The Two Gentlemen of Verona
ACT V 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. | 5 |
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. | 10 |
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; | 15 | |
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. | 20 |
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. | 25 |
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. | 30 |
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. | 35 |
PROTEUS | Nor I. | |
DUKE | Saw you my daughter? | |
PROTEUS | Neither. | |
DUKE | Why then, | |
She’s fled unto that peasant Valentine; | 40 | |
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; | 45 | |
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 | 50 | |
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. | 55 | |
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 | 60 |
Than hate for Silvia that is gone for love. | ||
[Exit] |
Next: The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 5, Scene 3
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Explanatory notes for Act 5, Scene 2
From The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Ed. Israel Gollancz. New York: University Society.
7. But love, etc.: – In the Folios this speech is given to Proteus, and the next speech of Julia to Thurio. Boswell corrected the first, and Rowe the other.
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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.