Enter Julia and Lucetta.JULIA But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?LUCETTA Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.JULIA Of all the fair resort of gentlemen5 That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 2
LUCETTA Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind According to my shallow simple skill.JULIA What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?LUCETTA 10 As of a knight well-spoken, neat, and fine; But, were I you, he never should be mine.JULIA What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?LUCETTA Well of his wealth, but of himself so-so.JULIA What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?LUCETTA 15 Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us!JULIA How now? What means this passion at his name?LUCETTA Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.JULIA 20 Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?LUCETTA Then thus: of many good, I think him best.JULIA Your reason?LUCETTA I have no other but a woman’s reason: I think him so because I think him so.JULIA 25 And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him?LUCETTA Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.JULIA Why, he of all the rest hath never moved me.
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 2
LUCETTA Yet he of all the rest I think best loves you.JULIA His little speaking shows his love but small.LUCETTA 30 Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all.JULIA They do not love that do not show their love.LUCETTA O, they love least that let men know their love.JULIA I would I knew his mind.LUCETTA, ⌜handing her a paper⌝ Peruse this paper,35 madam.JULIA ⌜reads⌝ “To Julia.”—Say from whom.LUCETTA That the contents will show.JULIA Say, say who gave it thee.LUCETTA Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from40 Proteus. He would have given it you, but I, being in the way, Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray.JULIA Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Dare you presume to harbor wanton lines?45 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 returned, Or else return no more into my sight.LUCETTA, ⌜taking the paper⌝ 50 To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.JULIA Will you be gone?LUCETTA That you may ruminate.She exits.JULIA And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter.
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 2
It were a shame to call her back again55 And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. What fool is she that knows I am a maid And would not force the letter to my view, Since maids in modesty say “no” to that Which they would have the profferer construe “ay”!60 Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love That like a testy babe will scratch the nurse And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, When willingly I would have had her here!65 How angerly I taught my brow to frown, When inward joy enforced my heart to smile! My penance is to call Lucetta back And ask remission for my folly past.— What ho, Lucetta!⌜Enter Lucetta.⌝LUCETTA 70 What would your Ladyship?JULIA Is ’t near dinner time?LUCETTA I would it were, That you might kill your stomach on your meat And not upon your maid.⌜She drops a paper and then retrieves it.⌝JULIA 75 What is ’t that you took up so gingerly?LUCETTA Nothing.JULIA Why didst thou stoop, then?LUCETTA To take a paper up that I let fall.JULIA And is that paper nothing?LUCETTA 80Nothing concerning me.JULIA Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 2
LUCETTA Madam, it will not lie where it concerns Unless it have a false interpreter.JULIA Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.LUCETTA 85 That I might sing it, madam, to a tune, Give me a note. Your Ladyship can set—JULIA As little by such toys as may be possible. Best sing it to the tune of “
Light o’ Love.”
LUCETTA It is too heavy for so light a tune.JULIA 90 Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then?LUCETTA Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.JULIA And why not you?LUCETTA I cannot reach so high.JULIA, ⌜taking the paper⌝ Let’s see your song. How now, minion!LUCETTA 95 Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out. And yet methinks I do not like this tune.JULIA You do not?LUCETTA No, madam, ’tis too sharp.JULIA You, minion, are too saucy.LUCETTA 100Nay, now you are too flat And mar the concord with too harsh a descant. There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.JULIA The mean is drowned with ⌜your⌝ unruly bass.LUCETTA Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 2
JULIA 105 This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with protestation.⌜She rips up the paper. Lucetta begins
to pick up the pieces.⌝ Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. You would be fing’ring them to anger me.LUCETTA She makes it strange, but she would be best pleased110 To be so angered with another letter.⌜She exits.⌝JULIA Nay, would I were so angered with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!115 I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.⌜She picks up some pieces.⌝ Look, here is writ “kind Julia.” Unkind Julia, As in revenge of thy ingratitude, I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.120 And here is writ “love-wounded Proteus.” Poor wounded name, my bosom as a bed Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly healed, And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. But twice or thrice was “Proteus” written down.125 Be calm, good wind. Blow not a word away Till I have found each letter in the letter Except mine own name. That some whirlwind bear Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock And throw it thence into the raging sea.130 Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ: “Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus, To the sweet Julia.” That I’ll tear away— And yet I will not, sith so prettily He couples it to his complaining names.
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona
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135 Thus will I fold them one upon another. Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.⌜Enter Lucetta.⌝LUCETTA Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays.JULIA Well, let us go.LUCETTA What, shall these papers lie like telltales here?JULIA 140 If you respect them, best to take them up.LUCETTA Nay, I was taken up for laying them down. Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.⌜She picks up the rest of the pieces.⌝JULIA I see you have a month’s mind to them.LUCETTA Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;145 I see things too, although you judge I wink.JULIA Come, come, will ’t please you go?They exit.