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Act 5, Scene 4 — Another part of the forest
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Enter Valentine.
VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine reflecting on how forest life has become his norm

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.

Strange how habit becomes nature! This empty forest, these unfrequented woods—I prefer them now to crowded cities where I used to live.

It's crazy how you get used to things. I actually like this empty forest more than the city now.

habit becomes nature i like this forest more than the city now

[_Shouts within._]
What hallowing 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?
[_Steps aside._]
Enter Proteus, Silvia and Julia as Sebastian.
PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus making a desperate claim on Silvia's heart through his actions

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.

Madam, everything I've done for you—even though you don't care what your servant does—I've risked my life to save you.

I've done everything for you. I risked my life to rescue you.

i've risked everything for you i saved you

[_Aside_.] How like a dream is this I see and hear!
VALENTINE Valentine trying to find patience to listen before acting

Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

Love, give me patience to wait before I act.

Wait—give me a second before I do something.

wait let me think

SILVIA Silvia in complete despair, attacked by the man she thought she could trust

O miserable, unhappy that I am!

I'm miserable and unlucky!

I'm ruined!

i'm destroyed

PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus claiming he's saved her from misery

Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;

But by my coming I have made you happy.

You were already miserable before I came, but my arrival has made you happy.

You were sad before. I'm making you happy.

you were sad now i'm making you happy

SILVIA Silvia rejecting his twisted logic entirely

By thy approach thou mak’st me most unhappy.

No—your arrival makes me most unhappy.

You're making me miserable.

you're making it worse

[_Aside_.] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.
SILVIA ≋ verse Silvia saying she'd rather be killed than saved by Proteus

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.

If a hungry lion had taken me, at least I'd be its breakfast rather than saved by a false Proteus. A lion would be kinder.

I'd rather be eaten by a lion than saved by you. A lion would be better.

id rather die to a lion than be saved by you

PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus showing his obsession, willing to die for one look from Silvia

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.

What danger, what risk of death—I would face it all for one calm look from you. This is love's curse and punishment: we want what we can't have.

I'd face anything—death—for one nice look from you. That's the curse of love.

i'd face anything for one look that's the curse of love

SILVIA ≋ verse Silvia attacking the hypocrisy: how can Proteus claim love when Julia exists?

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!

When Proteus can't love the person who loves him. Look at Julia's heart—she was your first love, and for her sake you did terrible things. Why did you abandon her?

You can't love someone who loves you. Julia loved you first. What about her?

you can't love someone who loves you julia loved you where's your loyalty

PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus coldly dismissing the value of friendship against love

In love

Who respects friend?

In love, who thinks of friends?

When you're in love, friends don't matter.

in love friends don't matter

SILVIA Silvia countering: everyone else manages to balance love and friendship

All men but Proteus.

Every man does, except Proteus.

Every guy except you.

every guy but you

PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus losing patience, moving from persuasion to threat

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.

If gentle words and romantic promises won't change you, I'll take you by force like a soldier.

If talking doesn't work, I'll take you by force.

words aren't working i'm forcing you

[_He seizes her._]
SILVIA Silvia's only response—a prayer, invoking heaven

O heaven!

Oh heaven!

God help me!

god

PROTEUS Proteus announcing his intention to rape Silvia

I’ll force thee yield to my desire.

I'll make you surrender to what I want.

I'm forcing you.

i'm taking you

[_Comes forward_.] Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,
VALENTINE Valentine emerging, calling out Proteus's betrayal

Thou friend of an ill fashion!

You're no friend—you're a disgrace!

You're disgusting!

you're disgusting

PROTEUS Proteus recognizing Valentine, caught red-handed

Valentine!

Valentine!

Valentine!

valentine

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine delivering the full indictment of Proteus's betrayal

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 right hand

Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,

But count 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!

You're a common friend now—without faith or loyalty. That's what a friend has become. You lied to me, betrayed me, and you're trying to rape the woman I love. You've destroyed all my hopes.

You're not a friend—you're a liar and a traitor. You're trying to rape the woman I love. You've destroyed everything.

you're a traitor no faith no love you betrayed me you tried to rape her you destroyed everything

PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus completely broken, confessing his guilt

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.

