 | The Two Gentlemen of Verona |  |
THE Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Actus primus,
Scena prima.
Valentine: Protheus, and Speed.Valentine.
Cease to perswade, my louing Protheus;
Home-keeping-youth, haue euer homely wits,
Wer't not affection chaines thy tender dayes
To the sweet glaunces of thy honour'd Loue,
I rather would entreat thy company,
To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Then (liuing dully sluggardiz'd at home)
We are out thy youth with shapelesse idlenesse.
But since thou lou'st; loue still, and thriue therein,
Euen as I would, when I to loue begin.
Pro.
Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine adew,
Thinke on thy Protheus, when thou (hap'ly) seest
Some rare note-worthy obiect in thy trauaile.
Wish me partaker in thy happinesse,
When thou do'st meet good hap; and in thy danger,
(If euer danger doe enuiron thee)
Commend thy grieuance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy beades-man, Valentine.
Ual.
And on a loue-booke pray for my successe?
Pro.
Vpon some booke I loue, I'le pray for thee.
Val.
That's on some shallow Storie of deepe loue,
How yong Leander crost the Hellespont.
Pro.
That's a deepe Storie, of a deeper loue,
For he was more then ouer-shooes in loue.
Ual.
'Tis true; for you are ouer-bootes in loue,
And yet you neuer swom the Hellespont.
Pro.
Ouer the Bootes? nay giue me not the Boots.
Val.
No, I will not; for it boots thee not.
Pro.
What?
Ual.
To be in loue; where scorne is bought with grones:
Coy looks, with hart-sore sighes: one fading moments mirth,
With twenty watchfull, weary, tedious nights;
If hap'ly won, perhaps a haplesse gaine;
If lost, why then a grieuous labour won;
How euer: but a folly bought with wit,
Or else a wit, by folly vanquished.
Pro.
So, by your circumstance, you call me foole.
Ual.
So, by your circumstance, I feare you'll proue.
Pro.
'Tis Loue you cauill at, I am not Loue.
Val.
Loue is your master, for he masters you;
And he that is so yoked by a foole,
Me thinkes should not be chronicled for wise.
Pro.
Yet Writers say; as in the sweetest Bud,
The eating Canker dwels; so eating Loue
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.
Val.
And Writers say; as the most forward Bud
Is eaten by the Canker ere it blow,
Euen so by Loue, the yong, and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly, blasting in the Bud,
Loosing his verdure, euen in the prime,
And all the faire effects of future hopes.
But wherefore waste I time to counsaile thee
That art a votary to fond desire?
Once more adieu: my Father at the Road
Expects my comming, there to see me ship'd.
Pro.
And thither will I bring thee Valentine.
Val.
Sweet Protheus, no: Now let vs take our leaue:
To Millaine let me heare from thee by Letters
Of thy successe in loue; and what newes else
Betideth here in absence of thy Friend:
And I likewise will visite thee with mine.
Pro.
All happinesse bechance to thee in Millaine.
Val.
As much to you at home: and so farewell.
Exit.
Pro.
He after Honour hunts, I after Loue;
He leaues his friends, to dignifie them more;
I loue my selfe, my friends, and all for loue:
Thou Iulia thou hast metamorphis'd me:
Made me neglect my Studies, loose my time;
Warre with good counsaile; set the world at nought;
Made Wit with musing, weake; hart sick with thought.
Sp.
Sir Protheus: 'saue you: saw you my Master?
Pro.
But now he parted hence to embarque for Millain.
Sp.
Twenty to one then, he is ship'd already,
And I haue plaid the Sheepe in loosing him.
Pro.
Indeede a Sheepe doth very often stray,
And if the Shepheard be awhile away.
Sp.
You conclude that my Master is a Shepheard then,
and I Sheepe?
Pro.
I doe.
Sp.
Why then my hornes are his hornes, whether I
wake or sleepe.
Pro.
A silly answere, and fitting well a Sheepe.
Sp.
This proues me still a Sheepe.
