高中英语阅读素材英语名著TwoGentlemenofVerona维洛那两绅士

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

THETWO

GENTLEMENOF

VERONA

WilliamShakespeare

1595

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

ACTL

2

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

SCENEI.Verona.Anopenplace

EnterVALENTINEandPROTEUS

VALENTINE.Ceasetopersuade,mylovingProteus:Home-keeping

youthhaveeverhomelywits.Were'tnotaffectionchainsthytenderdays

Tothesweetglancesofthyhonour'dlove,Iratherwouldentreatthy

companyToseethewondersoftheworldabroad,Than,livingdully

sluggardiz'dathome,Wearoutthyyouthwithshapelessidleness.But

sincethoulov'st,lovestill,andthrivetherein,EvenasIwould,whenIto

lovebegin.PROTEUS.Wiltthoubegone?SweetValentine,adieu!Think

onthyProteus,whenthouhaplyseestSomerarenoteworthyobjectinthy

travel.WishmepartakerinthyhappinessWhenthoudostmeetgoodhap;

andinthydanger,Ifeverdangerdoenvironthee,Commendthygrievance

tomyholyprayers,ForIwillbethyheadsman,Valentine.VALENTINE.

Andonalove-bookprayformysuccess?PROTEUS.UponsomebookI

loveI'llprayforthee.VALENTINE.That'sonsomeshallowstoryofdeep

love:HowyoungLeandercross'dtheHellespont.PROTEUS.That'sa

deepstoryofadeeperlove;Forhewasmorethanovershoesinlove.

VALENTINE.'Tistrue;foryouareoverbootsinlove,Andyetyounever

swumtheHellespont.PROTEUS.Overtheboots!Nay,givemenotthe

boots.VALENTINE.No,Iwillnot,foritbootstheenot.PROTEUS.What?

VALENTINE.Tobeinlove-wherescornisboughtwithgroans,Coy

lookswithheart-soresighs,onefadingmoment'smirthWithtwenty

watchful,weary,tediousnights;Ifhaplywon,perhapsahaplessgain;If

lost,whythenagrievouslabourwon;However,butafollyboughtwith

wit,Orelseawitbyfollyvanquished.PROTEUS.So,byyour

circumstance,youcallmefool.VALENTINE.So,byyourcircumstance,I

fearyou'llprove.PROTEUS.'Tisloveyoucavilat;IamnotLove.

VALENTINE.Loveisyourmaster,forhemastersyou;Andhethatisso

yokedbyafool,Methinks,shouldnotbechronicledforwise.PROTEUS.

Yetwriterssay,asinthesweetestbudTheeatingcankerdwells,soeating

loveInhabitsinthefinestwitsofall.VALENTINE.Andwriterssay,asthe

mostforwardbudIseatenbythecankerereitblow,Evensobylovethe

youngandtenderwitIsturn'dtofolly,blastinginthebud,Losinghis

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THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

verdureevenintheprime,Andallthefaireffectsoffuturehopes.But

whereforewasteItimetocounseltheThatartavotarytofonddesire?

Oncemoreadieu.MyfatherattheroadExpectsmycoming,theretosee

meshipp'd.PROTEUS.AndthitherwillIbringthee,Valentine.

VALENTINE.SweetProteus,no;nowletustakeourleave.ToMilanlet

mehearfromtheebylettersOfthysuccessinlove,andwhatnewselse

Betidethhereinabsenceofthyfriend;AndIlikewisewillvisittheewith

mine.PROTEUS.AllhappinessbechancetotheeinMilan!VALENTINE.

Asmuchtoyouathome;andsofarewell!ExitVALENTINEPROTEUS.

Heafterhonourhunts,Iafterlove;Heleaveshisfriendstodignifythem

more:Ileavemyself,myfriends,andallforlove.Thou,Julia,thouhast

metamorphis'dme,Mademeneglectmystudies,losemytime,Warwith

goodcounsel,settheworldatnought;Madewitwithmusingweak,heart

sickwiththought.

