ACT FIFTH

SCENE I

Milan. An abbey.

Enter Eglamour.

Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky;
And now it is about the very hour

That Silvia, at Friar Patrick's cell, should meet

me.

She will not fail, for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;
So much they spur their expedition.
See where she comes.

Enter Silvia.

Lady, a happy evening!

Sil. Amen, amen! Go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern by the abbey-wall:

I fear I am attended by some spies.

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Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that, we are sure enough.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II

The same. The Duke's palace.

Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia.

Thur. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit?
Pro. O, sir, I find her milder than she was;

And yet she takes exceptions at your person. Thu. What, that my leg is too long?

Pro. No; that it is too little.

Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.

Jul. [Aside] But love will not be spurr'd to what it loathes.

Thu. What says she to my face?

Pro. She says it is a fair one.

Thu. Nay then, the wanton lies; my face is black. Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is

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Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes. Jul. [Aside] 'Tis true; such pearls as put out ladies' eyes;

For I had rather wink than look on them. Thu. How likes she my discourse?

Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.

Thu. But well, when I discourse of love and peace? Jul. [Aside] But better, indeed, when you hold

your peace.

Thu. What says she to my valor?

Pro. O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.

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Jul. [Aside] She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

Thu. What says she to my birth?
Pro. That you are well derived.

Jul. [Aside] True; from a gentleman to a fool. Thu. Considers she my possessions?

Pro. O, aye; 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.

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Enter Duke.

Duke. How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio! Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late! Thu. Not I.

She's fled unto that peasant Valentine;
And Eglamour is in her company.

"Tis true; for Friar Laurance 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

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At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not;

These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.

29. Thurio of course means his lands; but Proteus chooses to take him as referring to his mental endowments, which, he says, are "out by lease," that is, out of his keeping; so that he, lacking them, is a dunce.-H. N. H.

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.

Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,

[Exit.

That flies her fortune when it follows her. 50 I'll after, more to be revenged 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.

SCENE III

The frontiers of Mantua. The forest.

Enter Outlaws with Silvia.

First 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. Sec. Out. Come, bring her away.

First Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her?

Third Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun

us,

But Moses 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.

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First 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.

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;

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2. Probably a better reading than the folio is that generally adopted, due to Collier's MS.:

"these shadowy, desert, unfrequented woods.”—I. G.