THE TWO GENTLEMEN

OF VERONA

Actus primus, Scena prima.
[Verona. An open place.]

Valentine: Protheus, and Speed.

Valentine.

EASE to perswade, my loving Protheus;

Home-keeping-youth, have ever homely wits,

Wer't not affection chaines thy tender dayes
To the sweet glaunces of thy honour'd Love,
I rather would entreat thy company,

To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Then (living dully sluggardiz'd at home)
Weare out thy youth with shapelesse idlenesse.
But since thou lov'st; love still, and thrive therein,
Even as I would, when I to love begin.

Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine adew,
Thinke on thy Protheus, when thou (hap'ly) seest
Some rare note-worthy object in thy travaile.
Wish me partaker in thy happinesse,

When thou do'st meet good hap; and in thy danger,

(If ever danger doe environ thee)

Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy beades-man, Valentine.

20

Val. And on a love-booke pray for my successe? Pro. Upon some booke I love, I'le pray for thee. Val. That's on some shallow Storie of deepe love, How yong Leander crost the Hellespont.

Pro. That's a deepe Storie, of a deeper love, For he was more then over-shooes in love.

Val. 'Tis true; for you are over-bootes in love,

And yet you never swom the Hellespont.

Pro. Over the Bootes? nay give me not the Boots.
Val. No, I will not; for it boots thee not.
Pro. What?

31

Val. To be in love; 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 grievous labour won;
How ever: but a folly bought with wit,
Or else a wit, by folly vanquished.

call me

foole.

39

Pro. So, by your circumstance, you
Val. So, by your circumstance, I feare you'll prove.
Pro. 'Tis Love you cavill at, I am not Love.
Val. Love 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 Love
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

Val. And Writers say; as the most forward Bud Is eaten by the Canker ere it blow,

50

Even so by Love, the yong, and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly, blasting in the Bud,
Loosing his verdure, even 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.

61

Pro. And thither will I bring thee Valentine. Val. Sweet Protheus, no: Now let us take our leave: To Millaine let me heare from thee by Letters Of thy successe in love; 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 Love;

70

He leaves his friends, to dignifie them more;
I love my selfe, my friends, and all for love:
Thou Julia 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.

[Enter Speed.]

Sp. Sir Protheus: 'save 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 have plaid the Sheepe in loosing him. Pro. Indeede a Sheepe doth very often stray, And if the Shepheard be awhile away.

69. I love: I leave-POPE.

79. And: An-POPE.

Sp. You conclude that my Master is a Shepheard then, and I Sheepe?

Pro. I doc.

81

Sp. Why then my hornes are his hornes, whether I wake or sleepe.

Pro. A silly answere, and fitting well a Sheepe.
Sp. This proves 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 prove 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. 92

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 Pro. But do'st thou heare: gav'st thou my Letter to Julia?

baâ.

99

Sp. I Sir: I (a lost-Mutton) gave your Letter to her (a lac'd-Mutton1) and she (a lac'd-Mutton) gave mee (a lost-Mutton) nothing for my labour.

Pro. Here's too small a Pasture for such store of Muttons. 1 girl of light repute Sp. If the ground be over-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 serve me for carrying your Letter.

Pro. You mistake; I meane the pound, a Pinfold.

81. I Sheepe: I a sheep-2-4F.

Sp. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover Pro. But what said she?

Sp. [First nodding] I.

Pro. Nod-I, why that's noddy.1

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.

1 dolt

119

Sp. Now you have taken the paines to set it toge

ther, take it for your paines.

Pro. No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter. Sp. Well, I perceive I must be faine to beare with you. Pro. Why Sir, how doe you beare with me? Sp. Marry Sir, the letter very orderly, Having nothing but the word noddy for my paines. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quicke wit. Sp. And yet it cannot over-take your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in briefe; what said she. 130 Sp. Open your purse, that the money, and the matter be both at once delivered.

may

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 perceive so much from her? Sp. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; No, not so much as a ducket for delivering your letter: And being so hard to me, that brought your minde; I feare she'll prove as hard to you in telling your minde. Give her no token but stones, for she's as hard as steele. Pro. What said she, nothing?

141

Sp. No, not so much as take this for thy pains: To testifie your bounty, I thank you, you have cestern'd me;

143. cestern'd: testerned-2-4F.