The Two Gentlemen of Verona, William Shakespeare [the speed reading book TXT] 📗

this shadow up,
For ’tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp’d, kiss’d, loved and adored!
And, were there sense in his idolatry,
My substance should be statue in thy stead.
I’ll use thee kindly for thy mistress’ sake,
That used me so; or else, by Jove I vow,
I should have scratch’d out your unseeing eyes,
To make my master out of love with thee! Exit. Act V Scene I

Milan. An abbey.

Enter Eglamour. Eglamour

The sun begins to gild the western sky;
And now it is about the very hour
That Silvia, at Friar Patrick’s cell, should meet me.
She will not fail, for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time;
So much they spur their expedition.
See where she comes.

Enter Silvia. Lady, a happy evening! Silvia

Amen, amen! Go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern by the abbey-wall:
I fear I am attended by some spies.

Eglamour

Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off;
If we recover that, we are sure enough. Exeunt.

Scene II

The same. The Duke’s palace.

Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia. Thurio Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit? Proteus

O, sir, I find her milder than she was;
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.

Thurio What, that my leg is too long? Proteus No; that it is too little. Thurio I’ll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder. Julia Aside. But love will not be spurr’d to what it loathes. Thurio What says she to my face? Proteus She says it is a fair one. Thurio Nay then, the wanton lies; my face is black. Proteus

But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies’ eyes.

Julia

Aside. ’Tis true; such pearls as put out ladies’ eyes;
For I had rather wink than look on them.

Thurio How likes she my discourse? Proteus Ill, when you talk of war. Thurio But well, when I discourse of love and peace? Julia Aside. But better, indeed, when you hold your peace. Thurio What says she to my valour? Proteus O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. Julia Aside. She needs not, when she knows it cowardice. Thurio What says she to my birth? Proteus That you are well derived. Julia Aside. True; from a gentleman to a fool. Thurio Considers she my possessions? Proteus O, ay; and pities them. Thurio Wherefore? Julia Aside. That such an ass should owe them. Proteus That they are out by lease. Julia Here comes the duke. Enter Duke. Duke

How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio!
Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?

Thurio Not I. Proteus Nor I. Duke Saw you my daughter? Proteus Neither. Duke

Why then,
She’s fled unto that peasant Valentine;
And Eglamour is in her company.
’Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander’d through the forest;
Him he knew well, and guess’d that it was she,
But, being mask’d, he was not sure of it;
Besides, she did intend confession
At Patrick’s cell this even; and there she was not;
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain-foot
That leads towards Mantua, whither they are fled:
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. Exit.

Thurio

Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her.
I’ll after, more to be revenged on Eglamour
Than for the love of reckless Silvia. Exit.

Proteus

And I will follow, more for Silvia’s love
Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. Exit.

Julia

And I will follow, more to cross that love
Than hate for Silvia that is gone for love. Exit.

Scene III

The frontiers of Mantua. The forest.

Enter Outlaws with Silvia. First Outlaw

Come, come,
Be patient; we must bring you to our captain.

Silvia

A thousand more mischances than this one
Have learn’d me how to brook this patiently.

Second Outlaw Come, bring her away. First Outlaw Where is the gentleman that was with her? Third Outlaw

Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us,
But Moyses and Valerius follow him.
Go thou with her to the west end of the wood;
There is our captain: we’ll follow him that’s fled;
The thicket is beset; he cannot ’scape.

First Outlaw

Come, I must bring you to our captain’s cave:
Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.

Silvia O Valentine, this I endure for thee! Exeunt. Scene IV

Another part of the forest.

Enter Valentine. Valentine

How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
And to the nightingale’s complaining notes
Tune my distresses and record my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall
And leave no memory of what it was!
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain!
What halloing and what stir is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have some unhappy passenger in chase.
They love me well; yet I have much to do
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine: who’s this comes here?

Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia. Proteus

Madam, this service I have done for you,
Though you respect not aught your servant doth,
To hazard life and rescue you from him
That would have forced your honour and your love;
Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.

Valentine

Aside. How like a dream is this I see and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

Silvia O miserable, unhappy that I am! Proteus

Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
But by my coming I have made you happy.

Silvia By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy. Julia Aside. And me, when he approacheth to your presence. Silvia

Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to