List iconThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaList icon

The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Act 1, scene 3

Synopsis:

Contents

Characters in the Play

Entire Play

The Two Gentlemen of Verona tells the story of two devoted friends, Valentine and Proteus. Valentine leaves their home city of…

Act 1, scene 1

Valentine, preparing to leave for Milan, says farewell to Proteus, who stays in Verona to be near Julia. Valentine’s servant,…

Act 1, scene 2

Julia receives Proteus’ letter and pretends to be very angry at his presumption.

Act 1, scene 3

Proteus, reading a letter from Julia, encounters his father, Antonio, and tells him that the letter is from Valentine, who…

Act 2, scene 1

Valentine learns (with Speed’s help) that the letter Sylvia had him write conveying her love to an admirer was intended…

Act 2, scene 2

Proteus takes his leave of Julia, promising to be faithful and sealing their love with a kind of “handfasting” or…

Act 2, scene 3

Lance grieves that he must part from his family to travel with Proteus, and he chastises his dog, Crab, for…

Act 2, scene 4

Proteus arrives and is greeted by Valentine and Sylvia. He immediately falls in love with Sylvia.

Act 2, scene 5

Lance describes for Speed the tender parting of Proteus from Julia and hears about Valentine’s love for Sylvia.

Act 2, scene 6

Proteus decides to betray Valentine’s elopement plans to Sylvia’s father as a step on the way to winning Sylvia for…

Act 2, scene 7

Julia decides to follow Proteus to Milan and asks Lucetta to help her disguise herself as a page.

Act 3, scene 1

Proteus betrays Valentine’s elopement plans to Sylvia’s father, who banishes Valentine. Proteus pretends to grieve with Valentine and, telling him…

Act 3, scene 2

The Duke enlists Proteus’ aid in making Sylvia fall in love with Thurio. Proteus offers to slander Valentine and to…

Act 4, scene 1

Valentine and Speed are captured by outlaws. Valentine agrees to become their captain.

Act 4, scene 2

Proteus serenades Sylvia, supposedly on Thurio’s behalf. As Julia watches, disguised as a page, Proteus sings his love song to…

Act 4, scene 3

Sylvia, determined to escape the pursuit of Thurio and Proteus, persuades Sir Eglamour to accompany her that evening on a…

Act 4, scene 4

Proteus learns to his horror that Lance has tried to present Crab to Sylvia as a gift. Proteus then sends…

Act 5, scene 1

Sylvia and Sir Eglamour set out on their journey.

Act 5, scene 2

The Duke informs Proteus and Thurio of Sylvia’s flight. They each decide to follow her.

Act 5, scene 3

Sylvia is captured by the outlaws, while Sir Eglamour flees.

Act 5, scene 4

As Valentine watches from hiding, Sylvia is brought in by Proteus, who has taken her from the outlaws. Proteus pleads…
JUMP TO: Line:

Include links to:

Images
Glosses
Audio
Video
Essays
Quill icon
Scene 3
Enter Antonio and Pantino.

ANTONIO 
 Tell me, Pantino, what sad talk was that
 Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
PANTINO 
 ’Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.
ANTONIO 
 Why, what of him?
PANTINO 5 He wondered that your Lordship
 Would suffer him to spend his youth at home
31
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 3

 While other men, of slender reputation,
 Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
 Some to the wars to try their fortune there,
10 Some to discover islands far away,
 Some to the studious universities.
 For any or for all these exercises
 He said that Proteus your son was meet,
 And did request me to importune you
15 To let him spend his time no more at home,
 Which would be great impeachment to his age
 In having known no travel in his youth.
ANTONIO 
 Nor need’st thou much importune me to that
 Whereon this month I have been hammering.
20 I have considered well his loss of time
 And how he cannot be a perfect man,
 Not being tried and tutored in the world.
 Experience is by industry achieved
 And perfected by the swift course of time.
25 Then tell me whither were I best to send him.
PANTINO 
 I think your Lordship is not ignorant
 How his companion, youthful Valentine,
 Attends the Emperor in his royal court.
ANTONIO I know it well.
PANTINO 
30 ’Twere good, I think, your Lordship sent him thither.
 There shall he practice tilts and tournaments,
 Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen,
 And be in eye of every exercise
 Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
ANTONIO 
35 I like thy counsel. Well hast thou advised,
 And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it,
 The execution of it shall make known.
33
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 3

 Even with the speediest expedition
 I will dispatch him to the Emperor’s court.
PANTINO 
40 Tomorrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
 With other gentlemen of good esteem,
 Are journeying to salute the Emperor
 And to commend their service to his will.
ANTONIO 
 Good company. With them shall Proteus go.

⌜Enter⌝ Proteus ⌜reading.⌝

45 And in good time! Now will we break with him.
PROTEUS, ⌜to himself⌝ 
 Sweet love, sweet lines, sweet life!
 Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
 Here is her oath for love, her honor’s pawn.
 O, that our fathers would applaud our loves
50 To seal our happiness with their consents.
 O heavenly Julia!
ANTONIO 
 How now? What letter are you reading there?
PROTEUS 
 May ’t please your Lordship, ’tis a word or two
 Of commendations sent from Valentine,
55 Delivered by a friend that came from him.
ANTONIO 
 Lend me the letter. Let me see what news.
PROTEUS 
 There is no news, my lord, but that he writes
 How happily he lives, how well beloved
 And daily gracèd by the Emperor,
60 Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
ANTONIO 
 And how stand you affected to his wish?
35
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 3

PROTEUS 
 As one relying on your Lordship’s will,
 And not depending on his friendly wish.
ANTONIO 
 My will is something sorted with his wish.
65 Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed,
 For what I will, I will, and there an end.
 I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
 With Valentinus in the Emperor’s court.
 What maintenance he from his friends receives,
70 Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
 Tomorrow be in readiness to go.
 Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
PROTEUS 
 My lord, I cannot be so soon provided.
 Please you deliberate a day or two.
ANTONIO 
75 Look what thou want’st shall be sent after thee.
 No more of stay. Tomorrow thou must go.—
 Come on, Pantino; you shall be employed
 To hasten on his expedition.
⌜Antonio and Pantino exit.⌝
PROTEUS 
 Thus have I shunned the fire for fear of burning
80 And drenched me in the sea, where I am drowned.
 I feared to show my father Julia’s letter
 Lest he should take exceptions to my love,
 And with the vantage of mine own excuse
 Hath he excepted most against my love.
85 O, how this spring of love resembleth
 The uncertain glory of an April day,
 Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
 And by and by a cloud takes all away.

⌜Enter Pantino.⌝

37
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 1. SC. 3

PANTINO 
 Sir Proteus, your ⌜father⌝ calls for you.
90 He is in haste. Therefore, I pray you, go.
PROTEUS 
 Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto.
 ⌜Aside.⌝ And yet a thousand times it answers “no.”
They exit.


← Back: Act 1, scene 2 Next: Act 2, scene 1→