Val.
How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desart, 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.
What hallo'ing, 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?

Enter Protheus, Silvia, and Julia.

Pro.
Madam, this service have I done for you.
(Tho' you respect not aught your servant doth)
To hazard life, and rescue you from him,
That wou'd 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'm sure, you cannot give.

Val.
How like a dream is this, I see, and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while. [Aside.

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.
And me, when he approacheth to your presence. [Aside.

Sil.
Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Protheus rescue me.
Oh, heav'n 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 Protheus:
Therefore be gone, sollicit me no more.

Pro.
What dang'rous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look?
Oh, 'tis the curse in love, and still approv'd,
When women cannot love, where they're belov'd.

Sil.
When Protheus cannot love, where he's belov'd.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear sake thou then didst 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 Protheus.

Pro.
Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Can no way change you to a milder form;
I'll move you like a soldier, at arms end,
And love you 'gainst the nature of love; force you.

Sil.
Oh heav'n!

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: thou treach'rous 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 now, when the right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus,
I'm sorry, I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest. Oh time, most accurst!
'Mongst all foes, that a friend should be the worst!

Pro.
My shame and guilt confound me:
Forgive me, Valentine; if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
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 satisfy'd,
Is nor of heav'n, 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^{1 note}.

Jul.

Oh me unhappy!

Pro.

Look to the boy.

Val.

Why, boy! how now? what's 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:
This is the ring I gave to Julia.

Jul.
Oh, cry your mercy, Sir, I have mistook;
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

Pro.
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 aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart:
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root?
Oh Protheus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou asham'd, that I have took upon me
Such an immodest rayment: 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; oh heav'n! 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 long be foes.

Pro.
Bear witness, heav'n, I have my wish for ever.

Jul.
And I mine.

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