Why, this is the Ring I gave to Julia.

Jul. Oh, cry you mercy, Sir, I have mistook; This is the Ring you fent to Silvia.

Pro. But how cam'ft thou by this Ring? At my Depart I gave this unto Julia.

Ful. And Julia her felf did give it me.

And Julia her felf hath brought it hither.
Pro. How, Julia?

Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy Oaths,
And entertain'd'em deeply in her Heart:

How oft haft thou with Perjury cleft the Root?
Oh Protheus, let this Habit make thee blush!
Be thou afham'd that I have took upon me
Such an immodeft Rayment. If Shame live
In a Difguife of Love,

It is the leffer Blot Modefty finds,

Women to change their Shapes, than Men their Minds.

Pro. Than Men their Minds? 'Tis true, oh Heav'n, were Man but conftant, he were perfect; that one Error

Fills him with Faults, makes him run through all th’Sins:
Inconftancy falls off e'er it begins.

What is in Silvia's Face, but I may fpy
More fresh in Julia's with a conftant Eye?
Val. Come, come; a Hand from either:
Let me be bleft to make this happy Close;
'Twere pity two fuch Friends fhould be long Foes.
Pro. Bear Witnefs, Heav'n, I have my With for ever.
Jul. And I mine.

Enter Duke, Thurio and Out-laws.

Out. A Prize, a Prize, a Prize.

Val. Forbear, forbear, I fay: It is my Lord the Duke, Your Grace is Welcome to a Man difgrac'd,

Banished Valentine.

Duke. Sir Valentine?

Thu. Yonder is Silvia: And Silvia's mine.

Val. Thurio, give back; or elfe embrace thy Death:
Come not within the measure of my Wrath.
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Verona fhall not hold thee. Here the ftands,
Take but Poffeffion of her with a Touch;
I dare thee but to breathe upon my Love.

Theo Sir

Thu. 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 fhe is thine..
Duke. The more degenerate and bafe art thou,
To make fuch means for her as thou haft done,
And leave her on fuch flight 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 arrival'd Merit,
To which I thus fubfcribe: Sir Valentine,
Thou art a Gentleman, and well deriv'd,
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou haft deferv'd her.
Val. I thank your Grace; the Gift hath made me happy.
I now befeech you, for your Daughter's fake,

To grant one Boon that I fhall ask of you,

Duke. I grant it for thine own, whate'er it be.
Val. These banish'd Men that I have kept withal,
Are Men endu'd 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 Imployment, worthy Lord.

Duke. Thou haft prevail'd, I pardon them and thee; Difpofe of them as thou know'ft their Deferts. Come, let us go; we will include all Jars With Triumphs, Mirth, and all Solemnity. Val. And as we walk along, I dare be bold With our Difcourfe to make your Grace to fmile. What think you of this Page, my Lord?

Duke. I think the Boy hath Grace in him, he blushes. Val. I warrant you, my Lord, more Grace than Boy. Duke. What mean you by that Saying?

Val. Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,

That you will wonder what hath fortuned.
Come Protheus, 'tis your Penance but to hear
The Story of your Loves difcovered:

That done, our Day of Marriage shall be yours,
One Feaft, one Houfe, one mutual Happiness.

[Exeunt.

P123

THE

Merry Wives

O F

WINDS O R.

A

COMED Y.

Printed in the YEAR 1709.