Pro.
True: and thy Master a Shepheard.
Sp.
Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.
Pro.
It shall goe hard but ile proue it by another.
Sp.
The Shepheard seekes the Sheepe, and not the
Sheepe the Shepheard; but I seeke my Master, and my
Master seekes not me: therefore I am no Sheepe.
Pro.
The Sheepe for fodder follow the Shepheard,
the Shepheard for foode followes not the Sheepe: thou
for wages followest thy Master, thy Master for wages
followes not thee: therefore thou art a Sheepe.
Sp.
Such another proofe will make me cry baâ.
Pro.
But do'st thou heare: gau'st thou my Letter
to Iulia?
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I Sir: I (a lost-Mutton) gaue your Letter to her
(a lac'd-Mutton) and she (a lac'd-Mutton) gaue mee (a
lost-Mutton) nothing for my labour.
Pro.
Here's too small a Pasture for such store of
Muttons.
Sp.
If the ground he ouer-charg'd, you were best
sticke her.
Pro.
Nay, in that you are astray: 'twere best pound
you.
Sp.
Nay Sir, lesse then a pound shall serue me for carrying
your Letter.
Pro.
You mistake; I meane the pound, a Pinfold.
Sp.
From a pound to a pin? fold it ouer and ouer,
'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your louer
Pro.
But what said she?
Sp.
I.
Pro.
Nod-I, why that's noddy.
Sp.
You mistooke Sir: I say she did nod;
And you aske me if she did nod, and I say I.
Pro.
And that set together is noddy.
Sp.
Now you haue taken the paines to set it together,
take it for your paines.
Pro.
No, no, you shall haue it for bearing the letter.
Sp.
Well, I perceiue I must be faine to beare with you.
Pro.
Why Sir, how doe you beare with me?
Sp.
Marry Sir, the letter very orderly,
Hauing nothing but the word noddy for my paines.
Pro.
Beshrew me, but you haue a quicke wit.
Sp.
And yet it cannot ouer-take your slow purse.
Pro.
Come, come, open the matter in briefe; what
said she.
Sp.
Open your purse, that the money, and the matter
may be both at once deliuered.
Pro.
Well Sir: here is for your paines: what said she?
Sp.
Truely Sir, I thinke you'll hardly win her.
Pro.
Why? could'st thou perceiue so much from her?
Sp.
Sir, I could perceiue nothing at all from her;
No, not so much as a ducket for deliuering your letter:
And being so hard to me, that brought your minde;
I feare she'll proue as hard to you in telling your minde.
Giue her no token but stones, for she's as hard as steele.
Pro.
What said she, nothing?
Sp.
No, not so much as take this for thy pains:
To testifie your bounty, I thank you, you haue cestern'd me;
In requital whereof, henceforth, carry your letters your
selfe; And so Sir, I'le commend you to my Master.
Pro.
Go, go, be gone, to saue your Ship from wrack,
Which cannot perish hauing thee aboarde,
Being destin'd to a drier death on shore:
I must goe send some better Messenger,
I feare my Iulia would not daigne my lines,
Receiuing them from such a worthlesse post.
Exit.
Scœna Secunda.
Enter Iulia and Lucetta.Iul.
But say Lucetta (now we are alone)
Would'st thou then counsaile me to fall in loue?
Luc.
I Madam, so you stumble not vnheedfully.
Iul.
Of all the faire resort of Gentlemen,
That euery day with par'le encounter me,
In thy opinion which is worthiest loue?
Lu.
Please you repeat their names, ile shew my minde,
According to my shallow simple skill.
Iu.
What thinkst thou of the faire sir Eglamoure?
Lu.
As of a Knight, well-spoken, neat, and fine;
But were I you, he neuer should be mine.
Iu.
What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio?
Lu.
Well of his wealth; but of himselfe, so, so.
Iu.
What think'st thou of the gentle Protheus?
Lu.
Lord, Lord: to see what folly raignes in vs.
Iu.
