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.