THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. DUKE OF MILAN, father to Silvia. VALENTINE, PROTEUS, the two Gentlemen. ANTONIO, father to Proteus. THURIO, a foolish rival to Valentine. EGLAMOUR, Agent for Silvia in her escape. HOST, where Julia lodges. OUTLAWS, with Valentine. SPEED, a clownish servant to Valentine. LAUNCE, the like to Proteus. PANTHINO, servant to Antonio. JULIA, beloved of Proteus. SILVIA, beloved of Valentine. SCENE-Verona; Milan; the frontiers of Mantua. ACT I. SCENE I. Verona. An open place. Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus: Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. Were't not affection chains thy tender days To the sweet glances of thy honor'd love, I rather would entreat thy company To see the wonders of the world abroad Than, living dully sluggardized at home, Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. But since thou lovest, love still and thrive therein, Even as I would when I to love begin. Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus, when thou haply seest Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel: Wish me partaker in thy happiness ΙΟ When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success? 21 How young Leander crossed the Hellespont. Val. No, I will not, for it boots thee not. Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth 30 Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear you'il prove. 40 Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And he that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly, blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime And all the fair effects of future hopes. But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee, That art a votary to fond desire? Once more adieu! my father at the road Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd. 50 Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. 60 To Milan let me hear from thee by letters Pro. He after honor hunts, I after love: for Milan. [ready, Speed. Twenty to one then he is shipp'd alAnd I have play'd the sheep in losing him. Pro. But dost thou hear? gavest thou my SCENE II. The same. Garden of JULIA's house. letter to Julia? 100 Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labor. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons. Speed, If the ground be overcharged, you were best to stick her. Pro. Nay in that you are astray; 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound,-a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over. 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. Pro. But what said she? Pro. Nod-Ay-why, that's noddy. Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod; and you ask me if she did nod; and I say 'Ay." Pro. And that set together is noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. 122 Pro. No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you. Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly; having nothing but the word 'noddy' for my pains. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said she? Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she? 14C Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Egla[fine; mour? Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and But were I you, he never should be mine. II Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so, so. Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus? Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us! [his name? Jul. How now! what means this passion at Luc. Pardon, dear madam, 'tis a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am, Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so because I think him so. Ful. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? [away. Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast Jul. Why he, of all the rest, hath never moved me. Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye. Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small. 29 Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. [love. Jul. They do not love that do not show their It were a shame to call her back again, Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love Luc. Re-enter LUCETTA. 60 What would your ladyship? Jul. Is't near dinner-time? Luc. I would it were, That you might kill your stomach on your meat And not upon your maid. Jul. What is't that you took up so gingerly? Jul. Why didst thou stoop, then? Luc. Nothing concerning me. 121 And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. you will. 71 Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it conUnless it have a false interpreter. [cerns, Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. Give me a note: your ladyship can set. 81 Ful. As little by such toys as may be possible. Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love.' • Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. Heavy! belike it hath some burden then? Luc. Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like telltales here? [up. Jul. If you respect them, best to take them Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: SCENE III. The same. ANTONIO'S house. Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? He wonder'd that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home, While other men, of slender reputation, Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: IO He said that Proteus your son was meet, Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that 20 Whereon this month I have been hammering. Pan. Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: There shall he practice tilts and tournaments, 30 Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised: And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it I will despatch him to the emperor's court. 40 With other gentlemen of good esteem And, in good time! now will we break with him. Pro. There is no news, my lord, but that he writes How happily he lives, how well beloved I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time 70 Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided: Please you, deliberate a day or two. Ant. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go. [Exeunt Ant. and Pan. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd. Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, this is but one. Val. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine: Speed. Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Speed. She is not within hearing, sir. too slow. II Val. Go to, sir: tell me, do you know Speed. She that your worship loves? |