EnterSPEED

SPEED.SirProteus,saveyou!Sawyoumymaster?PROTEUS.But

nowhepartedhencetoembarkforMilan.SPEED.Twentytoonethenhe

isshipp'dalready,AndIhaveplay'dthesheepinlosinghim.PROTEUS.

Indeedasheepdothveryoftenstray,Aniftheshepherdbeawhileaway.

SPEED.Youconcludethatmymasterisashepherdthen,andIasheep?

PROTEUS.Ido.SPEED.Whythen,myhornsarehishorns,whetherI

wakeorsleep.PROTEUS.Asillyanswer,andfittingwellasheep.SPEED.

Thisprovesmestillasheep.PROTEUS.True;andthymasterashepherd.

SPEED.Nay,thatIcandenybyacircumstance.PROTEUS.Itshallgo

hardbutI'llproveitbyanother.SPEED.Theshepherdseeksthesheep,

andnotthesheeptheshepherd;butIseekmymaster,andmymasterseeks

notme;therefore,Iamnosheep.PROTEUS.Thesheepforfodderfollow

theshepherd;theshepherdforfoodfollowsnotthesheep:thouforwages

foliowestthymaster;thymasterforwagesfollowsnotthee.Therefore,

thouartasheep.SPEED.Suchanotherproofwillmakemecry'baa.'

PROTEUS.Butdostthouhear?Gav'stthoumylettertoJulia?SPEED.Ay,

sir;I,alostmutton,gaveyourlettertoher,alac'dmutton;andshe,alac'd

mutton,gaveme,alostmutton,nothingformylabour.PROTEUS.Here's

toosmallapastureforsuchstoreofmuttons.SPEED.Ifthegroundbe

4

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

overcharg'd,youwerebeststickher.PROTEUS.Nay,inthatyouare

astray:'twerebestpoundyou.SPEED.Nay,sir,lessthanapoundshall

servemeforcarryingyourletter.PROTEUS.Youmistake;Imeanthe

pound-apinfold.SPEED.Fromapoundtoapin?Folditoverandover,

'Tisthreefoldtoolittleforcarryingalettertoyourlover.PROTEUS.But

whatsaidshe?SPEED.[Nodding]Ay.PROTEUS.Nod-ay.Why,that's

'noddy.'SPEED.Youmistook,sir;Isayshedidnod;andyouaskmeifshe

didnod;andIsay'Ay.'PROTEUS.Andthatsettogetheris'noddy.,

SPEED.Nowyouhavetakenthepainstosetittogether,takeitforyour

pains.PROTEUS.No,no;youshallhaveitforbearingtheletter.SPEED.

Well,IperceiveImustbefaintobearwithyou.PROTEUS.Why,sir,how

doyoubearwithme?SPEED.Marry,sir,theletter,veryorderly;having

nothingbuttheword'noddy'formypains.PROTEUS.Beshrewme,but

youhaveaquickwit.SPEED.Andyetitcannotovertakeyourslowpurse.

PROTEUS.Come,come,openthematter;inbrief,whatsaidshe?SPEED.

Openyourpurse,thatthemoneyandthemattermaybebothatonce

delivered.PROTEUS.Well,sir,hereisforyourpains.Whatsaidshe?

SPEED.Truly,sir,Ithinkyou'llhardlywinher.PROTEUS.Why,couldst

thouperceivesomuchfromher?SPEED.Sir,Icouldperceivenothingat

allfromher;no,notsomuchasaducatfordeliveringyourletter;and

beingsohardtomethatbroughtyourmind,Ifearshe'llproveashardto

youintellingyourmind.Givehernotokenbutstones,forshe'sashardas

steel.PROTEUS.Whatsaidshe?Nothing?SPEED.No,notsomuchas

'Takethisforthypains.'Totestify

yourbounty,Ithankyou,youhavetestern'dme;inrequitalwhereof,

henceforthcarryyourlettersyourself;andso,sir,I'llcommendyoutomy

master.PROTEUS.Go,go,begone,tosaveyourshipfromwreck,Which

cannotperish,havingtheeaboard,Beingdestin'dtoadrierdeathonshore.

