[Aside] But better, indeed, when you hold your peace.
THURIO.
What says she to my valour?
PROTEUS.
O, sir, she makes no doubt of that.
JULIA.
[Aside] She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.
THURIO.
What says she to my birth?
PROTEUS.
That you are well deriv’d.
JULIA.
[Aside] True; from a gentleman to a fool.
THURIO.
Considers she my possessions?
PROTEUS.
O, ay; and pities them.
THURIO.
Wherefore?
JULIA.
[Aside] That such an ass should owe them.
PROTEUS.
That they are out by lease.
JULIA.
Here comes the duke.
[Enter DUKE.]
DUKE.
How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio!
Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?
THURIO.
Not I.
PROTEUS.
Nor I.
DUKE.
Saw you my daughter?
PROTEUS.
Neither.
DUKE.
Why then,
She’s fled unto that peasant Valentine;
And Eglamour is in her company.
‘Tis true; for Friar Lawrence 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.]
THURIO.
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.]
PROTEUS.
And I will follow, more for Silvia’s love
Than hate of Eglamour, that goes with her.
[Exit.]
JULIA.
And I will follow, more to cross that love
Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love.
[Exit.]
SCENE 3. Frontiers of Mantua. The forest.
[Enter OUTLAWS with SILVA.]
FIRST OUTLAW.
Come, come.
Be patient; we must bring you to our captain.
SILVIA.
A thousand more mischances than this one
Have learn’d me how to brook this patiently.
SECOND OUTLAW.
Come, bring her away.
FIRST OUTLAW.
Where is the gentleman that was with her?
SECOND OUTLAW.
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.
[Exeunt all except the First Outlaw and SYLVIA.]
FIRST OUTLAW.
Come, I must bring you to our captain’s cave.
Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.
SILVIA.
O Valentine, this I endure for thee!
[Exeunt.]
SCENE 4. Another part of the forest.
[Enter VALENTINE.]
VALENTINE.
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. [Noise within.]
What halloing 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.]
PROTEUS.
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.
VALENTINE. [Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.
SILVIA.
O miserable, unhappy that I am!
PROTEUS.
Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
But by my coming I have made you happy.
SILVIA.
By thy approach thou mak’st me most unhappy.
JULIA. [Aside] And me,