THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERON A. ACT I. SCENE I. Verona. A Street. Enter Valentine, and Protheus. VALENTINE. EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus; But, fince thou lov'ft, love still, and thrive therein; Pro. Wilt thou be gone? fweet Valentine, adieu! When thou doft meet good hap; and, in thy danger, B 3 (If (If ever danger do environ thee) Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, pray for my "Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love; "For he was more than over fhoes in love. "Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, "And yet you never fwom the Hellefpont. "P. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots." Val. No, I will not; for it boots thee not. Pro. What? Val. To be in love-where fcorn is bought with groans; Coy looks, with heart-fore fighs; one fading moment's With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; [mirth Pro. So, by your circumftance, you call me fool. Methinks, fhould not be chronicl'd for wife. Val. And writers fay, As the most forward bud Even fo by love the young and tender wit This fhort fpeech contains fome very fenfible and pertinent trictures on the pains, caprices and precariousness of love. Once Once more, adieu : : my father at the road Expects my coming, there to fee me ship'd. Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Protheus, no; now let us take our leave: At Milan let me hear from thee by letters, Of thy fuccefs in love, and what news else Spe. Sir Protheus! fave you, fir; faw you my mafter? Pro. Indeed, a fheep doth very often tray, An' if the shepherd be a while away. "Spe. You conclude, that my matter is a fhepherd then, and I a sheep? " Pro. I do. "Spe. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I "wake or fleep. "Pro. A filly answer, and fitting well a sheep. "Spe. This proves me ftill a sheep. "Pro. True; and thy mafter a fhepherd. "Spe. Nay, that I can deny by a circumftance. "Pro. It fhall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. "Spe. The fhepherd feeks the fheep, and not the "fheep the fhepherd; but I feek my mafter, and my "mafter feeks not me: therefore I am no fheep. "Pro. The sheep for fodder follows the fhepherd, the 66 fhepherd for food follows not the fheep; thou for 66 wages B 4 66 wages follow'ft thy mafter, thy mafter for wages follows "not thee: therefore thou art a fheep. 66 Spe. Such another proof will make me cry, ba. Pro. But doft thou hear? gav'ft thou my letter to Julia? Spe. Ay, fir: I, a loft mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac'd mutton: and fhe, a lac'd mutton, gave me, a loft mutton, nothing for my labour, "Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons. "Spe. If the ground be overcharg'd, you were beft ❝ftick her. "Pro. Nay, in that you're aftray; 'twere beft pound 66 you. "Spe. Nay, fir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. "Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold. "Spe. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, ""Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your ❝ lover. 66 "Pro. But what said she? [Speed nods.] Did she nod ? Spe. I. 66 "Pro. Nod? I? why, that's noddy. "Spe. You miftook, fir; I faid, fhe did nod: and you ask me, if he did nod: and I said I. "Pro. And that, fet together, is-noddy. "Spe. Now you have taken the pains to set it toge"ther, take it for your pains. "Pro. No, no, you shal! have it for bearing the "letter. "Spe. Well, I perceive, I must be fain to bear with 65 you. "Pro. Why, fir, how do you bear with me? "Spe. Marry, fir, the letter very orderly; having "nothing but the word, noddy, for my pains, Pro. Behrew me, but you have a quick wit. "Spe. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purfe*. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief; What faid the ? If ever this scene of egregious quibble had any brightnefs in it, the ruft of time has deeply cankered it; wherefore we have curtailed the more freely, and we hope juftifiably. Spe. Open your purfe; that the money, and the matter, may be both at once deliver'd. Pro. Well, fir, here is for your pains: What faid she? Pro. Why, could't thou perceive fo much from her? Spe. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not fo much as a ducat for delivering your letter: And, being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear fhe'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but ftones*, for fhe's as hard as steel. Pro. What, faid fhe nothing? Spe. No, not fo much as-take this for thy pains. To your bounty, I thank you, you have tefter'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and fo, fir, I'll commend you to my mafter. [Exit. Pro. Go, go, begone, to fave your fhip from wreck; Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Being destin❜d to a drier death on shore :I must go fend fome better meffenger; I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless poft. [Exit. SCENE II. The fame. Garden of Julia's house. Jul. But fay, Lucetta, (now we are alone) That every day with parle encounter me, Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll fhew my mind, Jul. What think'ft thou of the fair fir Eglamour †? But, were I you, he never fhould be mine. *Flints would have been a more confonant word here. + This part of the dialogue between Julia and Lucetta, is fimilar to -the firft fcene of Portia and Neriffa, in the Merchant of Venice; fave that here the confidante criticises the lovers; whereas the lady does it in the other piece. |