ACT IV. SCENE I-A forest, near Mantua. Enter certain Cut-laws. 1 Out. Fellows, stand fast: I see a passenger. 2 Out. If there be ten, shrink not, but down with 'em. Enter Valentine and Speed. 3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about you; if not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. Speed. Sir, we are undone! these are the villains That all the travellers do fear so much. Val. My friends, 1 Out. That's not so, sir; we are your enemies. 2 Out. Peace; we'll hear him. 3 Out. Ay, by my beard, will we; For he's a proper1 man. Val. Then know, that I have little wealth to lose; A man I am, cross'd with adversity : My riches are these por habilaments, Of which if you should here disfurnish me, 2 Out. Whither travel Val. To Verona. you ? 1 Out. Whence came you? Val. From Milan. 3 Out. Have you long sojourn'd there? Val. Some sixteen months; and longer might have staid, If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. 1 Out. What, were you banish'd thence? Val. I was. 2 Out. For what offence? Fal. For that which now torments me to rehearse (1) Well-looking. I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent; 1 Out. Why ne'er repent it, if it were done so : But were you banish'd for so small a fault? Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doom. 1 Out. Have you the tongues?! Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy; Or else I often had been miserable. 3 Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, This fellow were a king for our wild faction. It is an honourable kind of thievery. 2 Out. Tell us this: have you any thing to take to? Val. Nothing, but my fortune. 3 Out. Know then, that some of us are gentle men, Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth 2 Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, Whom, in my mood,3 I stabb'd unto the heart. 1 Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these. But to the purpose-(for we cite our faults, With goodly shape; and by your own report 2 Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, (1) Languages. (2) Lawful. Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our general? To make a virtue of necessity, And live, as we do, in this wilderness? 3 Out. What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our Say, ay, and be the captain of us all : 1 Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest. 2 Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd. Val. I take your offer, and will live with you; Provided that you do no outrages Dn silly women, or poor passengers. 3 Out. No, we detest such vile base practices. Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews, And show thee all the treasure we have got; Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose. [Exeunt. SCENE II-Milan. Court of the palace. En ter Proteus. Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine, She twits me with my falsehood to my friend; (1) Passionate reproaches. |