Synopsis:
Proteus serenades Sylvia, supposedly on Thurio’s behalf. As Julia watches, disguised as a page, Proteus sings his love song to Sylvia, woos her, and, having been rejected by her, succeeds in getting her promise to give him her portrait.
The Two Gentlemen of VeronaThe Two Gentlemen of Verona
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…
Scene 2
Enter Proteus.PROTEUS
Already have I been false to Valentine,
And now I must be as unjust to Thurio.
Under the color of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer.
5 But Sylvia is too fair, too true, too holy
To be corrupted with my worthless gifts.
When I protest true loyalty to her,
She twits me with my falsehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vows,
10 She bids me think how I have been forsworn
In breaking faith with Julia, whom I loved;
And notwithstanding all her sudden quips,
The least whereof would quell a lover’s hope,
Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love,
15 The more it grows and fawneth on her still.
But here comes Thurio. Now must we to her
window
And give some evening music to her ear.
135
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 4. SC. 2
THURIO
How now, Sir Proteus, are you crept before us?
PROTEUS
20 Ay, gentle Thurio, for you know that love
Will creep in service where it cannot go.
THURIO
Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.
PROTEUS
Sir, but I do, or else I would be hence.
THURIO
Who, Sylvia?
PROTEUS 25 Ay, Sylvia, for your sake.
THURIO
I thank you for your own.—Now, gentlemen,
Let’s tune, and to it lustily awhile.
⌜Enter⌝ Host ⌜of the inn, and⌝ Julia, ⌜disguised as a
page, Sebastian. They stand at a distance and talk.⌝
HOST Now, my young guest, methinks you’re allycholly.
I pray you, why is it?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ 30Marry, mine host, because I
cannot be merry.
HOST Come, we’ll have you merry. I’ll bring you where
you shall hear music and see the gentleman that you
asked for.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ 35But shall I hear him speak?
HOST Ay, that you shall.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ That will be music.
HOST Hark, hark.⌜Music plays.⌝
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Is he among these?
HOST 40Ay. But peace; let’s hear ’em.
137
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 4. SC. 2
Song.
⌜PROTEUS⌝ Who is Sylvia? What is she,
That all our swains commend her?
Holy, fair, and wise is she;
The heaven such grace did lend her
45 That she might admirèd be.
Is she kind as she is fair?
For beauty lives with kindness.
Love doth to her eyes repair
To help him of his blindness;
50 And, being helped, inhabits there.
Then to Sylvia let us sing,
That Sylvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing
Upon the dull earth dwelling.
55 To her let us garlands bring.
HOST How now? Are you sadder than you were before?
How do you, man? The music likes you not.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ You mistake. The musician likes me
not.
HOST 60Why, my pretty youth?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ He plays false, father.
HOST How, out of tune on the strings?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Not so; but yet so false that he
grieves my very heart-strings.
HOST 65You have a quick ear.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes
me have a slow heart.
HOST I perceive you delight not in music.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Not a whit when it jars so.
HOST 70Hark, what fine change is in the music!
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Ay; that change is the spite.
HOST You would have them always play but one
thing?
139
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 4. SC. 2
I would always have one play but one thing.
75 But, host, doth this Sir Proteus, that we talk on,
Often resort unto this gentlewoman?
HOST I tell you what Lance his man told me: he loved
her out of all nick.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Where is Lance?
HOST 80Gone to seek his dog, which tomorrow, by his
master’s command, he must carry for a present to
his lady.⌜Music ends.⌝
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Peace. Stand aside. The company
parts.⌜Host and Julia move away.⌝
PROTEUS
85 Sir Thurio, fear not you. I will so plead
That you shall say my cunning drift excels.
THURIO
Where meet we?
PROTEUS At Saint Gregory’s well.
THURIO Farewell.
⌜Thurio and the Musicians exit.⌝
⌜Enter⌝ Sylvia, ⌜above.⌝
PROTEUS
90 Madam, good even to your Ladyship.
SYLVIA
I thank you for your music, gentlemen.
Who is that that spake?
PROTEUS
One, lady, if you knew his pure heart’s truth,
You would quickly learn to know him by his voice.
SYLVIA 95Sir Proteus, as I take it.
PROTEUS
Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.
SYLVIA
What’s your will?
141
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 4. SC. 2
SYLVIA
You have your wish: my will is even this,
100 That presently you hie you home to bed.
Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man,
Think’st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless,
To be seducèd by thy flattery,
That hast deceived so many with thy vows?
105 Return, return, and make thy love amends.
For me, by this pale queen of night I swear,
I am so far from granting thy request
That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit
And by and by intend to chide myself
110 Even for this time I spend in talking to thee.
PROTEUS
I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady,
But she is dead.
JULIA, ⌜aside⌝ ’Twere false if I should speak it,
For I am sure she is not burièd.
SYLVIA
115 Say that she be; yet Valentine thy friend
Survives, to whom, thyself art witness,
I am betrothed. And art thou not ashamed
To wrong him with thy importunacy?
PROTEUS
I likewise hear that Valentine is dead.
SYLVIA
120 And so suppose am I, for in ⌜his⌝ grave,
Assure thyself, my love is burièd.
PROTEUS
Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.
SYLVIA
Go to thy lady’s grave and call hers thence,
Or, at the least, in hers sepulcher thine.
JULIA, ⌜aside⌝ 125He heard not that.
143
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT 4. SC. 3
Madam, if your heart be so obdurate,
Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love,
The picture that is hanging in your chamber;
To that I’ll speak, to that I’ll sigh and weep,
130 For since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow;
And to your shadow will I make true love.
JULIA, ⌜aside⌝
If ’twere a substance you would sure deceive it
And make it but a shadow, as I am.
SYLVIA
135 I am very loath to be your idol, sir;
But since your falsehood shall become you well
To worship shadows and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning, and I’ll send it.
And so, good rest.⌜Sylvia exits.⌝
PROTEUS 140 As wretches have o’ernight
That wait for execution in the morn.⌜Proteus exits.⌝
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Host, will you go?
HOST By my halidom, I was fast asleep.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus?
HOST 145Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think ’tis almost
day.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
Not so; but it hath been the longest night
That e’er I watched, and the most heaviest.
⌜They exit.⌝