ExitSPEEDImustgosendsomebettermessenger.IfearmyJuliawould

notdeignmylines,Receivingthemfromsuchaworthlesspost.Exit

5

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

SCENEII.Verona.ThegardenOfJULIAShouse

EnterJULIAandLUCETTA

JULIA.Butsay,Lucetta,nowwearealone,Wouldstthouthen

counselmetofallinlove?LUCETTA.Ay,madam;soyoustumblenot

unheedfully.JULIA.OfallthefairresortofgentlemenThateveryday

withparleencounterme,Inthyopinionwhichisworthiestlove?

LUCETTA.Pleaseyou,repeattheirnames;I'llshowmymindAccording

tomyshallowsimpleskill.JULIA.Whatthink'stthouofthefairSir

Eglamour?LUCETTA.Asofaknightwell-spoken,neat,andfine;But,

wereIyou,henevershouldbemine.JULIA.Whatthink'stthouofthe

richMercatio?LUCETTA.Wellofhiswealth;butofhimself,soso.

JULIA.Whatthink'stthouofthegentleProteus?LUCETTA.Lord,Lord!

toseewhatfollyreignsinus!JULIA.Hownow!whatmeansthispassion

athisname?LUCETTA.Pardon,dearmadam;'tisapassingshameThatI,

unworthybodyasIam,Shouldcensurethusonlovelygentlemen.JULIA.

WhynotonProteus,asofalltherest?LUCETTA.Thenthus:ofmany

goodIthinkhimbest.JULIA.Yourreason?LUCETTA.Ihavenoother

butawoman'sreason:Ithinkhimso,becauseIthinkhimso.JULIA.And

wouldstthouhavemecastmyloveonhim?LUCETTA.Ay,ifyou

thoughtyourlovenotcastaway.JULIA.Why,he,ofalltherest,hath

nevermov'dme.LUCETTA.Yethe,ofalltherest,Ithink,bestlovesye.

JULIA.Hislittlespeakingshowshislovebutsmall.LUCETTA.Fire

that'sclosestkeptburnsmostofall.JULIA.Theydonotlovethatdonot

showtheirlove.LUCETTA.O,theyloveleastthatletmenknowtheir

love.JULIA.IwouldIknewhismind.LUCETTA.Perusethispaper,

madam.JULIA.'ToJulia'-Say,fromwhom?LUCETTA.Thatthe

contentswillshow.JULIA.Say,say,whogaveitthee?LUCETTA.Sir

Valentine'spage;andsent,Ithink,fromProteus.Hewouldhavegivenit

you;butI,beingintheway,Didinyournamereceiveit;pardonthefault,

Ipray.JULIA.Now,bymymodesty,agoodlybroker!Dareyoupresume

toharbourwantonlines?Towhisperandconspireagainstmyyouth?Now,

trustme,'tisanofficeofgreatworth,Andyouanofficerfitfortheplace.

There,takethepaper;seeitbereturn'd;Orelsereturnnomoreintomy

6

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

sight.LUCETTA.Topleadforlovedeservesmorefeethanhate.JULIA.

Willyebegone?LUCETTA.Thatyoumayruminate.ExitJULIA.And

yet,IwouldIhado'erlook'dtheletter.Itwereashametocallherback

again,AndprayhertoafaultforwhichIchidher.Whatfoolisshe,that

knowsIamamaidAndwouldnotforcethelettertomyview!Since

maids,inmodesty,say'No'tothatWhichtheywouldhavetheprofferer

construe'Ay.'Fie,fie,howwaywardisthisfoolishlove,Thatlikeatesty

babewillscratchthenurse,Andpresently,allhumbled,kisstherod!How

churlishlyIchidLucettahence,WhenwillinglyIwouldhavehadherhere!

