Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Melissa Walter
Not Peer Reviewed

Two Gentlemen of Verona (Modern)

4.2.
Enter Proteus.
Proteus
Already have I been false to Valentine,
And now I must be as unjust to Turio.
1625Under the color of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer.
But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy
To be corrupted with my worthless gifts;
When I protest true loyalty to her,
1630She twits me with my falsehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vows,
She bids me think how I have been forsworn
In breaking faith with Julia, whom I loved;
And notwithstanding all her sudden quips,
1635The least whereof would quell a lover's hope,
Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love,
The more it grows, and fawneth on her still;
But here comes Turio. Now must we to her window
And give some evening music to her ear.
[Enter Turio with musicians.]
How now, sir Proteus, are you crept before us?
Proteus
Ay, gentle Turio, for you know that love
Will creep in service where it cannot go.
Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.
Proteus
Sir, but I do, or else I would be hence.
Who, Silvia?
Proteus
Ay, Silvia, for your sake.
I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen,
Let's tune, and to it lustily a while.
[Enter Host and Julia dressed in boys clothes, as Sebastian.]
Now, my young guest, methinks you're allycholy; 1650I pray you why is it?
Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry.
Come, we'll have you merry. I'll bring you where you shall hear music and see the gentleman that you asked for.
But shall I hear him speak?
Ay, that you shall.
That will be music.
[Music sounds.]
Hark, hark!
Is he among these?
Ay, but peace, let's hear'm.
Song.
Singers
Who is Silvia? What is she?
That all our swains commend her?
Holy, fair, and wise is she.
The heaven such grace did lend her,
1665that she might admired be.
Is she kind as she is fair?
For beauty lives with kindness.
Love doth to her eyes repair
To help him of his blindness
1670 And, being helped, inhabits there.
Then to Silvia let us sing,
That Silvia is excelling!
She excels each mortal thing
Upon the dull earth dwelling.
1675To her let us garlands bring.
How now? Are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? The music likes you not.
You mistake: the musician likes me not.
Why, my pretty youth?
He plays false, father.
How, out of tune on the strings?
Not so, but yet so false that he grieves my very heartstrings.
You have a quick ear.
Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes me have a slow heart.
I perceive you delight not in music.
Not a whit when it jars so.
Hark, what fine change is in the music.
Ay, that change is the spite.
You would have them always play but one thing.
I would always have one play but one thing.
But host, doth this Sir Proteus that we talk on
Often resort unto this gentlewoman?
I tell you what Lance his man told me: 1695he loved her out of all nick.
Where is Lance?
Gone to seek his dog, which tomorrow, by his master's command, he must carry for a present to his lady.
Peace. Stand aside, the company parts.
Proteus
Sir Turio, fear not you. I will so plead that you shall say my cunning drift excels.
Where meet we?
Proteus
At Saint Gregory's well.
Farewell.
[Exit Turio and musicians.]
[Enter Silvia, above.]
Proteus
Madam, good even to your ladyship.
Silvia
I thank you for your music, gentlemen.
Who is that that spake?
Proteus
One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth,
1710You would quickly learn to know him by his voice.
Silvia
Sir Proteus, as I take it.
Proteus
Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.
Silvia
What's your will?
Proteus
That I may compass yours.
1715Silvia
You have your wish. My will is even this:
That presently you hie you home to bed,
Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man.
Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless,
To be seduced by thy flattery,
1720That hast deceived so many with thy vows?
Return, return and make thy love amends.
For me, by this pale queen of night I swear,
I am so far from granting thy request
That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit,
1725And by and by intend to chide myself
Even for this time I spend in talking to thee.
Proteus
I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady,
But she is dead.
[Aside.]
'Twere false, if I should speak it,
1730For I am sure she is not buried.
Say that she be, yet Valentine thy friend
Survives, to whom, thyself art witness,
I am betrothed; and art thou not ashamed
To wrong him with thy importunacy?
1735Proteus
I likewise hear that Valentine is dead.
And so suppose am I, for in his grave
Assure thy self my love is buried.
Proteus
Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.
Go to thy lady's grave and call hers thence,
1740Or at the least in hers sepulcher thine.
[Aside.] He heard not that.
Proteus
Madam, if your heart be so obdurate,
Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love,
The picture that is hanging in your chamber.
1745To that I'll speak, to that I'll sigh and weep,
for since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow,
And to your shadow will I make true love.
[Aside.] If 'twere a substance you would sure deceive it,
1750And make it but a shadow, as I am.
I am very loath to be your idol, sir;
But since your falsehood shall become you well
To worship shadows and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it.
1755And so, good rest.
[Exit Silvia.]
Proteus
As wretches have o'er night
That wait for execution in the morn.
[Exit Proteus.]
Host, will you go?
By my halidom, I was fast asleep.
Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus?
Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think 'tis almost day.
JuliaNot so, but it hath been the longest night
That ere I watched, and the most heaviest.
[Exeunt.]