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  • Title: Two Gentlemen of Verona (Folio 1, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Two Gentlemen of Verona (Folio 1, 1623)

    22 The two Gentlemen of Verona.
    225And not vpon your Maid.
    Iu. What is't that you
    Tooke vp so gingerly?
    Lu. Nothing.
    Iu. Why didst thou stoope then?
    230Lu. To take a paper vp, that I let fall.
    Iul. And is that paper nothing?
    Lu. Nothing concerning me.
    Iul. Then let it lye, for those that it concernes.
    Lu. Madam, it will not lye where it concernes,
    235Vnlesse it haue a false Interpreter.
    Iul. Some loue of yours, hath writ to you in Rime.
    Lu. That I might sing it (Madam) to a tune:
    Giue me a Note, your Ladiship can set
    Iul. As little by such toyes, as may be possible:
    240Best sing it to the tune of Light O, Loue.
    Lu. It is too heauy for so light a tune.
    Iu. Heauy? belike it hath some burden then?
    Lu. I: and melodious were it, would you sing it,
    Iu. And why not you?
    245Lu. I cannot reach so high.
    Iu. Let's see your Song:
    How now Minion?
    Lu. Keepe tune there still; so you will sing it out:
    And yet me thinkes I do not like this tune.
    250Iu. You doe not?
    Lu. No (Madam) tis too sharpe.
    Iu. You (Minion) are too saucie.
    Lu. Nay, now you are too flat;
    And marre the concord, with too harsh a descant:
    255There wanteth but a Meane to fill your Song.
    Iu. The meane is dround with you vnruly base.
    Lu. Indeede I bid the base for Protheus.
    Iu. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
    Here is a coile with protestation:
    260Goe, get you gone: and let the papers lye:
    You would be fingring them, to anger me.
    Lu. She makes it strāge, but she would be best pleas'd
    To be so angred with another Letter.
    Iu. Nay, would I were so angred with the same:
    265Oh hatefull hands, to teare such louing words;
    Iniurious Waspes, to feede on such sweet hony,
    And kill the Bees that yeelde it, with your stings;
    Ile kisse each seuerall paper, for amends:
    Looke, here is writ, kinde Iulia: vnkinde Iulia,
    270As in reuenge of thy ingratitude,
    I throw thy name against the bruzing-stones,
    Trampling contemptuously on thy disdaine.
    And here is writ, Loue wounded Protheus.
    Poore wounded name: my bosome, as a bed,
    275Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly heal'd;
    And thus I search it with a soueraigne kisse.
    But twice, or thrice, was Protheus written downe:
    Be calme (good winde) blow not a word away,
    Till I haue found each letter, in the Letter,
    280Except mine own name: That, some whirle-winde beare
    Vnto a ragged, fearefull, hanging Rocke,
    And throw it thence into the raging Sea.
    Loe, here in one line is his name twice writ:
    Poore forlorne Protheus, passionate Protheus:
    285To the sweet Iulia: that ile teare away:
    And yet I will not, sith so prettily
    He couples it, to his complaining Names;
    Thus will I fold them, one vpon another;
    Now kisse, embrace, contend, doe what you will.
    290 Lu. Madam: dinner is ready: and your father staies.
    Iu. Well, let vs goe.
    Lu. What, shall these papers lye, like Tel-tales here?
    Iu. If you respect them; best to take them vp.
    Lu. Nay, I was taken vp, for laying them downe.
    295Yet here they shall not lye, for catching cold.
    Iu. I see you haue a months minde to them.
    Lu. I (Madam) you may say what sights you see;
    I see things too, although you iudge I winke.
    Iu. Come, come, wilt please you goe. Exeunt.


    300 Scoena Tertia.


    Enter Antonio and Panthino. Protheus.

    Ant. Tell me Panthino, what sad talke was that,
    Wherewith my brother held you in the Cloyster?
    Pan. 'Twas of his Nephew Protheus, your Sonne.
    305Ant. Why? what of him?
    Pan. He wondred that your Lordship
    Would suffer him, to spend his youth at home,
    While other men, of slender reputation
    Put forth their Sonnes, to seeke preferment out.
    310Some to the warres, to try their fortune there;
    Some, to discouer Islands farre away:
    Some, to the studious Vniuersities;
    For any, or for all these exercises,
    He said, that Protheus, your sonne, was meet;
    315And did request me, to importune you
    To let him spend his time no more at home;
    Which would be great impeachment to his age,
    In hauing knowne no trauaile in his youth.
    Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that
    320Whereon, this month I haue bin hamering.
    I haue consider'd well, his losse of time,
    And how he cannot be a perfect man,
    Not being tryed, and tutord in the world:
    Experience is by industry atchieu'd,
    325And perfected by the swift course of time:
    Then tell me, whether were I best to send him?
    Pan. I thinke your Lordship is not ignorant
    How his companion, youthfull Valentine,
    Attends the Emperour in his royall Court.
    330Ant. I know it well.
    Pan. 'Twere good, I thinke, your Lordship sent him(thither,
    There shall he practise Tilts, and Turnaments;
    Heare sweet discourse, conuerse with Noble-men,
    And be in eye of euery Exercise
    335Worthy his youth, and noblenesse of birth.
    Ant. I like thy counsaile: well hast thou aduis'd:
    And that thou maist perceiue how well I like it,
    The execution of it shall make knowne;
    Euen with the speediest expedition,
    340I will dispatch him to the Emperors Court.
    Pan. To morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
    With other Gentlemen of good esteeme
    Are iournying, to salute the Emperor,
    And to commend their seruice to his will.
    345 Ant. Good company: with them shall Protheus go:
    And in good time: now will we breake with him.
    Pro. Sweet Loue, sweet lines, sweet life,
    Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
    Here is her oath for loue, her honors paune;
    O
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