HowangerlyItaughtmybrowtofrown,Wheninwardjoyenforc'dmy

hearttosmile!MypenanceistocallLucettabackAndaskremissionfor

myfollypast.Whatho!Lucetta!

Re-enterLUCETTA

LUCETTA.Whatwouldyourladyship?JULIA.Is'tneardinnertime?

LUCETTA.Iwoulditwere,Thatyoumightkillyourstomachonyour

meatAndnotuponyourmaid.JULIA.Whatis'tthatyoutookupso

gingerly?LUCETTA.Nothing.JULIA.Whydidstthoustoopthen?

LUCETTA.TotakeapaperupthatIletfall.JULIA.Andisthatpaper

nothing?LUCETTA.Nothingconcerningme.JULIA.Thenletitliefor

thosethatitconcerns.LUCETTA.Madam,itwillnotliewhereitconcerns,

Unlessithaveafalseinterpreter.JULIA.Someloveofyourshathwritto

youinrhyme.LUCETTA.ThatImightsingit,madam,toatune.Giveme

anote;yourladyshipcanset.JULIA.Aslittlebysuchtoysasmaybe

possible.Bestsingittothetuneof'Lighto'Love.'LUCETTA.Itistoo

heavyforsolightatune.JULIA.Heavy!belikeithathsomeburdenthen.

LUCETTA.Ay;andmelodiouswereit,wouldyousingit.JULIA.And

whynotyou?LUCETTA.Icannotreachsohigh.JULIA.Let'sseeyour

song.[LUCETTAwithholdstheletter]Hownow,minion!LUCETTA.

Keeptunetherestill,soyouwillsingitout.AndyetmethinksIdonotlike

thistune.JULIA.Youdonot!LUCETTA.No,madam;'tistoosharp.

JULIA.You,minion,aretoosaucy.LUCETTA.Nay,nowyouaretooflat

Andmartheconcordwithtooharshadescant;Therewantethbutamean

tofillyoursong.JULIA.Themeanisdrown'dwithyourunrulybass.

LUCETTA.Indeed,IbidthebaseforProteus.JULIA.Thisbabbleshall

7

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

nothenceforthtroubleme.Hereisacoilwithprotestation![Tearsthe

letter]Go,getyougone;andletthepaperslie.Youwouldbefing'ring

them,toangerme.LUCETTA.Shemakesitstrange;butshewouldbe

bestpleas'dTobesoang'redwithanotherletter.ExitJULIA.Nay,wouldI

weresoang'redwiththesame!Ohatefulhands,totearsuchlovingwords!

Injuriouswasps,tofeedonsuchsweethoneyAndkillthebeesthatyieldit

withyourstings!I'llkisseachseveralpaperforamends.Look,hereiswrit

'kindJulia.'UnkindJulia,Asinrevengeofthyingratitude,Ithrowthy

nameagainstthebruisingstones,Tramplingcontemptuouslyonthy

disdain.Andhereiswrit'love-woundedProteus.'Poorwoundedname!my

bosom,,asabed,Shalllodgetheetillthywoundbethroughlyheal'd;And

thusIsearchitwithasovereignkiss.Buttwiceorthricewas'Proteus'

writtendown.Becalm,goodwind,blownotawordawayTillIhave

foundeachletterintheletter-Exceptmineownname;thatsome

whirlwindbearUntoaragged,fearful,hangingrock,Andthrowitthence

intotheragingsea.Lo,hereinonelineishisnametwicewrit:'Poor

forlornProteus,passionateProteus,TothesweetJulia.'ThatI'lltearaway;

AndyetIwillnot,sithsoprettilyHecouplesittohiscomplainingnames.

ThuswillIfoldthemoneuponanother;Nowkiss,embrace,contend,do

whatyouwill.

Re-enterLUCETTA

LUCETTA.Madam,Dinnerisready,andyourfatherstays.JULIA.

Well,letusgo.LUCETTA.What,shallthesepaperslieliketell-taleshere?