How now? what meanes this passion at his name?
Lu.
Pardon deare Madam, 'tis a passing shame,
That I (vnworthy body as I am)
Should censure thus on louely Gentlemen.
Iu.
Why not on Protheus, as of all the rest?
Lu.
Then thus: of many good, I thinke him best.
Iul.
Your reason?
Lu.
I haue no other but a womans reason:
I thinke him so, because I thinke him so.
Iul.
And would'st thou haue me cast my loue on him?
Lu.
I: if you thought your loue not cast away.
Iul.
Why he, of all the rest, hath neuer mou'd me.
Lu.
Yet he, of all the rest, I thinke best loues ye.
Iul.
His little speaking, shewes his loue but small.
Lu.
Fire that's closest kept, burnes most of all.
Iul.
They doe not loue, that doe not shew their loue.
Lu.
Oh, they loue least, that let men know their loue.
Iul.
I would I knew his minde.
Lu.
Peruse this paper Madam.
Iul.
To Iulia: say, from whom?
Lu.
That the Contents will shew.
Iul.
Say, say: who gaue it thee?
Lu.
Sir Valentines page: & sent I think from Protheus;
He would haue giuen it you, but I being in the way,
Did in your name receiue it: pardon the fault I pray.
Iul.
Now (by my modesty) a goodly Broker:
Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper, and conspire against my youth?
Now trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place:
There: take the paper: see it be return'd,
Or else returne no more into my sight.
Lu.
To plead for loue, deserues more fee, then hate.
Iul.
Will ye be gon?
Lu.
That you may ruminate.
Exit.
Iul.
And yet I would I had ore-look'd the Letter;
It were a shame to call her backe againe,
And pray her to a fault, for which I chid her.
What 'foole is she, that knowes I am a Maid.
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since Maides, in modesty, say no, to that,
Which they would haue the profferer construe, I.
Fie, fie: how way-ward is this foolish loue;
That (like a testie Babe) will scratch the Nurse,
And presently, all humbled kisse the Rod?
How churlishly, I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly, I would haue had her here?
How angerly I taught my brow to frowne,
When inward ioy enforc'd my heart to smile?
My pennance is, to call Lucetta backe
And aske remission, for my folly past.
What hoe: Lucetta.
Lu.
What would your Ladiship?
Iul.
Is't neere dinner time?
Lu.
I would it were,
That you might kill your stomacke on your meat,
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Iu.
What is't that you
Tooke vp so gingerly?
Lu.
Nothing.
Iu.
Why didst thou stoope then?
Lu.
To take a paper vp, that I let fall.
Iul.
And is that paper nothing?
Lu.
Nothing concerning me.
Iul.
Then let it lye, for those that it concernes.
Lu.
Madam, it will not lye where it concernes,
Vnlesse it haue a false Interpreter.
Iul.
Some loue of yours, hath writ to you in Rime.
Lu.
That I might sing it (Madam) to a tune:
Giue me a Note, your Ladiship can set
Iul.
As little by such toyes, as may be possible:
Best sing it to the tune of Light O, Loue.
Lu.
It is too heauy for so light a tune.
Iu.
Heauy? belike it hath some burden then?
Lu.
I: and melodious were it, would you sing it,
Iu.
And why not you?
Lu.
I cannot reach so high.
Iu.
Let's see your Song:
How now Minion?
Lu.
Keepe tune there still; so you will sing it out:
And yet me thinkes I do not like this tune.
Iu.
You doe not?
Lu.
No (Madam) tis too sharpe.
Iu.
You (Minion) are too saucie.
Lu.
Nay, now you are too flat;
And marre the concord, with too harsh a descant:
There wanteth but a Meane to fill your Song.
Iu.
The meane is dround with you vnruly base.
Lu.
Indeede I bid the base for Protheus.
Iu.
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coile with protestation:
Goe, get you gone: and let the papers lye:
You would be fingring them, to anger me.
Lu.