I'm ashamed and guilty. Forgive me, Valentine. If true sorrow can pay for what I've done, I offer it to you now.

I'm so sorry. I'm ashamed. Can you forgive me?

i'm sorry i'm ashamed can you forgive me

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine doing the impossible—forgiving Proteus completely

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 th’ Eternal’s wrath’s appeased.

And that my love may appear plain and free,

All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

Then you're forgiven, and I accept you again as honest. Whoever won't accept repentance isn't worthy of heaven or earth.

You're forgiven. I accept you again. Real repentance should always be forgiven.

you're forgiven i accept you repentance always deserves forgiveness

JULIA Julia fainting at this news, realizing Proteus doesn't want her

O me unhappy!

Oh, I'm so miserable!

No!

no

[_Swoons._]
PROTEUS Proteus ordering someone to help Julia who's fainted

Look to the boy.

Look after the boy.

Check on the boy.

help him

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine noticing Julia in crisis, trying to help

Why, boy!

Why, wag! How now? What’s the matter? Look up; speak.

Boy! Why are you like this? What's wrong? Come on, look up and speak.

Hey, what's wrong? Look at me. Are you okay?

what's wrong look up talk to me

JULIA Julia as a boy, finally delivering the ring—her last connection to Proteus

O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia,

which out of my neglect was never done.

Sir, my master told me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, but I forgot to do it because of my carelessness.

My master told me to give a ring to Silvia. I never did. It's my fault.

i was supposed to deliver a ring to silvia i forgot

PROTEUS Proteus wanting to see the ring

Where is that ring, boy?

Where is that ring, boy?

Where is it?

where is it

JULIA Julia producing the ring—her ring

Here ’tis; this is it.

Here it is.

Here.

here

[_Gives him a ring._]
PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus recognizing the ring he gave Julia

How, let me see.

Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.

Wait—this is the ring I gave to Julia!

This is Julia's ring!

this is julia's ring

JULIA ≋ verse Julia correcting herself—she's confused about which ring

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

This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

Oh, I'm sorry, I made a mistake. This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

Sorry, I got confused. This is the one you sent to Silvia.

sorry i'm confused this is silvia's

[_Shows another ring._]
PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus realizing something is very wrong—Julia should have this ring

But how cam’st thou by this ring? At my depart

I gave this unto Julia.

But how did you get this ring? I gave it to Julia when I left.

How do you have this? I gave it to Julia.

i gave that to julia how do you have it

JULIA ≋ verse Julia finally revealing herself

And Julia herself did give it me,

And Julia herself have brought it hither.

Julia herself gave it to me. And Julia herself has brought it to you.

Julia gave it to me. And I'm Julia.

julia gave it i'm julia

[_She reveals herself._]
PROTEUS Proteus shocked beyond belief

How? Julia?

What? Julia?

What? You're Julia?

you're julia

JULIA ≋ verse Julia confronting Proteus with what he's done to her love

Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths

And entertained ’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.

Yes—I listened to all your promises and kept them deep in my heart. How many times did you swear lies while I believed you truly?

I heard every promise you made. I believed all of it. How could you lie to me like that?

i believed everything you promised me how could you lie

PROTEUS ≋ verse Proteus accepting that his inconsistency is the fundamental flaw of humanity

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 th’ 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?

Women change more than men! But it's true—if men were constant, they'd be perfect. One single mistake fills him with faults and sin.

Maybe women are inconsistent too, but you're right—if men never changed, they'd be perfect. One mistake ruins everything.

women change too but you're right one mistake makes you wrong

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine bringing everyone together, the final reconciliation

Come, come, a hand from either.

Let me be blest to make this happy close.

’Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.

Come here, both of you. Let me bring this to a happy ending. It's sad to see two such friends separated for so long.

Come on, both of you. Let's fix this. You two shouldn't be apart.

come together let's end this you two shouldn't be apart

PROTEUS Proteus accepting Julia, finally, his desires finally met

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

Heaven witness—I have everything I want now.

I finally have what I want.

i have everything i want now

JULIA Julia also reconciled, her prayers answered

And I mine.

