Two Gentlemen of Verona The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]

Excerpt

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

Duke of Milan, Father to Silvia.

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.

Lucetta, waiting-woman to Julia.

Servants, Musicians.

Scene, Verona; Milan; the frontiers of Mantua.

Dramatis Personæ.] The names of all the Actors F, at the end of the play.

of Milan] added by Pope.

Proteus] Steevens. Protheus Ff. See .

Antonio] Capell. Anthonio Ff.

Panthino] Capell. Panthion Ff. See .

Servants, Musicians] Theobald.

Scene ...] Pope and Hanmer.

THE

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

I. 1 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 honour’d love,

5 I rather would entreat thy company

To see the wonders of the world abroad,

Than, living dully sluggardized at home,

Wear out thy youth shapeless idleness.

But since thou lovest, love still, and thrive therein,

10

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,

15 When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger,

If ever danger do environ thee,

Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,

For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.

Val. And on a love-book pray for success?

20 Pro. Upon some book I love I’ll pray for thee.

That’s on some shallow story of deep love:

How young Leander cross’d the Hellespont.

Pro. That’s a deep story of a deeper love;

For he was more than over shoes in love.

I. 1.
25 Val. ’Tis true; you are over boots in love,

And yet you never swum the Hellespont.

Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.

Val. No, I will not, for it boots not.

Pro.

What?

Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans;

30 Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one moment’s mirth

With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights:

If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain;

If lost, why then a grievous labour won;

However, but a folly bought with wit,

35 Or else a wit by folly vanquished.

Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.

Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear you’ll prove.

Pro. ’Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.

Val. Love is your master, for he masters you:

40 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.

45 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; in the bud,

Losing his verdure even in the prime,

I....