THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, ACT I. SCENE I. Verona. An open place. Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus: 5 But since thou lovest, love still, and thrive therein, Even as I would, when I to love begin. 10 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 dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine. Val. And on a love-book pray for my success? Pro. Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee. 8. with] in Capell. 19. my] F thy F2F3F4. 15 20 Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love: How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love; For he was more than over shoes in love. Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swum the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. Pro. What? Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; 25 Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth 30 If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; 35 Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And he that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love 40 Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud 45 Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud, Losing his verdure even in the prime, 50 But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee, Thou art a votary to fond desire? 21-28. Put in the margin as spu rious by Pope. 25. for] but Collier MS. 28. thee] om. S. Walker conj. See note (II). 30. fading] om. Hanmer. 48. blasting] blasted Collier MS. Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. And I likewise will visit thee with mine. Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell. [Exit. Enter SPEED. 65 Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master? 70 And I have play'd the sheep in losing him. Pro. Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be awhile away. 75 Speed. You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Speed. This proves me still a sheep. Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Pro. It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another. 57. To] Fr. At F2F3F4. Milan!-let me hear Malone conj. 65. leave] Pope. love Ff. 69. Made] Make Johnson conj. Το 70. SCENE II. Pope. Pope. 77. a] F2F3F4. om. Fr. 80 85 |