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Overview
Written early in Shakespeare's career, this madcap romp embodies many themes and motifs the playwright would explore at greater depth in his later works. The first of his plays in which the heroine dresses as a boy to seek out her beloved, it's also the first in which the characters retreat to the natural world to brave danger and disorder before achieving harmony, and the first in which passionate youth triumphs over dictatorial elders. And amid its merriment and jests, the play also raises thought-provoking questions about conflicts between friendship and love and the value of forgiveness.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780486790053 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Dover Publications |
| Publication date: | 04/13/2015 |
| Series: | Dover Thrift Editions: Plays |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 80 |
| File size: | 4 MB |
About the Author
Jonathan Bate is a professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance literature at the University of Warwick. Widely known as a critic, award-winning biographer, and broadcaster, Bate is the author of several books on Shakespeare. He is also the principal editor of the Modern Library’s and Royal Shakespeare Company’s highly acclaimed William Shakespeare: Complete Works.
Eric Rasmussen, a professor of English at the University of Nevada, is one of today's leading textual experts on Shakespeare.
Date of Death:
2018Place of Birth:
Stratford-upon-Avon, United KingdomPlace of Death:
Stratford-upon-Avon, United KingdomRead an Excerpt
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Alison Daurio
Dover Publications, Inc.
Copyright © 2015 Dover Publications, Inc.All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-486-79005-3
CHAPTER 1
ACT I.
Scene I. Verona. An Open Place in the City.
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, 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. [10]
Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! 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, For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.
Val. And on a love-book pray for my success?
Pro. Upon some book I love I 'll pray for thee. [20]
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; and you are over boots in love, And yet you never swam 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; coy looks [30] With heart-sore sighs; one fading 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, Or else a wit by folly vanquishéd.
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 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 Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime, [50] 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.
Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.
Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. At Milan let me hear from thee by letters Of thy success in love, and what news else Betideth here in absence of thy friend; [60] And I likewise will visit thee with mine.
Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell. [exit.
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. [70]
Enter SPEED.
Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master?
Pro. But now he parted hence, t' embark for Milan.
Speed. Twenty to one, then, he is shipp'd already, And I have play'd the sheep in losing him.
Pro. Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be awhile away.
Speed. You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep?
Pro. I do.
Speed. Why, then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or [80] sleep.
Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.
Speed. This proves me still a sheep.
Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd.
Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.
Pro. It shall go hard but I 'll prove it by another.
Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me: therefore I am no sheep.
Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for [90] food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a sheep.
Speed. Such another proof will make me cry baa.
Pro. But, dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to Julia?
Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton,6 gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour.
Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.
Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. [100]
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?
Speed. [nodding.] Ay.
Pro. Nod, Ay? — why, that's noddy.
Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me if [110] 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.
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. [120]
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 deliver'd.
Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains. [giving him money. What said she?
Speed. Truly, sir, I think you 'll hardly win her.
Pro. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?
Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: and, being so hard [130] to me that brought your mind, I fear she 'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel.
Pro. What, said she nothing?
Speed. No, not so much as Take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself; and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.
Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, Which cannot perish having thee aboard, [140] Being destined to a drier death on shore. — [Exit SPEED. I must go send some better messenger: I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post. [exit.
Scene II. The Same. The Garden of Julia's House.
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 Eglamour?
Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat, and fine; [10] But, were I you, he never should be mine.
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!
Jul. How now! what means this passion at his name?
Luc. Pardon, dear madam: 'tis a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? [20]
Luc. Then thus, — of many good I think him best.
Jul. Your reason?
Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason: I think him so, because I think him so.
Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him?
Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
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.
Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. [30]
Jul. They do not love that do not show their love.
Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love.
Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. [gives a letter.
Jul. [reads] To Julia. — Say, from whom?
Luc. That the contents will show.
Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee?
Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus. He would have given it you; but I, being in the way, Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I pray. [40]
Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!11 Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? To whisper and conspire against my youth? Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth; And you an officer fit for the place! There, take the paper: see it be return'd; Or else return no more into my sight.
Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
Jul. Will ye be gone?
Luc. That you may ruminate. [exit.
Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter: [50] It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, And would not force the letter to my view! Since maids, in modesty, say No to that Which they would have the profferer construe Ay. Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love, That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse, And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, [60] When willingly I would have had her here! How angrily I taught my brow to frown, When inward joy enforced my heart to smile! My penance is, to call Lucetta back, And ask remission for my folly past. — What, ho! Lucetta!
Re-enter LUCETTA.
Luc. What would your ladyship?
Jul. Is it 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? [70]
Luc. Nothing.
Jul. Why didst thou stoop, then?
Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.
Jul. And is that paper nothing?
Luc. Nothing concerning me.
Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns, Unless it have a false interpreter.
Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. [80] Give me a note: your ladyship can set.
Jul. 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.
Jul. And why not you?
Luc. I cannot reach so high.
Jul. Let 's see your song [taking the letter]. Why, how now, minion!
Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out: And yet methinks I do not like this tune. [90]
Jul. You do not?
Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp.
Jul. You, minion, are too saucy.
Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant: There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.
Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. for Proteus.
Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me: — Here is a coil with protestation! — [tears the letter. Go get you gone, and let the papers lie: [100] You would be fingering them, to anger me.
Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased To be so anger'd with another letter. [exit.
Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey, And kill the bees, that yield it, with your stings! I'll kiss each several paper for amends. Look, here is writ Kind Julia: — Unkind Julia! As in revenge of thy ingratitude, [110] I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain. And here is writ Love-wounded Proteus: — Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed, Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be throughly heal'd; And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. But twice or thrice was Proteus written down: — Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away, Till I have found each letter in the letter, Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear [120] Unto a raggèd, fearful-hanging rock, And throw it thence into the raging sea: — Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ, Poor fórlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus, To the sweet Julia: — that I 'll tear away; — And yet I will not, sith so prettily He couples it to his complaining names. Thus will I fold them one upon another: Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
Re-enter LUCETTA.
Luc. Madam, [130] Dinner is ready, and your father stays.
Jul. Well, let us go.
Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up.
Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink.
Jul. Come, come; will't please you go? [exeunt. 140
Scene III. The Same. A Room in Antonio's House.
Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO.
Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
Pan. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.
Ant. Why, what of him?
Pan. 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: Some to the wars, to try their fortune there; Some to discover islands far away; Some to the studious universities. [10] For any, or for all these exercises, He said that Proteus your son was meet; And did request me to impórtune you To let him spend his time no more at home, Which would be great impeachment to his age, In having known no travel in his youth.
Ant. Nor need'st thou much impórtune me to that Whereon this month I have been hammering. I have consider'd well his loss of time, And how he cannot be a perfect man, [20] Not being tried and tutor'd in the world: Experience is by industry achieved, And perfected by the swift course of time. Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him?
Pan. I think your lordship is not ignorant How his companion, youthful Valentine, Attends the Emperor in his royal Court.
Ant. I know it well.
Pan. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, [30] Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen, And be in eye of every exercise Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised: And, that thou mayst perceive how well I like it, The execution of it shall make known. Even with the speediest expedition I will dispatch him to the Emperor's Court.
Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso, With other gentlemen of good esteem, [40] Are journeying to salute the Emperor, And to commend their service to his will.
Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go: And — in good time! — now will we break with him.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Two Gentlemen of Verona by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Alison Daurio. Copyright © 2015 Dover Publications, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Dover Publications, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
ACT I,SCENE I. Verona. An Open Place in the City,
SCENE II. The Same. The Garden of Julia's House,
SCENE III. The Same. A Room in Antonio's House,
ACT II,
SCENE I. Milan. A Room in the Duke's Palace,
SCENE II. Verona. The Garden of Julia's House,
SCENE III. The Same. A Street,
SCENE IV. Milan. A Room in the Duke's Palace,
SCENE V. The Same. A Street,
SCENE VI. The Same. A Room in the Duke's Palace,
SCENE VII. Verona. A Room in Julia's House,
ACT III,
SCENE I. Milan. An Ante-room in the Duke's Palace,
SCENE II. The Same. A Room in the Duke's Palace,
ACT IV,
SCENE I. A Forest Near Milan,
SCENE II. Milan. The Court of the Duke's Palace,
ACT V,
SCENE I. Milan. An Abbey,
SCENE II. The Same. A Room in the Duke's Palace,
SCENE III. The Forest,
SCENE IV. Another Part of the Forest,
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