THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA 5.4

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THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA 5.4

Another part of the forest.

[Enter VALENTINE]

VALENTINE How use doth breed a habit in a man!

This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,

I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:

Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,

And to the nightingale's complaining notes 5

Tune my distresses and record my woes.

O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,

Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,

Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall

And leave no memory of what it was! 10

Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;

Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!

What halloing and what stir is this to-day?

These are my mates, that make their wills their law,

Have some unhappy passenger in chase. 15

They love me well; yet I have much to do

To keep them from uncivil outrages.

Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?

[Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA]

PROTEUS Madam, this service I have done for you,

Though you respect not aught your servant doth, 20

To hazard life and rescue you from him

That would have forced your honour and your love;

Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;

A smaller boon than this I cannot beg

And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. 25

VALENTINE [Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!

Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

SILVIA O miserable, unhappy that I am!

PROTEUS Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;

But by my coming I have made you happy. 30

SILVIA By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy.

JULIA [Aside] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.

SILVIA Had I been seized by a hungry lion,

I would have been a breakfast to the beast,

Rather than have false Proteus rescue me. 35

O, Heaven be judge how I love Valentine,

Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!

And full as much, for more there cannot be,

I do detest false perjured Proteus.

Therefore be gone; solicit me no more. 40

PROTEUS What dangerous action, stood it next to death,

Would I not undergo for one calm look!

O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,

When women cannot love where they're beloved!

SILVIA When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved. 45

Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,

For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith

Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths

Descended into perjury, to love me.

Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two; 50

And that's far worse than none; better have none

Than plural faith which is too much by one:

Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

PROTEUS In love

Who respects friend? 55

SILVIA All men but Proteus.

PROTEUS Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words

Can no way change you to a milder form,

I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end,

And love you 'gainst the nature of love,--force ye. 60

SILVIA O heaven!

PROTEUS I'll force thee yield to my desire.

VALENTINE Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,

Thou friend of an ill fashion!

PROTEUS Valentine!

VALENTINE Thou common friend, that's without faith or love, 65

For such is a friend now; treacherous man!

Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye

Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say

I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.

Who should be trusted, when one's own right hand 70

Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,

But count the world a stranger for thy sake.

The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst,

'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst! 75

PROTEUS My shame and guilt confounds me.

Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow

Be a sufficient ransom for offence,

I tender 't here; I do as truly suffer

As e'er I did commit. 80

VALENTINE Then I am paid;

And once again I do receive thee honest.

Who by repentance is not satisfied

Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased.

By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased: 85

And, that my love may appear plain and free,

All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

JULIA O me unhappy!

[Swoons]

PROTEUS Look to the boy.

VALENTINE Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the matter? 90

Look up; speak.

JULIA O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring

to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.

PROTEUS Where is that ring, boy?

JULIA Here 'tis; this is it. 95

PROTEUS How! let me see:

Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.

JULIA O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook:

This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

PROTEUS But how camest thou by this ring? At my depart 100

I gave this unto Julia.

JULIA And Julia herself did give it me;

And Julia herself hath brought it hither.

PROTEUS How! Julia!

JULIA Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, 105

And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart.

How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!

O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!

Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me

Such an immodest raiment, if shame live 110

In a disguise of love:

It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,

Women to change their shapes than men their minds.

PROTEUS Than men their minds! 'tis true.

O heaven! were man 115

But constant, he were perfect. That one error

Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins:

Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.

What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy

More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye? 120

VALENTINE Come, come, a hand from either:

Let me be blest to make this happy close;

'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.

PROTEUS Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever.

JULIA And I mine. 125

[Enter Outlaws, with DUKE and THURIO]

Outlaws A prize, a prize, a prize!

VALENTINE Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my lord the duke.

Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced,

Banished Valentine.

DUKE Sir Valentine! 130

THURIO Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine.

VALENTINE Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death;

Come not within the measure of my wrath;

Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,

Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands; 135

Take but possession of her with a touch:

I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.

THURIO Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;

I hold him but a fool that will endanger

His body for a girl that loves him not: 140

I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.

DUKE The more degenerate and base art thou,

To make such means for her as thou hast done

And leave her on such slight conditions.

Now, by the honour of my ancestry, 145

I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,

And think thee worthy of an empress' love:

Know then, I here forget all former griefs,

Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,

Plead a new state in thy unrivall'd merit, 150

To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,

Thou art a gentleman and well derived;

Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.

VALENTINE I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy.

I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake, 155

To grant one boom that I shall ask of you.

DUKE I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.

VALENTINE These banish'd men that I have kept withal

Are men endued with worthy qualities:

Forgive them what they have committed here 160

And let them be recall'd from their exile:

They are reformed, civil, full of good

And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

DUKE Thou hast prevail'd; I pardon them and thee:

Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts. 165

Come, let us go: we will include all jars

With triumphs, mirth and rare solemnity.

