The two

GENTLEMEN

of

VERON A.

Perfons represented.

Duke of Milan, father to Silvia.

Valentine,

Proteus,

}

Gentlemen of Verona.

1

Antonio, father to Proteus.

Thurio, a foolish rival to Valentine.
Eglamour, agent for Silvia in ber escape.
Speed, a clownish fervant to Valentine.
Launce, fervant to Proteus.

Panthino, fervant to Antonio.

Hoft, where Julia lodges in Milan.
Out-laws.

Julia, a lady of Verona, beloved by Proteus.
Silvia, the duke's daughter, beloved by Valentine.

Lucetta, waiting-woman to Julia.

Servants, musicians.

SCENE, fometimes in Verona ; fometimes in Milan; and on the frontiers of Mantua.

The
two GENTLEMEN of
VERONA.

ACT I.

SCENE I. An open place in Verona,
Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS.

VAL. Cease to perfuade, my loving Proteus ; Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits; Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days To the fweet glances of thy honour'd love, I rather would entreat thy company, To fee the wonders of the world abroad, Than, living dully fluggardiz'd at home, Wear out thy youth with fhapeless idleness. But, fince thou lov'ft, love ftill, and thrive therein, . Even as I would, when I to love begin,

PRO, Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu ! Think on thy Proteus, when thou, haply, seest Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel; Wish me partaker in thy happiness,

When thou doft meet good hap; and, in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee,

Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,

For I will be thy beed's-man, Valentine.

VAL. And on a love-book pray for my fuccefs. PRO. Upon fome book I love, I'll pray for thee. VAL. That's on fome fhallow ftory of deep love, How young Leander crofs'd the Hellefpont.

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 fwam the Hellefpont.

PRO. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.
VAL. No, I'll 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 mirth,
With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights:

If haply won, perhaps, a hapless gain;
If loft, why then a grievous labour won;
However, but a folly bought with wit,
Or else a wit by folly vanquished.

PRO. So, by your circumftance, you call me fool.
VAL. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove.
PRO. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love.
VAL. Love is your mafter, for he masters you;
And he that is fo yoked by a fool,

Methinks fhould not be chronicled for wife.
PRO. Yet writers fay, As in the fweeteft bud
The eating canker dwells, fo eating love
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

VAL. And writers fay, As the most forward bud
Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,

Even fo by love the young and tender wit

Is turn'd to folly; blafting in the bud,