JULIA.Ifyourespectthem,besttotakethemup.LUCETTA.Nay,Iwas

takenupforlayingthemdown;Yetheretheyshallnotlieforcatching

cold.JULIA.Iseeyouhaveamonth'smindtothem.LUCETTA.Ay,

madam,youmaysaywhatsightsyousee;Iseethingstoo,althoughyou

judgeIwink.JULIA.Come,come;will'tpleaseyougo?Exeunt

8

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

SCENEIII.Verona.ANTONIOShouse

EnterANTONIOandPANTHINO

ANTONIO.Tellme,Panthino,whatsadtalkwasthatWherewithmy

brotherheldyouinthecloister?PANTHINO.'TwasofhisnephewProteus,

yourson.ANTONIO.Why,whatofhim?PANTHINO.Hewond'redthat

yourlordshipWouldsufferhimtospendhisyouthathome,Whileother

men,ofslenderreputation,Putforththeirsonstoseekprefermentout:

Sometothewars,totrytheirfortunethere;Sometodiscoverislandsfar

away;Sometothestudiousuniversities.Forany,orforalltheseexercises,

HesaidthatProteus,yourson,wasmeet;Anddidrequestmetoimportune

youTolethimspendhistimenomoreathome,Whichwouldbegreat

impeachmenttohisage,Inhavingknownnotravelinhisyouth.

ANTONIO.Norneed'stthoumuchimportunemetothatWhereonthis

monthIhavebeenhammering.Ihaveconsider'dwellhislossoftime,And

howhecannotbeaperfectman,Notbeingtriedandtutor'dintheworld:

Experienceisbyindustryachiev'd,Andperfectedbytheswiftcourseof

time.ThentellmewhitherwereIbesttosendhim.PANTHINO.Ithink

yourlordshipisnotignorantHowhiscompanion,youthfulValentine,

AttendstheEmperorinhisroyalcourt.ANTONIO.Iknowitwell.

PANTHINO.'Tweregood,Ithink,yourlordshipsenthimthither:There

shallhepractisetiltsandtournaments,Hearsweetdiscourse,converse

withnoblemen,AndbeineyeofeveryexerciseWorthyhisyouthand

noblenessofbirth.ANTONIO.Ilikethycounsel;wellhastthouadvis'd;

AndthatthoumaystperceivehowwellIlikeit,Theexecutionofitshall

makeknown:EvenwiththespeediestexpeditionIwilldispatchhimtothe

Emperor'scourt.PANTHINO.To-morrow,mayitpleaseyou,Don

AlphonsoWithothergentlemenofgoodesteemArejourneyingtosalute

theEmperor,Andtocommendtheirservicetohiswill.ANTONIO.Good

company;withthemshallProteusgo.

EnterPROTEUS

And-ingoodtime!-nowwillwebreakwithhim.PROTEUS.Sweet

love!sweetlines!sweetlife!Hereisherhand,theagentofherheart;Here

isheroathforlove,herhonour'spawn.Othatourfatherswouldapplaud

9

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

ourloves,Tosealourhappinesswiththeirconsents!OheavenlyJulia!

ANTONIO.Hownow!Whatletterareyoureadingthere?PROTEUS.

May'tpleaseyourlordship,'tisawordortwoOfcommendationssent

fromValentine,Deliver'dbyafriendthatcamefromhim.ANTONIO.

Lendmetheletter;letmeseewhatnews.PROTEUS.Thereisnonews,

mylord;butthathewritesHowhappilyhelives,howwell-belov'dAnd

dailygracedbytheEmperor;Wishingmewithhim,partnerofhisfortune.

ANTONIO.Andhowstandyouaffectedtohiswish?PROTEUS.Asone

relyingonyourlordship'swill,Andnotdependingonhisfriendlywish.

