The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

1.1.44Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus;

1.1.55Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits,

1.1.66Wer't not affection chains thy tender days

1.1.77To the sweet glances of thy honored love,

1.1.88I rather would entreat thy company

1.1.99To see the wonders of the world abroad

1.1.1010Than, living dully sluggardized at home,

1.1.1111Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.

1.1.1212But since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein,

1.1.1313Even as I would, when I to love begin.

Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu.

1.1.1515Think on thy Proteus when thou haply seest

1.1.1616Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel.

1.1.1717Wish me partaker in thy happiness

1.1.1818When thou dost meet good hap, and in thy danger,

1.1.1919If ever danger do environ thee,

1.1.2020Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,

1.1.2121For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.

And on a love-book pray for my success?

Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee.

That's on some shallow story of deep love,

1.1.2525How young Leander crossed the Hellespont.

That's a deep story of a deeper love,

1.1.2727For he was more then over-shoes in love.

'Tis true, for you are over-boots in love,

1.1.2929And yet you never swom the Hellespont.

Over the boots? Nay, give me not the boots.

No, I will not, for it boots thee not.

What?

To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans;

1.1.3434Coy looks, with heart-sore sighs; one fading moments mirth,

1.1.3535With twenty watchfull, weary, tedious nights.

1.1.3636If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain;

1.1.3737If lost, why then a grievous labor won;

1.1.3838However, but a folly bought with wit,

1.1.3939Or else a wit, by folly vanquishèd.

So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.

So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll prove.

'Tis Love you cavil at. I am not Love.

Love is your master, for he masters you;

1.1.4444And he that is so yoked by a fool,

1.1.4545Methinks should not be chronicled for wise.

Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud

1.1.4747The eating canker dwells, so eating Love

1.1.4848Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

And writers say, as the most forward bud

1.1.5050Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,

1.1.5151Even so by Love, the young and tender wit

1.1.5252Is turned to folly, blasting in the bud,

1.1.5353Losing his verdure, even in the prime,

1.1.5454And all the fair effects of future hopes.

1.1.5555But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee

1.1.5656That art a votary to fond desire?

1.1.5757Once more, adieu. My father at the road

1.1.5858Expects my coming, there to see me shipped.

And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.

Sweet Proteus, no. Now let us take our leave.

1.1.6161To Milan let me hear from thee by letters

1.1.6262Of thy success in love, and what news else

1.1.6363Betideth here in absence of thy friend,

1.1.6464And I likewise will visit thee with mine.

All happiness bechance to thee in Milan.

As much to you at home, and so farewell.

He after honor hunts, I after love:

1.1.7068He leaves his friends to dignify them more;

1.1.7169I leave my self, my friends, and all for love.

1.1.7270Thou Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me:

1.1.7371Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,

1.1.7472War with good counsel, set the world at nought;

1.1.7573Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.

Sir Proteus, 'save you. Saw you my master?

But now he parted hence to embark for Milan.

Twenty to one, then, he is shipped already,

1.1.8077And I have played the sheep in losing him.

Indeed a sheep doth very often stray

1.1.8279An if the shepherd be awhile away.

You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, 81and I a sheep?

I do.

Why then my horns are his horns, whether I 84wake or sleep.

A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.

This proves me still a sheep.

True, and thy master a shepherd.

Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.

It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another.

The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the 91sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my 92master seeks not me. Therefore I am no sheep.

The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, 94the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou 95for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages 96follows not thee. Therefore thou art a sheep.

Such another proof will make me cry "baa."

But dost thou hear? Gav'st thou my letter 99to Julia?

Ay, Sir. I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, 101a laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a 102lost mutton, nothing for my labor.

Here's too small a pasture for such store of 104muttons.

If the ground be overcharged, you were best 106stick her.

Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound 108you.

Nay Sir, less than a pound shall serve me for car110rying your letter.

You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold.

From a pound to a pin? Fold it over and over, 113'tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover.

But what said she?

1.1.104[Nods.] Ay.

Nod-ay, why that's "noddy."

You mistook, Sir. I say she did nod; 118and you ask me if she did nod, and I say Ay.

And that set together is "noddy."

Now you have taken the pains to set it toge121ther, take it for your pains.

No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter.

Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.

Why Sir, how do you bear with me?

Marry Sir, the letter very orderly, 126having nothing but the word noddy for my pains.

Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.

And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.

Come, come, open the matter in brief; what 130said she?

Open your purse, that the money and the matter 132may be both at once delivered.

Well, sir, here is for your pains. [Gives a coin to Proteus.] What said she?

[Considers coin.] Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her.

Why? Could'st thou perceive so much from her?

1.1.121Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her;

1.1.122137No, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter.

1.1.123138And being so hard to me, that brought your mind,

1.1.124139I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind.

1.1.125140Give her no token but stones, for she's as hard as steel.

What said she, nothing?

1.1.128No, not so much as take this for thy pains. 143To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; 144in requital whereof, henceforth, carry your letters your145self. And so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.

Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wrack,

1.1.131147Which cannot perish having thee aboard,

1.1.132148Being destined to a drier death on shore.

1.1.133149I must go send some better messenger.

1.1.134150I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,

1.1.135151Receiving them from such a worthless post.