[Enter Duke]

DUKE  How now, Sir Proteus? How now, Thurio?

Which of you saw 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 wandered through the forest.

Him he knew well, and guessed that it was she,

But being masked, he was not sure of it.

Besides, she did intend confession

At Patrick’s cell this even, and there she was not. (5.2.30-40)

 

Hello hello, says the Duke, although perhaps with more urgency: which of you saw Eglamour of late? Have you seen him around recently? Er, no? they both say. Not I. And, er, saw you my daughter? Have you seen Silvia? Neither, says Proteus, getting in before Thurio. No, haven’t seen her recently either. At this the Duke might explode in anger, or else cold rage, frustration, panic: why then, she’s fled unto that peasant Valentine, and Eglamour is in her company! She’s run away after Valentine, common villain that he is (class remains a central concern for all the characters)—and Eglamour’s with her! Thurio and Proteus might start to speak, to ask for further information, dispute the Duke’s conclusions, but he forestalls any quibbling: ’tis true, for Friar Laurence met them both as he in penance wandered through the forest. (Probably picking flowers, and wondering if playing his cards right here could allow him to be more than just a walk-on name in another play…) Him—Sir Eglamour—he (Friar Laurence) knew well; he recognised him alright—and guessed that it was she, Silvia, but being masked (against the sun and wind, and the dust of the road; not uncommon for noble ladies, rather than in an attempt to conceal identity—although that, here, is the main purpose) he was not sure of it. He couldn’t be absolutely certain that it was Silvia, but… Besides, she did intend confession at Patrick’s cell this even, and there she was not. She said she was going to confession with Friar Patrick this evening! And she didn’t show up!!