The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare (ebook reader with built in dictionary .txt) 📕

resolved that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor’s court:
What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
To-morrow 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

Look, what thou want’st shall be sent after thee:
No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.
Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ’d
To hasten on his expedition. Exeunt Antonio and Panthino.

Proteus

Thus have I shunn’d the fire for fear of burning,
And drench’d me in the sea, where I am drown’d.
I fear’d 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.
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!

Re-enter Panthino. Panthino

Sir Proteus, your father calls for you:
He is in haste; therefore, I pray you to go.

Proteus

Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto,
And yet a thousand times it answers “no.” Exeunt.

Act II Scene I

Milan. The Duke’s palace.

Enter Valentine and Speed. Speed Sir, your glove. Valentine Not mine; my gloves are on. Speed Why, then, this may be yours, for this is but one. Valentine

Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it’s mine:
Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine!
Ah, Silvia, Silvia!

Speed Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia! Valentine How now, sirrah? Speed She is not within hearing, sir. Valentine Why, sir, who bade you call her? Speed Your worship, sir; or else I mistook. Valentine Well, you’ll still be too forward. Speed And yet I was last chidden for being too slow. Valentine Go to, sir: tell me, do you know Madam Silvia? Speed She that your worship loves? Valentine Why, how know you that I am in love? Speed Marry, by these special marks: first, you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreathe your arms, like a malecontent; to relish a love-song, like a robin-redbreast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy that had lost his A.B.C.; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money: and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master. Valentine Are all these things perceived in me? Speed They are all perceived without ye. Valentine Without me? they cannot. Speed Without you? nay, that’s certain, for, without you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within you and shine through you like the water in an urinal, that not an eye that sees you but is a physician to comment on your malady. Valentine But tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia? Speed She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper? Valentine Hast thou observed that? even she, I mean. Speed Why, sir, I know her not. Valentine Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet knowest her not? Speed Is she not hard-favoured, sir? Valentine Not so fair, boy, as well-favoured. Speed Sir, I know that well enough. Valentine What dost thou know? Speed That she is not so fair as, of you, well favoured. Valentine I mean that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour infinite. Speed That’s because the one is painted and the other out of all count. Valentine How painted? and how out of count? Speed Marry, sir, so painted, to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty. Valentine How esteemest thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed You never saw her since she was deformed. Valentine How long hath she been deformed? Speed Ever since you loved her. Valentine I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still I see her beautiful. Speed If you love her, you cannot see her. Valentine Why? Speed Because Love is blind. O, that you had mine eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered! Valentine What should I see then? Speed Your own present folly and her passing deformity: for he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose, and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose. Valentine Belike, boy, then, you are in love; for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed True, sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Valentine In conclusion, I stand affected to her. Speed I would you were set, so your affection would cease. Valentine Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves. Speed And have you? Valentine I have. Speed Are they not lamely writ? Valentine No, boy, but as well as I can do them. Peace! here she comes. Speed Aside. O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet! Now will he interpret to her. Enter Silvia. Valentine Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows. Speed Aside. O, give ye good even! here’s a million of manners. Silvia Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. Speed Aside. He should give her interest, and she gives it him. Valentine

As you enjoin’d me, I have writ your letter
Unto the secret nameless friend of yours;
Which I was much unwilling to proceed in
But for my duty to your ladyship.

Silvia I thank you gentle servant: ’tis very clerkly done. Valentine

Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off;
For being ignorant to whom it goes
I writ at random, very doubtfully.

Silvia Perchance you think too much