5 S CE NE VI. Enter Protheus. Pro. To leave my Julia, fhall I be forfworn; To love fair Silvia, fhall I be forfworn; To wrong my friend, I fhall be much forfworn: Love bad me fwear, and love bids me forfwear: Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken; But there I leave to love, where I should love : If I keep them, I needs must lose myself: 5 It is to be observed, that in the firft folio edition, the only edition of authority, there are no directions concerning the fcenes; they have been added by the later editors, and may therefore be changed by any reader that can give more confiftency or regularity to the drama by fuch alterations. I make this remark in this place, becaufe I know not whether the following foliloquy of Protheus is fo proper in the street. JOHNSON. Ofweet-fuggefting love,—] To fuggeft is to tempt in our author's language. So again: Knowing that tender youth is foon fuggefted." The fenfe is. O tempting love, if thou haft influenced me to fin, teach me to excufe it. Dr. Warburton reads, if I have finn'd; but, I think, not only without neceffity, but with lefs elegance. JOHNSON. For For Valentine, myfelf; for Julia, Silvia. And Silvia, witness heaven, that made her fair! I will forget that Julia is alive, Jul. Counfel, Lucetta; gentle girl, affift me; And, even in kind love, I do conjure thee, Who art the table wherein all my thoughts Are visibly character'd and engrav'd, Myfelf, who am his competitor or rival, being admitted to his countel. JOHNSON. -pretended flight;] We may read intended flight. JOHNS. I fufpect that the author concluded the act with this couplet, and that the next fcene fhould begin the third act; but the change, as it will add nothing to the probability of the action, is of no great importance. JOHNSON. Το To leffon me; and tell me fome good mean, Luc. Alas! the way is wearifome and long. Luc. Better forbear, till Protheus make return. Jul. Oh, know'st thou not, his looks are my foul's food? Pity the dearth that I have pined in, By longing for that food fo long a time. Left it fhould burn above the bounds of reafon. The current, that with gentle murmur glides, He makes sweet mufick with the enamel'd ftones; He overtaketh in his pilgrimage; Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Gentle Gentle Lucetta, fit me with fuch weeds Luc. Why then your ladyship must cut your hair. Of greater time than I fhall fhew to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, fhall I make your breeches ? ful. That fits as well, as-" tell me, good my lord, "What compafs will you wear your farthingale ?" Why, even what fafhion thou beft lik'ft, Lucetta. Luc. You must needs have them 9 with a cod-piece, madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. Luc. A round hofe, madam, now's not worth a pin, Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on. Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'ft me, let me have What thou think'ft meet, and is most mannerly: But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me For undertaking fo unstaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me fcandaliz'd. Luc. If you think fo, then stay at home, and go not. Jul. Nay, that I will not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Jul. That is the leaft, Lucetta, of my fear: 9 Luc. All thefe are fervants to deceitful men. - with a cod-piece, &c.] Whoever wishes to be acquainted with this particular, relative to drefs, may confult Bulwer's Artificial Changeling, in which fuch matters are very amply difcuffed. STEEVENS. —of infinite-] Old edit. JOHNSON. Jul. Jul. Bafe men, that use them to fo base effect! Only deserve my love, by loving him; [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The duke's palace in Milan. Enter Duke, Thurio, and Protheus. DUKE. IR Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile; [Exit Thur Now tell me, Protheus, what's your will with me? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would difcover, The law of friendship bids me to conceal; But when I call to mind your gracious favours Done to me, undeferving as I am, My duty pricks me on to utter that, Which elfe, no worldly good fhould draw from me. Know, |