"THE INTRODUCTION Argument of the Play HE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA' is an early comedy of character, contrasting genuine with fickle loves, and true friendships with false ones. Valentine and Proteus, two gentlemen of Verona, are trusted friends who become separated because the former desires to go to Milan to seek his fortune. Proteus, however, will not accompany him, for love of a Veronese maiden, Julia. But Proteus's father overrules his decision and sends him to join his friend in Milan. Act II tells of Valentine's arrival in Milan, where he woos and wins Silvia, the much-sought-after daughter of the duke. But the duke objects to this match, and the lovers plan to elope. Proteus now arrives in Milan, where he is warmly greeted by his friend, who confides to him the secret of the projected elopement and asks his aid. Proteus promises it; but, having seen Silvia, forgets his promise and his vows to Julia, and resolves to win Silvia for himself. The false Proteus, in Act III, tells the duke of the intended flight, and causes Valentine's banishment. Valentine, in Act IV, takes refuge in a neighboring forest, where he becomes chief of a band of outlaws. The forsaken Julia arrives in Milan, dressed as a boy, and attaches herself incognito as page to Proteus. He employs her as messenger to Silvia with lovetokens, but Silvia repulses him. In Act V, Silvia goes in search of Valentine, and falls into the clutches of her lover's outlaws. Before they can bring her to the chief, she is rescued by Proteus, who tries to compel her to accept him. Valentine appears and learns of his friend's perfidy, but forgives him when the latter sues for pardon. Silvia is restored to Valentine; Julia's identity is discovered, and Proteus is glad to receive her again; and the duke, who meanwhile has been captured by the outlaws, accepts Valentine and grants his band the rights of citizenship. SOURCES Several coincidences are to be seen between this story and that of the shepherdess Felismena in the Diana' of George de Montemayor, translated from the Portuguese about 1582, but not published till 1598-notably, a lover's departure to another city, where he loves another lady; the forsaken lady's quest of him in the disguise of a page; and his choice of her as his messenger. These resemblances have given rise to the belief that Shakespeare was indebted to this story in his Two Gentlemen.' But such romances were then quite common. Shakespeare himself makes use of a girl page again as messenger in Twelfe Night,' and Beaumont and Fletcher's charming Bellario, in Philaster,' cannot be forgotten. The Two Gentlemen' was published before Yonge's translation of Diana' appeared, though the latter, as we have seen, had been written for several years. It seems probable, therefore, that Shakespeare was not directly indebted to Montemayor. A play entitled Felix and Philiomena' was produced in 1584, which contains many of the same situations; and The Two Gentlemen' may easily have followed that. In the German a similar play, entitled 'Julio und Hippolyta,' is to be found. Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia' introduces the hero, at one point, as leader of a band of outlaws who were revolted Helots; and Sidney was an admiring reader of Diana.' Shakespeare may have obtained his robber episode from Sidney. A summing up shows that stories of this nature were plentiful and could easily have come to Shakespeare's hands in a dozen different ways, through stage, bookshop, or tavern. DURATION OF THE ACTION The actual time supposed to elapse on the stage is seven days, but a much longer period is indicated by intervals between scenes and acts. The first two scenes of the play occur on the first day. Then comes an interval of several weeks, enough time to permit Valentine to reach Milan and receive word coming from Verona. The second day is taken up by Act I, scene iii, and Act II, scene i. The third day occupies Act II, scenes ii and iii. An interval ensues, long enough for Proteus to journey to Milan. The The fourth day occupies Act II, scenes iv and v. An interval occurs of a day or two, leading up to the day before the night of the lovers' projected elopement. fifth day occupies Act II, scenes vi and vii, Act III, and Act IV, scene i. Julia's journey to Milan creates an interval. The sixth day occupies Act IV, scene |