ANTONIO.Mywillissomethingsortedwithhiswish.MusenotthatI

thussuddenlyproceed;ForwhatIwill,Iwill,andthereanend.Iam

resolv'dthatthoushallspendsometimeWithValentinusintheEmperor's

court;Whatmaintenancehefromhisfriendsreceives,Likeexhibition

thoushallhavefromme.To-morrowbeinreadinesstogo-Excuseitnot,

forIamperemptory.PROTEUS.Mylord,Icannotbesosoonprovided;

Pleaseyou,deliberateadayortwo.ANTONIO.Lookwhatthouwant'st

shallbesentafterthee.Nomoreofstay;to-morrowthoumustgo.Come

on,Panthino;youshallbeemploy'dTohastenonhisexpedition.Exeunt

ANTONIOandPANTHINOPROTEUS.ThushaveIshunn'dthefirefor

fearofburning,Anddrench'dmeinthesea,whereIamdrown'd.Ifear'd

toshowmyfatherJulia'sletter,Lestheshouldtakeexceptionstomylove;

AndwiththevantageofmineownexcuseHathheexceptedmostagainst

mylove.O,howthisspringofloveresemblethTheuncertaingloryofan

Aprilday,Whichnowshowsallthebeautyofthesun,Andbyanbya

cloudtakesallaway!

Re-enterPANTHINO

PANTHINO.SirProteus,yourfathercallsforyou;Heisinhaste;

therefore,Iprayyou,go.PROTEUS.Why,thisitis:myheartaccords

thereto;Andyetathousandtimesitanswers'No.'Exeunt

«THISELECTRONICVERSIONOFTHECOMPLETEWORKS

OFWILLIAMSHAKESPEAREISCOPYRIGHT1990-1993BY

WORLDLIBRARY,INC.,ANDISPROVIDEDBYPROJECT

GUTENBERGETEXTOFCARNEGIEMELLONUNIVERSITYWITH

10

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

PERMISSION.ELECTRONICANDMACHINEREADABLECOPIES

MAYBEDISTRIBUTEDSOLONGASSUCHCOPIES(1)AREFOR

YOUROROTHERSPERSONALUSEONLY,AND(2)ARENOT

DISTRIBUTEDORUSEDCOMMERCIALLY.PROHIBITED

COMMERCIALDISTRIBUTIONINCLUDESBYANYSERVICE

THATCHARGESFORDOWNLOADTIMEORFOR

MEMBERSHIP.»

ii

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

ACTIL

12

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

SCENEI.Milan.TheDUKESpalace

EnterVALENTINEandSPEED

SPEED.Sir,yourglove.VALENTINE.Notmine:myglovesareon.

SPEED.Why,then,thismaybeyours;forthisisbutone.VALENTINE.

Ha!letmesee;ay,giveitme,it'smine;Sweetornamentthatdecksathing

divine!Ah,Silvia!Silvia!SPEED.[Calling]MadamSilvia!MadamSilvia!

VALENTINE.Hownow,sirrah?SPEED.Sheisnotwithinhearing,sir.

VALENTINE.Why,sir,whobadeyoucallher?SPEED.Yourworship,sir;

orelseImistook.VALENTINE.Well,you'llstillbetooforward.SPEED.

AndyetIwaslastchiddenforbeingtooslow.VALENTINE.Goto,sir;

tellme,doyouknowMadamSilvia?SPEED.Shethatyourworshiploves?

VALENTINE.Why,howknowyouthatIaminlove?SPEED.Marry,by

thesespecialmarks:first,youhavelearn'd,likeSirProteus,towreathyour

armslikeamalcontent;torelishalove-song,likearobinredbreast;to

walkalone,likeonethathadthepestilence;tosigh,likeaschool-boythat

hadlosthisABC;toweep,likeayoungwenchthathadburiedher

grandam;tofast,likeonethattakesdiet;towatch,likeonethatfears

robbing;tospeakpuling,likeabeggaratHallowmas.Youwerewont,

whenyoulaughed,tocrowlikeacock;whenyouwalk'd,towalklikeone

ofthelions;whenyoufasted,itwaspresentlyafterdinner;whenyou

look'dsadly,itwasforwantofmoney.Andnowyouaremetamorphis'd

withamistress,that,whenIlookonyou,Icanhardlythinkyoumy

master.VALENTINE.Areallthesethingsperceiv'dinme?SPEED.They

areallperceiv'dwithoutye.VALENTINE.Withoutme?Theycannot.