And I have mine.

Me too.

me too

Enter Outlaws with Duke and Thurio.
OUTLAWS The outlaws spotting the Duke approaching, thinking he's a prize to capture

A prize, a prize, a prize!

A prize! A prize! A prize!

We got something valuable!

we got a prize

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine stopping the outlaws, revealing the Duke's identity

Forbear, forbear, I say! It is my lord the Duke.

Your Grace is welcome to a man disgraced,

Banished Valentine.

Stop! That's the Duke. Your Grace, welcome to a disgraced and banished Valentine.

Wait! That's the Duke. Your Grace, sorry for the state of things.

that's the duke welcome to a banished man

DUKE The Duke recognizing Valentine

Sir Valentine!

Sir Valentine!

Valentine!

valentine

THURIO Thurio claiming Silvia in front of the Duke

Yonder is Silvia, and Silvia’s mine.

Silvia over there is mine.

Silvia's mine.

silvia's mine

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine ready to kill Thurio for claiming Silvia

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, back off or die. Stay away from me. Don't you dare call Silvia yours. If you do, I'll come after you.

Back off or I'll kill you. Don't say Silvia's yours. I'll destroy you.

back off or die don't claim her i'll kill you

THURIO ≋ verse Thurio backing down immediately, no longer wanting to risk death

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.

Valentine, honestly I don't care about her. I think only a fool would risk death for a girl who doesn't love him anyway.

You can have her. Only an idiot would die for someone who doesn't love him.

take her only a fool would die for someone who doesn't love him

DUKE ≋ verse The Duke disgusted by Thurio's cowardice and selfishness

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 unrivalled merit,

To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,

Thou art a gentleman, and well derived;

Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.

You're degraded and base. You've gone to all this trouble to get her, then you abandon her at the first sign of danger. Shameful.

You're disgusting. You did all this for her, then immediately gave up. Pathetic.

you're disgusting you gave up when it got hard

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine humbly thanking the Duke and asking for a favor

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

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

To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.

Thank you, Your Grace. Your gift has made me happy. I ask you for one favor for your daughter's sake.

Thank you, Your Grace. One thing—could you help me with something?

thank you one favor for your daughter

DUKE The Duke granting the request without even hearing it

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

I grant it, whatever it is.

Sure, whatever you need.

whatever you want

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine asking the Duke to pardon the outlaws

These banished men, that I have kept withal,

Are men endued with worthy qualities.

Forgive them what they have committed here,

And let them be recalled from their exile.

They are reformed, civil, full of good,

And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

These men I've lived with—they're good men with fine qualities. Forgive them for what they've done. They deserve it.

These outlaws are good guys. Can you pardon them?

pardon these outlaws they're good men

DUKE ≋ verse The Duke granting the pardon, and inviting everyone to the palace

Thou hast prevailed; 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.

You've convinced me. I pardon them and you. Do what you think is right with them. Come, let's go celebrate the marriages and the happiness we've found.

Fine. I pardon all of you. Let's go celebrate.

i pardon everyone let's celebrate

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine making a bold promise to entertain the Duke as they walk

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?

And as we walk, I'll tell you a story that will make you smile. By the way, what do you think of this page?

Wait till you hear what happened. So, what do you think of this boy?

you won't believe what happened what about him

DUKE The Duke noticing Julia blushing, recognizing something feminine

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

The boy has grace—he's blushing.

He's got good manners. And he's blushing.

nice manners and he's blushing

VALENTINE Valentine with a knowing smile, confirming the revelation

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

I assure you, Your Grace, more grace than boy.

More grace than you think. If you know what I mean.

more grace than boy

DUKE The Duke asking for clarification

What mean you by that saying?

What do you mean by that?

What do you mean?

what do you mean

VALENTINE ≋ verse Valentine inviting the Duke to hear the full story

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.

If you'll listen as we walk, I'll tell you, and you'll be amazed at what has happened. Come, Proteus—this is your penance: to hear the whole story.

I'll explain on the way. You won't believe what happened. Proteus, come on—you need to hear this.

i'll explain you won't believe it proteus listen up

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

If this happened today…