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 revenged 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]

5.3 Enter the Outlaws with Silvia captive

FIRST OUTLAW

Come, come, be patient. We must bring you to our captain.

SILVIA

A thousand more mischances than this one

Have learned me how to brook this patiently.

SECOND OUTLAW Come, bring her away.

FIRST OUTLAW

Where is the gentleman that was with her?

THIRD OUTLAW

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.

Exeunt the Second and Third Outlaws

FIRST OUTLAW (to Silvia)

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 (aside)

O Valentine! This I endure for thee.

Exeunt

5.4 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.

What hallooing and what stir is this today?

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?

He stands aside.

Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia dressed as a pageboy

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 forced 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, when he approacheth to your presence.

SILVIA

Had I been seized by a hungry lion

I would have been a breakfast to the beast

Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.

O 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,

I do detest false perjured Proteus.

Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.

PROTEUS

What dangerous action, stood it next to death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look!

O, ’tis the curse in love, and still approved,

When women cannot love where they’re beloved.

SILVIA

When Proteus cannot love where he’s beloved.

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’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.

PROTEUS

In love

Who respects friend?

SILVIA All men but Proteus.

PROTEUS

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 arm’s end,

And love you ’gainst the nature of love: force ye.

SILVIA

O heaven!

PROTEUS (assailing her) I’ll force thee yield to my desire.

VALENTINE (coming forward)

Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,

Thou friend of an ill fashion.

PROTEUS Valentine!

VALENTINE

Thou common friend, that’s without faith or love,

For such is a friend now. Treacherous man,

Thou hast beguiled my hopes. Naught 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, when one’s right hand

Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,