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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The two Gentlemen of Verona. 23
    350O that our Fathers would applaud our loues
    To seale our happinesse with their consents.
    Pro. Oh heauenly Iulia.
    Ant. How now? What Letter are you reading there?
    Pro. May't please your Lordship, 'tis a word or two
    355Of commendations sent from Valentine;
    Deliuer'd by a friend, that came from him.
    Ant. Lend me the Letter: Let me see what newes.
    Pro. There is no newes (my Lord) but that he writes
    How happily he liues, how well-belou'd,
    360And daily graced by the Emperor;
    Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
    Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish?
    Pro. As one relying on your Lordships will,
    And not depending on his friendly wish.
    365Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish:
    Muse not that I thus sodainly proceed;
    For what I will, I will, and there an end:
    I am resolu'd, that thou shalt spend some time
    With Valentinus, in the Emperors Court:
    370What maintenance he from his friends receiues,
    Like exhibition thou shalt haue from me,
    To morrow be in readinesse, to goe,
    Excuse it not: for I am peremptory.
    Pro. My Lord I cannot be so soone prouided,
    375Please you deliberate a day or two.
    Ant. Look what thou want'st shal be sent after thee:
    No more of stay: to morrow thou must goe;
    Come on Panthmo; you shall be imployd,
    To hasten on his Expedition.
    380 Pro. Thus haue I shund the fire, for feare of burning,
    And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
    I fear'd to shew my Father IuliasLetter,
    Least he should take exceptions to my loue,
    And with the vantage of mine owne excuse
    385Hath he excepted most against my loue.
    Oh, how this spring of loue resembleth
    The vncertaine glory of an Aprill day,
    Which now shewes all the beauty of the Sun,
    And by and by a clowd takes all away.
    390Pan. Sir Protheus, your Fathers call's for you,
    He is in hast, therefore I pray you go.
    Pro. Why this it is: my heart accords thereto,
    And yet a thousand times it answer's no.
    Exeunt. Finis.


    395 Actus secundus: Scoena Prima.


    Enter Valentine, Speed, Siluia.

    Speed. Sir, your Gloue.
    Valen. Not mine: my Gloues are on.
    Sp. Why then this may be yours: for this is but one.
    400Val. Ha? Let me see: I, giue it me, it's mine:
    Sweet Ornament, that deckes a thing diuine,
    Ah Siluia, Siluia.
    Speed. Madam Siluia: Madam Siluia.
    Val. How now Sirha?
    405Speed. Shee is not within hearing Sir.
    Val. Why sir, who bad you call her?
    Speed. Your worship sir, or else I mistooke.
    Val. Well: you'll still be too forward.
    Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow.
    410Val. Goe to, sir, tell me: do you know Madam Siluia?
    Speed. Shee that your worship loues?
    Val. Why, how know you that I am in loue?
    Speed. Marry by these speciall markes: first, you haue
    learn'd (like Sir Protheus) to wreath your Armes like a
    415Male-content: to rellish a Loue-song, like a Robin-red-
    breast: to walke alone like one that had the pestilence:
    to sigh, like a Schoole-boy that had lost his A.B.C. to
    weep like a yong wench that had buried her Grandam:
    to fast, like one that takes diet: to watch, like one that
    420feares robbing: to speake puling, like a beggar at Hal-
    low-Masse: You were wont, when you laughed, to crow
    like a cocke; when you walk'd, to walke like one of the
    Lions: when you fasted, it was presently after dinner:
    when you look'd sadly, it was for want of money: And
    425now you are Metamorphis'd with a Mistris, that when I
    looke on you, I can hardly thinke you my Master.
    Val. Are all these things perceiu'd in me?
    Speed. They are all perceiu'd without ye.
    Val. Without me? they cannot.
    430 Speed. Without you? nay, that's certaine: for with-
    out you were so simple, none else would: but you are
    so without these follies, that these follies are within you,
    and shine through you like the water in an Vrinall: that
    not an eye that sees you, but is a Physician to comment
    435on your Malady.
    Val. But tell me: do'st thou know my Lady Siluia?
    Speed. Shee that you gaze on so, as she sits at supper?
    Val. Hast thou obseru'd that? euen she I meane.
    Speed. Why sir, I know her not.
    440 Val. Do'st thou know her by my gazing on her, and
    yet know'st her not?
    Speed. Is she not hard-fauour'd, sir?
    Val. Not so faire (boy) as well fauour'd.
    Speed. Sir, I know that well enough.
    445Val. What dost thou know?
    Speed. That shee is not so faire, as (of you) well-fa-
    uourd?
    Val. I meane that her beauty is exquisite,
    But her fauour infinite.
    450 Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the o-
    ther out of all count.
    Val. How painted? and how out of count?
    Speed. Marry sir, so painted to make her faire, that no
    man counts of her beauty.
    455 Val. How esteem'st thou me? I account of her beauty.
    Speed. You neuer saw her since she was deform'd.
    Val. How long hath she beene deform'd?
    Speed. Euer since you lou'd her.
    Val. I haue lou'd her euer since I saw her,
    460And still I see her beautifull.
    Speed. If you loue her, you cannot see her.
    Val. Why?
    Speed. Because Loue is blinde: O that you had mine
    eyes, or your owne eyes had the lights they were wont
    465to haue, when you chidde at Sir Protheus, for going vn-
    garter'd.
    Val. What should I see then?
    Speed. Your owne present folly, and her passing de-
    formitie: for hee beeing in loue, could not see to garter
    470his hose; and you, beeing in loue, cannot see to put on
    your hose.
    Val. Belike (boy) then you are in loue, for last mor-(ning
    You could not see to wipe my shooes.
    Speed. True sir: I was in loue with my bed, I thanke
    475you, you swing'd me for my loue, which makes mee the
    bolder
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