PERSONS REPRESENTED. DUKE OF MILAN, father of Silvia. VALENTINE, PROTEUS, Gentlemen of Verona. ANTONIO, father of Proteus. THURIO, a foolish rival to Valentine. PANTHINO, servant to Antonio. HOST, with whom Julia lodges in Milan. Outlaws, with Valentine. JULIA, a lady of Verona, beloved by Proteus. SILVIA, beloved by Valentine. LUCETTA, waiting-woman to Julia. Servants, Musicians. SCENE,- Sometimes in VERONA; sometimes in MILAN; and on the frontiers of Mantua. THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. ACT I. SCENE I.-An open place in Verona. C Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Valentine. EASE to persuade, my loving Proteus; Home-keeping youth have homely wits; ever Were't not affection chains thy To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love, Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, see'st Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel; Wish me partaker in thy happiness, When thou dost meet good hap: and in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success? Pro. Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee. Val. 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. Val. "Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swom the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. Val. Nay, I will not, for it boots thee not. Pro. What? Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; 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: And he that is so yokèd 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 Once more adieu: my father at the road Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. To Milan let me hear from thee by letters, Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan ! Val. As much to you at home! and So, fare[Exit VALENTINE. well. Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love: He leaves his friends to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought, Make wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. Enter SPEED. Speed. Sir Proteus, 'save you! Saw you my master? |