SPEED.Withoutyou!Nay,that'scertain;for,withoutyouweresosimple,

noneelsewould;butyouaresowithoutthesefolliesthatthesefolliesare

withinyou,andshinethroughyoulikethewaterinanurinal,thatnotan

eyethatseesyoubutisaphysiciantocommentonyourmalady.

VALENTINE.Buttellme,dostthouknowmyladySilvia?SPEED.She

thatyougazeonso,asshesitsatsupper?VALENTINE.Hastthou

observ'dthat?Evenshe,Imean.SPEED.Why,sir,Iknowhernot.

VALENTINE.Dostthouknowherbymygazingonher,andyetknow'st

hernot?SPEED.Isshenothard-favour'd,sir?VALENTINE.Notsofair,

13

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

boy,aswell-favour'd.SPEED.Sir,Iknowthatwellenough.VALENTINE.

Whatdostthouknow?SPEED.Thatsheisnotsofairas,ofyou,well-

favour'd.VALENTINE.Imeanthatherbeautyisexquisite,butherfavour

infinite.SPEED.That'sbecausetheoneispainted,andtheotheroutofall

count.VALENTINE.Howpainted?andhowoutofcount?SPEED.Marry,

sir,sopainted,tomakeherfair,thatnomancountsofherbeauty.

VALENTINE.Howesteem'stthoume?Iaccountofherbeauty.SPEED.

Youneversawhersinceshewasdeform'd.VALENTINE.Howlonghath

shebeendeform'd?SPEED.Eversinceyoulov'dher.VALENTINE.I

havelov'dhereversinceIsawher,andstillIseeherbeautiful.SPEED.If

youloveher,youcannotseeher.VALENTINE.Why?SPEED.Because

Loveisblind.Othatyouhadmineeyes;oryourowneyeshadthelights

theywerewonttohavewhenyouchidatSirProteusforgoingungarter'd!

VALENTINE.WhatshouldIseethen?SPEED.Yourownpresentfolly

andherpassingdeformity;forhe,beinginlove,couldnotseetogarterhis

hose;andyou,beinginlove,cannotseetoputonyourhose.VALENTINE.

Belike,boy,thenyouareinlove;forlastmorningyoucouldnotseeto

wipemyshoes.SPEED.True,sir;Iwasinlovewithmybed.Ithankyou,

youswing'dmeformylove,whichmakesmetheboldertochideyoufor

yours.VALENTINE.Inconclusion,Istandaffectedtoher.SPEED.I

wouldyouwereset,soyouraffectionwouldcease.VALENTINE.Last

nightsheenjoin'dmetowritesomelinestoonesheloves.SPEED.And

haveyou?VALENTINE.Ihave.SPEED.Aretheynotlamelywrit?

VALENTINE.No,boy,butaswellasIcandothem.

EnterSILVIA

Peace!hereshecomes.SPEED.[Aside]Oexcellentmotion!O

exceedingpuppet!Nowwillheinterprettoher.VALENTINE.Madamand

mistress,athousandgoodmorrows.SPEED.[Aside]O,giveyegoodev'n!

Here'samillionofmanners.SILVIA.SirValentineandservant,toyou

twothousand.SPEED.[Aside]Heshouldgiveherinterest,andshegives

ithim.VALENTINE.Asyouenjoin'dme,IhavewrityourletterUntothe

secretnamelessfriendofyours;WhichIwasmuchunwillingtoproceed

in,Butformydutytoyourladyship.SILVIA.Ithankyou,gentleservant.

'Tisveryclerklydone.VALENTINE.Nowtrustme,madam,itcame

14

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

hardlyoff;For,beingignoranttowhomitgoes,Iwritatrandom,very

doubtfully.SILVIA.Perchanceyouthinktoomuchofsomuchpains?

