The Two Gentlemen of Verona

 

ACT IV SCENE III	The same.
[Enter EGLAMOUR]
EGLAMOUR	This is the hour that Madam Silvia
	Entreated me to call and know her mind:
	There’s some great matter she’ld employ me in.
	Madam, madam!
[Enter SILVIA above]
SILVIA	Who calls?	5
EGLAMOUR	Your servant and your friend;
	One that attends your ladyship’s command.
SILVIA	Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow.
EGLAMOUR	As many, worthy lady, to yourself:
	According to your ladyship’s impose,	10
	I am thus early come to know what service
	It is your pleasure to command me in.
SILVIA	O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman–
	Think not I flatter, for I swear I do not–
	Valiant, wise, remorseful, well accomplish’d:	15
	Thou art not ignorant what dear good will
	I bear unto the banish’d Valentine,
	Nor how my father would enforce me marry
	Vain Thurio, whom my very soul abhors.
	Thyself hast loved; and I have heard thee say	20
	No grief did ever come so near thy heart
	As when thy lady and thy true love died,
	Upon whose grave thou vow’dst pure chastity.
	Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,
	To Mantua, where I hear he makes abode;	25
	And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
	I do desire thy worthy company,
	Upon whose faith and honour I repose.
	Urge not my father’s anger, Eglamour,
	But think upon my grief, a lady’s grief,	30
	And on the justice of my flying hence,
	To keep me from a most unholy match,
	Which heaven and fortune still rewards with plagues.
	I do desire thee, even from a heart
	As full of sorrows as the sea of sands,	35
	To bear me company and go with me:
	If not, to hide what I have said to thee,
	That I may venture to depart alone.
EGLAMOUR	Madam, I pity much your grievances;
	Which since I know they virtuously are placed,	40
	I give consent to go along with you,
	Recking as little what betideth me
	As much I wish all good befortune you.
	When will you go?
SILVIA	This evening coming.	45
EGLAMOUR	Where shall I meet you?
SILVIA	At Friar Patrick’s cell,
	Where I intend holy confession.
EGLAMOUR	I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow, gentle lady.
SILVIA	Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour.	50
[Exeunt severally]

Next: The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 4, Scene 4
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Explanatory notes for Act 4, Scene 3
From The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Ed. Israel Gollancz. New York: University Society.

21. thou vow’dst pure chastity:– It was common in former ages for widowers and widows to make vows of chastity in honour of their deceased wives or husbands, and sometimes, perhaps, of those only betrothed, as Sir Eglamour probably was.

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How to cite the explanatory notes:
Shakespeare, William. The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Ed. Israel Gollancz. New York: University Society, 1901.