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Scene VIIVerona. Julia’s houseEnter Julia and LucettaJuliaCounsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me; And even in kind love I do conjure thee, Who art the table wherein all my thoughts Are visibly character’d and engraved, To lesson me and tell me some good mean How, with my honour, I may undertake A journey to my loving Proteus.LucettaAlas, the way is wearisome and long!JuliaA true-devoted pilgrim is not weary To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; Much less shall she that hath Love’s wings to fly, And when the flight is made to one so dear, Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus.LucettaBetter forbear till Proteus make return.JuliaO, know’st thou not his looks are my soul’s food? Pity the dearth that I have pined in, By longing for that food so long a time. Didst thou but know the inly touch of love, Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow As seek to quench the fire of love with words.LucettaI do not seek to quench your love’s hot fire, But qualify the fire’s extreme rage, Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.JuliaThe more thou damm’st it up, the more it burns. The current that with gentle murmur glides, Thou know’st, being stopp’d, impatiently doth rage; But when his fair course is not hindered, He makes sweet music with the enamell’ed stones, Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge He overtaketh in his pilgrimage, And so by many winding nooks he strays With willing sport to the wild ocean. Then let me go and hinder not my course I’ll be as patient as a gentle stream And make a pastime of each weary step, Till the last step have brought me to my love; And there I’ll rest, as after much turmoil A blessed soul doth in Elysium.LucettaBut in what habit will you go along?JuliaNot like a woman; for I would prevent The loose encounters of lascivious men: Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds As may beseem some well-reputed page.LucettaWhy, then, your ladyship must cut your hair.JuliaNo, girl, I’ll knit it up in silken strings With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots. To be fantastic may become a youth Of greater time than I shall show to be.LucettaWhat fashion, madam shall I make your breeches?JuliaThat fits as well as ‘Tell me, good my lord, What compass will you wear your farthingale?’ Why even what fashion thou best likest, Lucetta.LucettaYou must needs have them with a codpiece, madam.JuliaOut, out, Lucetta! that would be ill-favour’d.LucettaA round hose, madam, now’s not worth a pin, Unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on.JuliaLucetta, as thou lovest me, let me have What thou thinkest meet and is most mannerly. But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me For undertaking so unstaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me scandalized.LucettaIf you think so, then stay at home and go not.JuliaNay, that I will not.LucettaThen never dream on infamy, but go. If Proteus like your journey when you come, No matter who’s displeased when you are gone: I fear me, he will scarce be pleased withal.JuliaThat is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears And instances of infinite of love Warrant me welcome to my Proteus.LucettaAll these are servants to deceitful men.JuliaBase men, that use them to so base effect! But truer stars did govern Proteus’ birth His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles, His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate, His tears pure messengers sent from his heart, His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth.LucettaPray heaven he prove so, when you come to him!JuliaNow, as thou lovest me, do him not that wrong To bear a hard opinion of his truth: Only deserve my love by loving him; And presently go with me to my chamber, To take a note of what I stand in need of, To furnish me upon my longing journey. All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, My goods, my lands, my reputation; Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence. Come, answer not, but to it presently! I am impatient of my tarriance.Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act II

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William Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, Scene II

  • William Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, Scene II

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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Current Events This Week: January 2023

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

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  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
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  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales