Complete Plays, The

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Complete Plays, The Page 346

by William Shakespeare


  [Aside] She needs not, when she knows it cowardice.

  Thurio

  What says she to my birth?

  Proteus

  That you are well derived.

  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 Laurence 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 towards 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

  SCENE III. THE FRONTIERS OF MANTUA. THE FOREST.

  Enter Outlaws with Silvia

  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?

  Third 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.

  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 IV. 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!

  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?

  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 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 makest 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 arms’ end,

  And love you ’gainst the nature of love,— force ye.

  Silvia

  O heaven!

  Proteus

  I’ll force thee yield to my desire.

  Valentine

  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; 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, when one’s own right hand

  Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,

  I am sorry I must never trust thee more,

  But co
unt the world a stranger for thy sake.

  The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst,

  ’Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!

  Proteus

  My shame and guilt confounds 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.

  Valentine

  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 pleased.

  By penitence the Eternal’s wrath’s appeased:

  And, that my love may appear plain and free,

  All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

  Julia

  O me unhappy!

  Swoons

  Proteus

  Look to the boy.

  Valentine

  Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what’s the matter?

  Look up; speak.

  Julia

  O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.

  Proteus

  Where is that ring, boy?

  Julia

  Here ’tis; this is it.

  Proteus

  How! let me see:

  Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.

  Julia

  O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook:

  This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

  Proteus

  But how camest thou by this ring? At my depart

  I gave this unto Julia.

  Julia

  And Julia herself did give it me;

  And Julia herself hath brought it hither.

  Proteus

  How! Julia!

  Julia

  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!

  O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!

  Be thou ashamed 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.

  Proteus

  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 the 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?

  Valentine

  Come, come, a hand from either:

  Let me be blest to make this happy close;

  ’Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.

  Proteus

  Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever.

  Julia

  And I mine.

  Enter Outlaws, with Duke and Thurio

  Outlaws

  A prize, a prize, a prize!

  Valentine

  Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my lord the duke.

  Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced,

  Banished Valentine.

  Duke

  Sir Valentine!

  Thurio

  Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia’s mine.

  Valentine

  Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death;

  Come not within the measure of my wrath;

  Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,

  Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands;

  Take but possession of her with a touch:

  I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.

  Thurio

  Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;

  I hold him but a fool that will endanger

  His body for a girl that loves him not:

  I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.

  Duke

  The more degenerate and base art thou,

  To make such means for her as thou hast done

  And leave her on such slight conditions.

  Now, by the honour of my ancestry,

  I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,

  And think thee worthy of an empress’ love:

  Know then, I here forget all former griefs,

  Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,

  Plead a new state in thy unrivall’d merit,

  To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,

  Thou art a gentleman and well derived;

  Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.

  Valentine

  I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy.

  I now beseech you, for your daughter’s sake,

  To grant one boom that I shall ask of you.

  Duke

  I grant it, for thine own, whate’er it be.

  Valentine

  These banish’d men that I have kept withal

  Are men endued with worthy qualities:

  Forgive them what they have committed here

  And let them be recall’d from their exile:

  They are reformed, civil, full of good

  And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

  Duke

  Thou hast prevail’d; I pardon them and thee:

  Dispose of them as thou know’st their deserts.

  Come, let us go: we will include all jars

  With triumphs, mirth and rare solemnity.

  Valentine

  And, as we walk along, I dare be bold

  With our discourse to make your grace to smile.

  What think you of this page, my lord?

  Duke

  I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.

  Valentine

  I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.

  Duke

  What mean you by that saying?

  Valentine

  Please you, I’ll tell you as we pass along,

  That you will wonder what hath fortuned.

  Come, Proteus; ’tis your penance but to hear

  The story of your loves discovered:

  That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;

  One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.

  Exeunt

  The Complete Romances

  By

  William Shakespeare

  PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

  CYMBELINE

  THE WINTER’S TALE

  THE TEMPEST

  PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

  CYMBELINE

  THE WINTER’S TALE

  THE TEMPEST

  Pericles, Prince of Tyre

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

  ACT I

  PROLOGUE

  SCENE I. ANTIOCH. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

  SCENE II. TYRE. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

  SCENE III. TYRE. AN ANTE-CHAMBER IN THE PALACE.

  SCENE IV. TARSUS. A ROOM IN THE GOVERNOR’S HOUSE.

  ACT II

  PROLOGUE

  SCENE I. PENTAPOLIS. AN OPEN PLACE BY THE SEA-SIDE.

  SCENE II. THE SAME. A PUBLIC WAY OR PLATFORM LEADING TO THE

  SCENE III. THE SAME. A HALL OF STATE: A BANQUET PREPARED.

  SCENE IV. TYRE. A ROOM IN THE GOVERNOR’S HOUSE.

  SCENE V. PENTAPOLIS. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

  ACT III

  PROLOGUE

  SCENE II. EPHESUS. A ROOM IN CERIMON’S HOUSE.

  SCENE III. TARSUS. A ROOM IN CLEON’S HOUSE.

  SCENE IV. EPHESUS. A ROOM IN CERIMON’S HOUSE.

  ACT IV

  PROLOGUE

  SCENE I. TARSUS. AN OPEN PLACE NEAR THE SEA-SHORE.

  SCENE II. MYTILENE. A ROOM IN A BROTHEL.

  SCENE III. TARSUS. A ROOM IN CLEON’S HOUSE.

  SCENE V. MYTILENE. A
STREET BEFORE THE BROTHEL.

  SCENE VI. THE SAME. A ROOM IN THE BROTHEL.

  ACT V

  PROLOGUE

  SCENE I. ON BOARD PERICLES’ SHIP, OFF MYTILENE. A CLOSE

  SCENE III. THE TEMPLE OF DIANA AT EPHESUS; THAISA STANDING

  CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

  Gower, as Chorus

  Antiochus, King of Antioch Pericles, Prince of Tyre

  Escanes and Helicanus, two lords of Tyre

  Simonides, King of Pentapolis Cleon, Governor of Tharsus Lysimachus, Governor of Mytilene Cerimon, a lord of Ephesus Thaliard, a lord of AntiochPhilemon, servant to Cerimon Leonine, servant to Dionyza Marshal A PandarBoult, his servant

  The Daughter of Antiochus Dionyza, wife to Cleon Thaisa, daughter to Simonides Marina, daughter to Pericles and Thaisa Lychorida, nurse to Marina A Bawd

  Diana

  Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen, and Messengers

  Scene: Dispersedly in various countries

  ACT I

  PROLOGUE

  Enter Gower

  Before the palace of Antioch

  To sing a song that old was sung,

  From ashes ancient Gower is come;

  Assuming man’s infirmities,

  To glad your ear, and please your eyes.

  It hath been sung at festivals,

  On ember-eves and holy-ales;

  And lords and ladies in their lives

  Have read it for restoratives:

  The purchase is to make men glorious;

  Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius.

  If you, born in these latter times,

  When wit’s more ripe, accept my rhymes.

  And that to hear an old man sing

  May to your wishes pleasure bring

  I life would wish, and that I might

  Waste it for you, like taper-light.

  This Antioch, then, Antiochus the Great

  Built up, this city, for his chiefest seat:

  The fairest in all Syria,

  I tell you what mine authors say:

  This king unto him took a fere,

  Who died and left a female heir,

  So buxom, blithe, and full of face,

  As heaven had lent her all his grace;

  With whom the father liking took,

  And her to incest did provoke:

  Bad child; worse father! to entice his own

  To evil should be done by none:

  But custom what they did begin

  Was with long use account no sin.

  The beauty of this sinful dame

  Made many princes thither frame,

  To seek her as a bed-fellow,

  In marriage-pleasures play-fellow:

  Which to prevent he made a law,

  To keep her still, and men in awe,

  That whoso ask’d her for his wife,

  His riddle told not, lost his life:

  So for her many a wight did die,

  As yon grim looks do testify.

 

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