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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Scoena Tertia.
    Enter Launce, Panthion.
    Launce. Nay, 'twill bee this howre ere I haue done
    weeping: all the kinde of the Launces, haue this very
    595fault: I haue receiu'd my proportion, like the prodigious
    sonne,
    The two Gentlemen of Verona. 25
    Sonne, and am going with Sir Protheus to the Imperialls
    Court: I thinke Crab mydog, be the sowrest natured
    dogge that liues: My Mother weeping: my Father
    wayling: my Sister crying: our Maid howling: our
    600Catte wringing her hands, and all our house in a great
    perplexitie, yet did not this cruell-hearted Curre shedde
    one teare: he is a stone, a very pibble stone, and has no
    more pitty in him then a dogge: a Iew would haue wept
    to haue seene our parting: why my Grandam hauing
    605no eyes, looke you, wept her selfe blinde at my parting:
    nay, Ile shew you the manner of it. This shooe is my fa-
    ther: no, this left shooe is my father; no, no, this left
    shooe is my mother: nay, that cannot bee so neyther:
    yes; it is so, it is so: it hath the worser sole: this shooe
    610with the hole in it, is my mother: and this my father:
    a veng'ance on't, there 'tis: Now sir, this staffe is my si-
    ster: for, looke you, she is as white as a lilly, and as
    small as a wand: this hat is Nan our maid: I am the
    dogge: no, the dogge is himselfe, and I am the dogge:
    615oh, the dogge is me, and I am my selfe: I; so, so: now
    come I to my Father; Father, your blessing: now
    should not the shooe speake a word for weeping:
    now should I kisse my Father; well, hee weepes on:
    Now come I to my Mother: Oh that she could speake
    620now, like a would-woman: well, I kisse her: why
    there 'tis; heere's my mothers breath vp and downe:
    Now come I to my sister; marke the moane she makes:
    now the dogge all this while sheds not a teare: nor
    speakes a word: but see how I lay the dust with my
    625teares.
    Panth. Launce, away, away: a Boord: thy Master is
    ship'd, and thou art to post after with oares; what's the
    matter? why weep'st thou man? away asse, you'l loose
    the Tide, if you tarry any longer.
    630 Laun. It is no matter if the tide were lost, for it is the
    vnkindest Tide, that euer any man tide.
    Panth. What's the vnkindest tide?
    Lau. Why, he that's tide here, Crab my dog.
    Pant. Tut, man: I meane thou'lt loose the flood, and
    635in loosing the flood, loose thy voyage, and in loosing thy
    voyage, loose thy Master, and in loosing thy Master,
    loose thy seruice, and in loosing thy seruice: --- why
    dost thou stop my mouth?
    Laun. For feare thou shouldst loose thy tongue.
    640Panth. Where should I loose my tongue?
    Laun. In thy Tale.
    Panth. In thy Taile.
    Laun. Loose the Tide, and the voyage, and the Ma-
    ster, and the Seruice, and the tide: why man, if the Riuer
    645were drie, I am able to fill it with my teares: if the winde
    were downe, I could driue the boate with my sighes.
    Panth. Come: come away man, I was sent to call
    thee.
    Lau. Sir: call me what thou dar'st.
    650Pant. Wilt thou goe?
    Laun. Well, I will goe.
    Exeunt.
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