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

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Scene IIMilan. Outside the Duke’s palace, under Silvia’s chamberEnter ProteusProteusAlready have I been false to Valentine And now I must be as unjust to Thurio. Under the colour of commending him, I have access my own love to prefer: But Silvia 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, 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, 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.Enter Thurio and MusiciansThurioHow now, Sir Proteus, are you crept before us?ProteusAy, gentle Thurio: for you know that love Will creep in service where it cannot go.ThurioAy, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.ProteusSir, but I do; or else I would be hence.ThurioWho? Silvia?ProteusAy, Silvia; for your sake.ThurioI thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen, Let’s tune, and to it lustily awhile.Enter, at a distance, Host, and Julia in boy’s clothesHostNow, my young guest, methinks you’re allycholly: I pray you, why is it?JuliaMarry, mine host, because I cannot be merry.HostCome, we’ll have you merry: I’ll bring you where you shall hear music and see the gentleman that you asked for.JuliaBut shall I hear him speak?HostAy, that you shall.JuliaThat will be music.Music playsHostHark, hark!JuliaIs he among these?HostAy: but, peace! let’s hear ’em.Song.Who is Silvia? what is she, That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair and wise is she; The heaven such grace did lend her, That she might admired 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, And, being help’d, inhabits there. Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortal thing Upon the dull earth dwelling: To her let us garlands bring.HostHow now! are you sadder than you were before? How do you, man? the music likes you not.JuliaYou mistake; the musician likes me not.HostWhy, my pretty youth?JuliaHe plays false, father.HostHow? out of tune on the strings?JuliaNot so; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart-strings.HostYou have a quick ear.JuliaAy, I would I were deaf; it makes me have a slow heart.HostI perceive you delight not in music.JuliaNot a whit, when it jars so.HostHark, what fine change is in the music!JuliaAy, that change is the spite.HostYou would have them always play but one thing?JuliaI would always have one play but one thing. But, host, doth this Sir Proteus that we talk on Often resort unto this gentlewoman?HostI tell you what Launce, his man, told me: he loved her out of all nick.JuliaWhere is Launce?HostGone to seek his dog; which tomorrow, by his master’s command, he must carry for a present to his lady.JuliaPeace! stand aside: the company parts.ProteusSir Thurio, fear not you: I will so plead That you shall say my cunning drift excels.ThurioWhere meet we?ProteusAt Saint Gregory’s well.ThurioFarewell.Exeunt Thurio and MusiciansEnter Silvia aboveProteusMadam, good even to your ladyship.SilviaI thank you for your music, gentlemen. Who is that that spake?ProteusOne, lady, if you knew his pure heart’s truth, You would quickly learn to know him by his voice.SilviaSir Proteus, as I take it.ProteusSir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.SilviaWhat’s your will?ProteusThat I may compass yours.SilviaYou have your wish; my will is even this: 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 seduced by thy flattery, That hast deceived so many with thy vows? 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 Even for this time I spend in talking to thee.ProteusI grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady; But she is dead.JuliaAside’Twere false, if I should speak it; For I am sure she is not buried.SilviaSay that she be; yet Valentine thy friend Survives; to whom, thyself art witness, I am betroth’d: and art thou not ashamed To wrong him with thy importunacy?ProteusI likewise hear that Valentine is dead.SilviaAnd so suppose am I; for in his grave Assure thyself my love is buried.ProteusSweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.SilviaGo to thy lady’s grave and call hers thence, Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine.JuliaAsideHe heard not that.ProteusMadam, 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: 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.JuliaAsideIf ’twere a substance, you would, sure, deceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am.SilviaI 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.ProteusAs wretches have o’ernight That wait for execution in the morn.Exeunt Proteus and Silvia severallyJuliaHost, will you go?HostBy my halidom, I was fast asleep.JuliaPray you, where lies Sir Proteus?HostMarry, at my house. Trust me, I think ’tis almost day.JuliaNot so; but it hath been the longest night That e’er I watch’d and the most heaviest.Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act IV

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

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

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

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  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales