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  • Title: Two Gentlemen of Verona (Modern)
  • Editor: Melissa Walter

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    Not Peer Reviewed

    Two Gentlemen of Verona (Modern)

    5.4.
    Enter Valentine, outlaws.
    2120Valentine
    How use doth breed a habit in a man!
    This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
    I better brook than flourishing peopled towns.
    Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
    And to the nightingale's complaining notes
    2125Tune my distresses and record my woes.
    O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
    Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,
    Lest growing ruinous, the building fall,
    And leave no memory of what it was.
    2130Repair me with thy presence, Silvia,
    Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain.
    [Shouts within.]
    What hallowing and what stir is this today?
    These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
    Have some unhappy passenger in chase.
    2135They love me well, yet I have much to do
    To keep them from uncivil outrages.
    Withdraw thee, Valentine. [Valentine stands aside.] Who's this comes here?
    [Enter Silvia, Proteus, and Julia as Sebastian.]
    Proteus
    Madam, this service I have done for you,
    Though you respect not aught your servant doth,
    2140To hazard life and rescue you from him
    That would have forced your honor and your love.
    Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair look.
    A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
    And less then this I am sure you cannot give.
    2145Valentine
    [Aside.] How like a dream is this? I see and hear.
    Love, lend me patience to forbear a while.
    Silvia
    Oh miserable, unhappy that I am.
    Proteus
    Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came,
    But by my coming I have made you happy.
    2150Silvia
    By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy.
    Julia
    [Aside.] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.
    Silvia
    Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
    I would have been a breakfast to the beast
    Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
    2155Oh, heaven be judge how I love Valentine,
    Whose life's as tender to me as my soul;
    And full as much, for more there cannot be,
    I do detest false perjured Proteus.
    Therefore be gone, solicit me no more.
    2160Proteus
    What dangerous action, stood it next to death,
    Would I not undergo for one calm look.
    Oh 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,
    When women cannot love where they're beloved.
    Silvia
    When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved.
    2165Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
    For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
    Into a thousand oaths, and all those oaths
    Descended into perjury to love me.
    Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two,
    2170And that's far worse then none. Better have none
    Than plural faith, which is too much by one,
    Thou counterfeit to thy true friend.
    Proteus
    In love,
    Who respects friend?
    2175Silvia
    All men but Proteus.
    Proteus
    Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
    Can no way change you to a milder form,
    I'll woo you like a soldier, at arm's end,
    And love you 'gainst the nature of love: force ye.
    2180SilviaO heaven.
    Proteus[assailing her] I'll force thee yield to my desire.
    Valentine
    [coming forward] Ruffian! Let go that rude uncivil touch,
    Thou friend of an ill fashion.
    Proteus
    Valentine.
    2185Valentine
    Thou common friend, that's without faith or love,
    For such is a friend now. Treacherous man,
    Thou hast beguiled my hopes. Naught but mine eye
    Could have persuaded me. Now I dare not say
    I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
    2190Who should be trusted, when one's right hand
    Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
    I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
    But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
    The private wound is deepest. O time most accurst!
    2195'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst.
    ProteusMy shame and guilt confounds me.
    Forgive me, Valentine. If hearty sorrow
    Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
    I tender't here. I do as truly suffer
    2200As ere I did commit.
    Valentine
    Then I am paid,
    And once again I do receive thee honest.
    Who by repentance is not satisfied,
    Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased;
    2205By penitence th' Eternal's wrath's appeased.
    And that my love may appear plain and free,
    All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.
    Julia
    Oh me unhappy! [Faints.]
    Proteus
    Look to the boy.
    2210Valentine
    Why, boy?
    Why wag, how now? what's the matter? Look up! speak.
    Julia
    O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which out of my neglect was never done.
    Proteus
    Where is that ring, boy?
    2215Julia
    Here 'tis. This is it. [Gives him a ring.]
    Proteus
    How? Let me see.
    Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.
    Julia
    Oh, cry you mercy sir, I have mistook.
    This is the ring you sent to Silvia.
    [Offers another ring.]
    2220Proteus
    But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart
    I gave this unto Julia.
    Julia
    And Julia herself did give it me.
    And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
    [Reveals herself.]
    Proteus
    How? Julia?
    2225Julia
    Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
    And entertained 'em deeply in her heart.
    How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root?
    O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush.
    Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
    2230Such an immodest raiment, if shame live
    In a disguise of love.
    It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,
    Women to change their shapes, than men their minds.
    Proteus
    Than men their minds? Tis true. Oh heaven! Were man
    2235But constant, he were perfect; that one error
    Fills him with faults, makes him run through all th' sins;
    Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.
    What is in Silvia's face but I may spy
    More fresh in Julia's, with a constant eye?
    2240Valentine
    Come, come, a hand from either.
    Let me be blest to make this happy close;
    'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
    Proteus
    Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish for ever.
    Julia
    And I mine.
    [Enter the Duke, Turio, and Outlaws.]
    2245Outlaw
    A prize! A prize! a prize!
    Valentine
    Forbear, forbear I say. It is my lord the Duke.
    Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced,
    Banished Valentine.
    Duke
    Sir Valentine?
    2250Turio
    Yonder is Silvia, and Silvia's mine.
    Valentine
    Turio, give back, or else embrace thy death.
    Come not within the measure of my wrath.
    Do not name Silvia thine. If once again,
    Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands.
    2255Take but possession of her with a touch -
    I dare thee but to breath upon my love.
    Turio
    Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I.
    I hold him but a fool that will endanger
    His body for a girl that loves him not.
    2260I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
    Duke
    The more degenerate and base art thou
    To make such means for her as thou hast done
    And leave her on such slight conditions.
    Now, by the honor of my ancestry,
    2265I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
    And think thee worthy of an empress's love.
    Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
    Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,
    Plead a new state in thy unrivaled merit,
    2270To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,
    Thou art a gentleman and well derived,
    Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.
    Valentine
    I thank your grace. The gift hath made me happy.
    I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
    2275To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
    Duke
    I grant it for thine own, what ere it be.
    Valentine
    These banished men, that I have kept withal,
    Are men endued with worthy qualities.
    Forgive them what they have committed here
    2280And let them be recalled from their exile.
    They are reformed, civil, full of good,
    And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
    Duke
    Thou hast prevailed. I pardon them and thee.
    Dispose of them as thou knowst their deserts.
    2285Come, let us go. We will include all jars,
    With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
    Valentine
    And as we walk along, I dare be bold
    With our discourse, to make your grace to smile.
    What think you of this page, my lord?
    2290Duke
    I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.
    Valentine
    I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.
    Duke
    What mean you by that saying?
    Valentine
    Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
    That you will wonder what hath fortuned.
    2295Come, Proteus, 'tis your penance but to hear
    The story of your loves discovered.
    That done, our day of marriage shall be yours,
    One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
    Exeunt.
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