THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

773

London Printed for JBell, British Library Strand July 20.1786.

Enter PROTHEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA.

Pro. Madam, this service have I done for you (Though 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 am sure, you cannot give. 110 Val. How like a dream is this, I see, and hear! Love, lend me patience to forbear a while.

Sil. O miserable, unhappy that I am !

[Aside.

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 un-*

happy.

Jul. And me, when he approacheth to your pre

sence.

Sil. Had I been seized by an hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Rather than have false Protheus rescue me.
Oh, heaven 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)
1 do detest false perjur'd Protheus :
Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.

[Aside.

120

Pro. What dangerous 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 be

lov'd.

Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

130

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 had'st 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 woo you like a soldier, at arms end;

And love you 'gainst the nature of love, force you.

Sil. Oh 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!

140

150

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, when one's own right hand
Is perjur'd to the bosom? Protheus,

I am sorry, I must never trust thee more,

But

But count the world a stranger for thy sake.

159

The private wound is deepest: Oh 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:

L

And once again I do receive thee honest :---
Who by repentance is not satisfy'd,'

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.

171

[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.

180

[Gives a Ring.

Pro. How let me see!

Why 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.

[Shews another Ring.

Pro