VALENTINE And, as we walk along, I dare be bold

With our discourse to make your grace to smile.

What think you of this page, my lord? 170

DUKE I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.

VALENTINE I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.

DUKE What mean you by that saying?

VALENTINE Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,

That you will wonder what hath fortuned. 175

Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance but to hear

The story of your loves discovered:

That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;

One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.

[Exeunt]

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VALENTINE	How use doth breed a habit in a man!
	This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
	I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
	Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
	And to the nightingale's complaining notes	5
	Tune my distresses and record my woes.
	O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
	Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,
	Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall
	And leave no memory of what it was!	10
	Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;
	Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!
	What halloing and what stir is this to-day?
	These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
	Have some unhappy passenger in chase.	15
	They love me well; yet I have much to do
	To keep them from uncivil outrages.
	Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?
	[Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA]

PROTEUS	Madam, this service I have done for you,
	Though you respect not aught your servant doth,	20
	To hazard life and rescue you from him
	That would have forced your honour and your love;
	Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
	A smaller boon than this I cannot beg
	And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.	25

VALENTINE		[Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!
		Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

PROTEUS		Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
		But by my coming I have made you happy.	30

SILVIA	Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
	I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
	Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.	35
	O, Heaven be judge how I love Valentine,
	Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!
	And full as much, for more there cannot be,
	I do detest false perjured Proteus.
	Therefore be gone; solicit me no more.	40

PROTEUS		What dangerous action, stood it next to death,
		Would I not undergo for one calm look!
		O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,
		When women cannot love where they're beloved!

SILVIA	When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved.	45
	Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
	For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
	Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
	Descended into perjury, to love me.
	Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two;	50
	And that's far worse than none; better have none
	Than plural faith which is too much by one:
	Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!

PROTEUS	Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
	Can no way change you to a milder form,
	I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end,
	And love you 'gainst the nature of love,--force ye.	60

VALENTINE		Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,
		Thou friend of an ill fashion!

VALENTINE	Thou common friend, that's without faith or love,	65
	For such is a friend now; treacherous man!
	Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye
	Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say
	I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
	Who should be trusted, when one's own right hand	70
	Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
	I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
	But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
	The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst,
	'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!	75

PROTEUS	My shame and guilt confounds me.
	Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
	Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
	I tender 't here; I do as truly suffer
	As e'er I did commit.	80

VALENTINE	Then I am paid;
	And once again I do receive thee honest.
	Who by repentance is not satisfied
	Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased.
	By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased:	85
	And, that my love may appear plain and free,
	All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.

VALENTINE		Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the matter?	90
		Look up; speak.

JULIA		O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring
		to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.

PROTEUS		How! let me see:
		Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.

JULIA		O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook:
		This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

PROTEUS		But how camest thou by this ring? At my depart	100
		I gave this unto Julia.

JULIA		And Julia herself did give it me;
		And Julia herself hath brought it hither.

JULIA	Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,	105
	And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart.
	How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!
	O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
	Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
	Such an immodest raiment, if shame live	110
	In a disguise of love:
	It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,
	Women to change their shapes than men their minds.

PROTEUS	Than men their minds! 'tis true.
	O heaven! were man	115
	But constant, he were perfect. That one error
	Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins:
	Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.
	What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
	More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?	120

VALENTINE		Come, come, a hand from either:
		Let me be blest to make this happy close;
		'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.

VALENTINE		Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my lord the duke.
		Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced,
		Banished Valentine.

VALENTINE	Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death;
	Come not within the measure of my wrath;
	Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
	Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands;	135
	Take but possession of her with a touch:
	I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.

THURIO	Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I;
	I hold him but a fool that will endanger
	His body for a girl that loves him not:	140
	I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.

DUKE	The more degenerate and base art thou,
	To make such means for her as thou hast done
	And leave her on such slight conditions.
	Now, by the honour of my ancestry,	145
	I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
	And think thee worthy of an empress' love:
	Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
	Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,
	Plead a new state in thy unrivall'd merit,	150
	To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,
	Thou art a gentleman and well derived;
	Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.

VALENTINE	I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy.
	I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,	155
	To grant one boom that I shall ask of you.

VALENTINE	These banish'd men that I have kept withal
	Are men endued with worthy qualities:
	Forgive them what they have committed here	160
	And let them be recall'd from their exile:
	They are reformed, civil, full of good
	And fit for great employment, worthy lord.

DUKE	Thou hast prevail'd; I pardon them and thee:
	Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts.	165
	Come, let us go: we will include all jars
	With triumphs, mirth and rare solemnity.

VALENTINE	And, as we walk along, I dare be bold
	With our discourse to make your grace to smile.
	What think you of this page, my lord?	170

VALENTINE	Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
	That you will wonder what hath fortuned.	175
	Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance but to hear
	The story of your loves discovered:
	That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
	One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
	[Exeunt]