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THE TWO.

GENTLEMEN

OF

VERO N A.

JEFE

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Anthonio, Father to Protheus.

Thurio, a foolish Rival to Valentine.
Eglamore, Agent for Silvia in her Escape.
Hoft, where Julia lodges in Milan.
Out-laws.

Speed, a clownish Servant to Valentine.

Launce, the like to Protheus.

Panthion, Servant to Anthonio.

Julia, a Lady of Verona, beloved of Protheus.

Silvia, the Duke of Milan's Daughter belov'd of Valentine Lucetta, Waiting-woman to Julia.

Servants, Muficians.

The SCENE, fometimes in Verona; fometimes in Milan; and on the Frontiers of Mantua.

THE

THE

TWO GENTLEMEN

O F

(1) VERONA.

A C T I.

SCENE, an open Place in Verona.
Enter Valentine and Protheus.

C

VALENTINE.

EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus;
Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits;
Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days

To the fweet glances of thy honour'd love,
I rather would intreat thy company,
To fee the wonders of the world abroad;
Than (living dully fluggardiz'd at home)

I

(1) Mr. Pope has obferv'd, that the ftile of this Comedy is lefs figurative, and more natural and unaffected, than the greater part of Our Author's plays, tho' fuppos'd to be one of the first he wrote. muft obferve, too, that as I take it to be one of his very worst, it happens to be freeft from accidental corruptions of the Editors: which is the reafon, that my notes are fewer on this; than on any one of his other pieces.

H4

Wear

Wear out thy youth with fhapelefs idleness.
But fince thou lov't, love still, and thrive there in;
Ev'n as I would, when I to love begin.

Pro. Wilt thou be gone? fweet Valentine, adieu;
Think on thy Pretheus, when thou, haply, feeft
Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel:
With me partaker in thy happiness,

When thou doft meet good hap; and in thy danger,
If ever danger do environ thee,

Commend thy grievance to my holy prayer;
For I will be thy bead's-man, Valentine.
Val. And on a love-book pray for my
fuccefs?
Pro. Upon fome book I love, I'll pray for thee.
Val. That's on fome fhallow ftory of deep love,
How young Leander crofs'd the Hellefpont.

Pro. That's a deep ftory of a deeper love;
For he was more than over fhoes in love.

Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never fwom the Hellefpont.

Pro. Over the boots: nay, give me not the boots. (2) Val. No, I will not; for it boots thee not.

Pro. What?

Val. To be in love, where fcorn is bought with groans: Coy looks, with heart-fore fighs; one fading moment's mirth,

With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights.
If haply won, perhaps, an hapless gain :
If loft, why then a grievous labour won;
However, but a folly bought with wit;
Or elfe a wit by folly vanquished.

Pro. So, by your circumftance, you call me fool.
Val. So, by your circumftance, I fear, you'll prove.
Pro 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not love.
Val. Love is your mafter; for he masters you.
And he that is fo yoaked by a fool,

(2) nay, give me not the boots.] A proverbial expreffion, tho' now difus'd, fignifying, don't make a laughing stock of me; don't play The French have a phrafe, Bailler foin en corne; which Cosgrave thus interprets, To give one the bouts; to fell him a bargain.

upon me.

Methinks,

Methinks, fhould not be chronicled for wife.
Pro. Yet writers fay, as in the fweetest bud
The eating canker dwells; fo eating love.
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

Val. And writers fay, as the most forward bud
Is eaten by the canker, ere it blow;

Even fo by love the young and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly, blafting in the bud;
Lofing his verdure even in the prime,
And all the fair effects of future hopes.
But wherefore wafte I time to counsel thee,
That art a votary to fond defire?

Once more, adieu: my father at the road
Expects my coming, there to fee me fhipp'd.
Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.
Val: Sweet Protheus, no: now let us take our leave.
At Milan, let me hear from thee by letters
Of thy fuccefs in love; and what news elfe
Betideth here in abfence of thy friend:
And I likewife will vifit thee with mine.
Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
Val. As much to you at home; and fo farewel! [Exit..
Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love;
He leaves his friends to dignify them more;
I leave myself, my friends, and all for love.
Thou, Julia, thou haft metamorphos'd me;
neglect my ftudies, lofe my time,
War with good counfel, fet the world at nought;
Made wit with mufing weak ;. heart fick with thought..

Made me

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Enter Speed.

Speed. Sir Protheus, fave you; faw you my master? Pro. But now he parted hence, t'embark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one then he is fhipp'd already, And I have play'd the sheep in lofing him.

Pro. Indeed, a fheep doth very often stray, An if the fhepherd be awhile away.

Speed. You conclude that my mafter is a fhepherd then, and I a fheep.

Pro. I do.

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