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 hadst 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!

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! 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 would'st disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Proteus,

(1) Felt, experienced.

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 curst! '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. [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. Pro. How! Julia!

Jul. Behold her that gave aim1 to all thy oaths, (1) Direction.

And entertain'd them deeply in her heart:
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!!
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took 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: 0 heaven! were man

But constant, he were perfect: that one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through 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 Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio.

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, Banished 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 measure2 of my wrath:

Do not name Silvia thine; if once again, Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands,

An allusion to cleaving the pin in archery. (2) Length of my sword.

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 curst! '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.

[Gives a ring.

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.

Pro. How! Julia!

Jul. Behold her that gave aim1 to all thy oaths, (1) Direction.

And entertain'd them deeply in her heart:
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!!
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took 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
Fills him with faults; makes him run through 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 Out-laws, with Duke and Thurio.

Out.

A prize, a prize, a prize!
Val. Forbear, I say; It is my lord the duke.
is welcome to a man disgrac'd,

Your grace

Banished 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 measure2 of

my wrath:
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Milan shall not behold thee. Here she stands,

(1) An allusion to cleaving the pin in archery.
(2) Length of my sword.