VALENTINE.No,madam;soitsteadyou,Iwillwrite,Pleaseyou

command,athousandtimesasmuch;Andyet-SILVIA.Aprettyperiod!

Well,Iguessthesequel;AndyetIwillnotnameit-andyetIcarenot.And

yettakethisagain-andyetIthankyou-Meaninghenceforthtotrouble

younomore.SPEED.[Aside]Andyetyouwill;andyetanother'yet.'

VALENTINE.Whatmeansyourladyship?Doyounotlikeit?SILVIA.

Yes,yes;thelinesareveryquaintlywrit;But,sinceunwillingly,takethem

again.Nay,takethem.[Giveshacktheletter]VALENTINE.Madam,they

areforyou.SILVIA.Ay,ay,youwritthem,sir,atmyrequest;ButIwill

noneofthem;theyareforyou:Iwouldhavehadthemwritmore

movingly.VALENTINE.Pleaseyou,I'llwriteyourladyshipanother.

SILVIA.Andwhenit'swrit,formysakereaditover;Andifitpleaseyou,

so;ifnot,why,so.VALENTINE.Ifitpleaseme,madam,whatthen?

SILVIA.Why,ifitpleaseyou,takeitforyourlabour.Andsogood

morrow,servant.ExitSILVIASPEED.Ojestunseen,inscrutable,

invisible,Asanoseonaman'sface,oraweathercockonasteeple!My

mastersuestoher;andshehathtaughthersuitor,Hebeingherpupil,to

becomehertutor.Oexcellentdevice!Wasthereeverheardabetter,That

mymaster,beingscribe,tohimselfshouldwritetheletter?VALENTINE.

Hownow,sir!Whatareyoureasoningwithyourself?SPEED.Nay,Iwas

rhyming:'tisyouthathavethereason.VALENTINE.Todowhat?SPEED.

TobeaspokesmanfromMadamSilvia?VALENTINE.Towhom?SPEED.

Toyourself;why,shewoosyoubyafigure.VALENTINE.Whatfigure?

SPEED.Byaletter,Ishouldsay.VALENTINE.Why,shehathnotwritto

me.SPEED.Whatneedshe,whenshehathmadeyouwritetoyourself?

Why,doyounotperceivethejest?VALENTINE.No,believeme.SPEED.

Nobelievingyouindeed,sir.Butdidyouperceiveherearnest?

VALENTINE.Shegavemenoneexceptanangryword.SPEED.Why,she

hathgivenyoualetter.VALENTINE.That'stheletterIwrittoherfriend.

SPEED.Andthatletterhathshedeliver'd,andthereanend.VALENTINE.

Iwoulditwerenoworse.SPEED.I'llwarrantyou'tisaswell.'Foroften

haveyouwrittoher;andshe,inmodesty,Orelseforwantofidletime,

15

THETWO(JENTLEMENOFVERONA

couldnotagainreply;Orfearingelsesomemessengerthatmighthermind

discover,Herselfhathtaughtherlovehimselftowriteuntoherlover.'All

thisIspeakinprint,forinprintIfoundit.Whymuseyou,sir?'Tisdinner

time.VALENTINE.Ihavedin'd.SPEED.Ay,buthearken,sir;thoughthe

chameleonLovecanfeedontheair,Iamonethatamnourish'dbymy

victuals,andwouldfainhavemeat.O,benotlikeyourmistress!Be

moved,bemoved.Exeunt

16

THETWOGENTLEMENOFVERONA

SCENEILVerona.JULIAShouse

EnterPROTEUSandJULIA

PROTEUS.Havepatience,gentleJulia.JULIA.Imust,whereisno

remedy.PROTEUS.WhenpossiblyIcan,Iwillreturn.JULIA.Ifyouturn

not,youwillreturnthesooner.KeepthisremembranceforthyJulia'ssake.

[Givingaring]PROTEUS.Why,then,we'llmakeexchange.Here,take

youthis.JULIA.Andsealthebargainwithaholykiss.PROTEUS.Here

ismyhandformytrueconstancy;Andwhenthathour