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.