, when the right hand Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus, I'm forry, I must never truft thee more, But count the world a stranger for thy fake. Be a fufficient ranfom for offence, I tender't here; I do as truly fuffer, Val. Then I am paid: And once again I do receive thee honest. Wło Who by repentance is not fatisfy'd, Is nor of heav'n, nor earth; for these are pleas'd; Pro. Look to the boy. [Savoons. Val. Why, boy! how now? what's the matter? look up; fpeak. Jul. O good Sir, my mafter 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 fee: This is the ring I gave to Julia. Jul. Oh, cry you mercy, Sir, I have mistook ; This is the ring you fent to Silvia. Pro. How cam'ft thou by this ring? at my depart, I gave this unto Julia. ful. And Julia herself did give it me. And Julia herfelf hath brought it hither. Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, It is the leffer blot, modefty finds, Women to change their shapes, than men their minds. Pro. Than men their minds ? 'tis true; oh heav'n! were man But conftant, he were perfect; that one error What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy Let Let me be bleft to make this happy close; 'Twere pity, two fuch friends fhould long be foes. Pro. Bear witness, heav'n, I have my wish for ever. Jul. And I mine. Enter Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio. Out. A prize, a prize, a prize! Val. Forbear, forbear, it is my Lord the Duke. Your Grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd, The banifh'd Valentine. Duke. Sir Valentine? Thu. Yonder is Silvia: and Silvia's mine. Val. Thurio, give back; or elfe embrace thy death: And think thee worthy of an emprefs' love : (17) Verona fhall not bold thee.] Thus all the editions, but, whether, thro' the mistake of the firft Editors, or the Poet's own careleffaefs, this reading is abfurdly faulty, For the threat here is to Thurio, who is a Milanefe; and has no concerns, as it appears, with Verona. Befides, the fcene is betwixt the confines of Milan, and Mantua, to which Slvia follows Valentine, having heard that he had retreated thither. And, upon these circumstances, I ventur'd to adjuft the text, as I imagine, the Poet muft have intended: i. e. Milan, thy country, shall never fee thee again : sbou shalt newer live to go back thither. Το To which I thus fubfcribe: Sir Valentine, Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold Duke. I think, the boy hath grace in him; he blushes. Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along, [Exeunt omnet. THE |