She makes it strāge, but she would be best pleas'd
To be so angred with another Letter.
Iu.
Nay, would I were so angred with the same:
Oh hatefull hands, to teare such louing words;
Iniurious Waspes, to feede on such sweet hony,
And kill the Bees that yeelde it, with your stings;
Ile kisse each seuerall paper, for amends:
Looke, here is writ, kinde Iulia: vnkinde Iulia,
As in reuenge of thy ingratitude,
I throw thy name against the bruzing-stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdaine.
And here is writ, Loue wounded Protheus.
Poore wounded name: my bosome, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly heal'd;
And thus I search it with a soueraigne kisse.
But twice, or thrice, was Protheus written downe:
Be calme (good winde) blow not a word away,
Till I haue found each letter, in the Letter,
Except mine own name: That, some whirle-winde beare
Vnto a ragged, fearefull, hanging Rocke,
And throw it thence into the raging Sea.
Loe, here in one line is his name twice writ:
Poore forlorne Protheus, passionate Protheus:
To the sweet Iulia: that ile teare away:
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it, to his complaining Names;
Thus will I fold them, one vpon another;
Now kisse, embrace, contend, doe what you will.
Lu.
Madam: dinner is ready: and your father staies.
Iu.
Well, let vs goe.
Lu.
What, shall these papers lye, like Tel-tales here?
Iu.
If you respect them; best to take them vp.
Lu.
Nay, I was taken vp, for laying them downe.
Yet here they shall not lye, for catching cold.
Iu.
I see you haue a months minde to them.
Lu.
I (Madam) you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you iudge I winke.
Iu.
Come, come, wilt please you goe.
Exeunt.
Scœna Tertia.
Enter Antonio and Panthino, Protheus.Ant.
Tell me Panthino, what sad talke was that,
Wherewith my brother held you in the Cloyster?
Pan.
'Twas of his Nephew Protheus, your Sonne.
Ant.
Why? what of him?
Pan.
He wondred that your Lordship
Would suffer him, to spend his youth at home,
While other men, of slender reputation
Put forth their Sonnes, to seeke preferment out.
Some to the warres, to try their fortune there;
Some, to discouer Islands farre away:
Some, to the studious Vniuersities;
For any, or for all these exercises,
He said, that Protheus, your sonne, was meet;
And did request me, to importune you
To let him spend his time no more at home;
Which would be great impeachment to his age,
In hauing knowne no trauaile in his youth.
Ant.
Nor need'st thou much importune me to that
Whereon, this month I haue bin hamering.
I haue consider'd well, his losse of time,
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being tryed, and tutord in the world:
Experience is by industry atchieu'd,
And perfected by the swift course of time:
Then tell me, whether were I best to send him?
Pan.
I thinke your Lordship is not ignorant
How his companion, youthfull Valentine,
Attends the Emperour in his royall Court.
Ant.
I know it well.
Pan.
'Twere good, I thinke, your Lordship sent him thither,
There shall he practise Tilts, and Turnaments;
Heare sweet discourse, conuerse with Noble-men,
And be in eye of euery Exercise
Worthy his youth, and noblenesse of birth.
Ant.
I like thy counsaile: well hast thou aduis'd:
And that thou maist perceiue how well I like it,
The execution of it shall make knowne;
Euen with the speediest expedition,
I will dispatch him to the Emperors Court.
Pan.
To morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
With other Gentlemen of good esteeme
Are iournying, to salute the Emperor,
And to commend their seruice to his will.
Ant.
Good company: with them shall Protheus go:
And in good time: now will we breake with him.
Pro.
Sweet Loue, sweet lines, sweet life,
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for loue, her honors paune;
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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
Of 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,
And 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.
Ant.
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:
What 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,
Please 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 Panthino; you shall be imployd,
To hasten on his Expedition.
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 Iulias Letter,
Least he should take exceptions to my loue,
And with the vantage of mine owne excuse
Hath 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.
Pan.
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.
| The Two Gentlemen of Verona | |