THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THE opinions of commentators are divided upon this play. Hanmer supposes that some particular speeches ars Shakspeare's Upton, that he had no hand in its production: Theobald considers it one of his worst pieces: Pope decides that the style is more natural and unaffected than our poet's usually was: and Johnson deciares that both in the serious and ludicrous scenes, the language and sentiments are Shakspeare's; and that few of his plays have more lines or passages, which, singly considered, are eminently beautiful. One thing, bowever, appears certain---that this drama was one of his earliest efforts; that it was not very favourably received; and that, being seldom exhibited, it escaped the corruptions and interpolations, to which his mere popular performances were subjected. The incidents of the play have not been assigned to any definite 1 source; though it is not improbable that The Arcadia, and the common romances so much in vogue at that period, might have suggested some of them. Dr. Johnson says, that it evinces "a strange mixture of knowledge and ignorance, of care and negligence ;" and that "the versification is often excellent---the allusions, learned and just.” SCENE-sometimes in Verona, sometimes in Milan, and on the Frontiers of Mantua. | If ever danger do environ thee, Val. And on a love-book pray for my success. Val. That's on some shallow story of deep How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont. love; And yet you never swam the Hellespont. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the Val. No, I'll not, for it boots thee not. Val. To be In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, A humorous punishment at harvest-home feasts, ke. With heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth, With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear, you'll prove. Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And be that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Val. Yet writers say, As the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Once more adieu: my father at the road Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. Of Milan, let us hear from thee by letters, At thy success in love, and what news else Betideth here in absence of thy friend: And I likewise will visit thee with mine. Pro. All happiness bechance to Milan ! thee in Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia ? Speed. Ay, Sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, Sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound, a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. Pro. But what said she? did she nod ? Speed. I. [SPEED nods. Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy. † Speed. You mistook, Sir; I say she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod, and I say, I. Pro. And that set together, is-noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. Pro. No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Well, I perceive, I must be faiu to bear with you. Pro. Why, Sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, Sir, the letter very orderly; having nothing but the word, noddy for my pains. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief; What said she? Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once deliver'd. Val. As much to you at home! and so farc-purse. well. [Exit VALENTINE. Pro. He after bonour hunts, I after love : He leaves his friends, to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, set the world War with good counsel, nought! at Made wit with musing weak, beart sick with thought. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Pro. Well, Sir, here is for your pains: What said she? Speed. Truly, Sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Could'st thou perceive so much from her? Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: And being so hard to ine that brought your mind, I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testeru'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, Sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro, Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck : Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by SCENE II.~The same. another. Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not thy sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me; therefore, I am no sheep. Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore, thou art a sheep. house. [Exeunt. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. A term for a girl of pleasure: Mutton-lane, Clerkenwell, is so called from being frequented A game at cards. 1 Given ine a sixpence. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry such persons. baa. Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love? When Inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile! Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll What ho! Lucetta! show my mind According to my shallow simple skill. Just. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour ? Laic. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; But, were you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Jul. Will you be gone? Lue. That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter. It were a shame to call her back again, Ay. Re-enter LUCETTA., Lue. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? That you might kill your stomach on your meat, And not upon your maid. Jul. What is't you took up So gingerly? Luc. Nothing. Jul. Why did'st thou stoop then! Luc. To take a paper up that I det fall. Luc. Nothing concerning me. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it con Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. H Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd [Erit. To be so anger'd with another letter. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words for I'll kiss each several paper for amends. 1 throw thy name against the bruising stones heal'd ; And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. But twice, or thrice, was Proteus written down? • Passion or obstinacy. The tenor in music A matchmaker. Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your fa- Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn: ther stays. T Jul. Well, let us go. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tales here ?. Jul. If you respect them, best to take up Oh that our fathers would applaud our loves To seal our happiness with their consents! tell-O heavenly Julia! them Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. Jul. I see, you have a month's mind to them. Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in ANTONIO'S House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your Ant. Why, what of him? Pan. He wonder'd, that your lordship He said, that Proteus, your son, was meet; age, In having known no travel in his youth. Whereon this month I have been hammering. And perfected by the swift course of time : Pan. I think your lordship is not ignorant, How his companion, youthful Valentine, Attends the emperor in his royal court. Ant. How now what letter are you reading there ? Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation sent from Valentine, Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes 1 L How happily he lives, how well belov'd," Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed; Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go. [Exeunt ANT, and PAN. Pro. Thus have I shunu'd the fire, for fear of to; And yet a thousand times it answers, no. ACT II. [Exeunt, SCENE I-Milan. An Apartment in the DUKE'S Palace. Enter VALENTINE and SPEED. " Speed. Sir, your glove. Val. Go to, Sir; tell me, do you know madam Silvia ? Speed. She that your worship loves? Val. What should I see then? Speed. Your own present folly, and ber passing deformity: for be, being in love, could not see to garter bis hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your bose. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, Sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Val. In conclusion I stand affected to her. Speed. I would you were set: so, your affection would cease. Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves. Speed. And have you? Val. I have. Speed. Are they not lamely writ Val. No, boy, but as well I can do them >— Peace, here she comes. Enter SILVIA. Val. Why how know you that I am in love? Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a male-content: to relish a lovesong, like a robin-red-breast; to walk alone like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school boy that had lost his A, B, C ; to weep, Speed. O excellent motion!+ O exceeding like a young wench that nad buried her gran-puppet! now will he interpret to her. dam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good. watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puil-morrows. ing like a beggar at Hallowmas. + You were Speed. O'give you good even! Here's a wont, when you laugh'd, to crow like a cock; million of manners. {d side. when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; thousand. when you looked sadly, it was for want of money and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master. Val. Are all these things perceiv'd in me? Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain, for, without you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal; that not an eye, that sees you, but is a physician to comment on your malady. Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia ? Speed. She, that you gaze on so, as she sits at supper? Val. Hast thou observ'd that? even she I mean. Speed. Why, Sir, I know her not. Specd. He should give her interest; and she gives it him. Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your Unto the secret nameless friend of your's; Sit. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly Val. No, madam; so it stead you, I will write, Please you command, a thousand times as much : And yet, Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; And yet will not name it :-and yet I care not; Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on And yet take this again;-and yet I thank you; her, and yet know'st her not. Speed. Is she not hard favoured Sir? Val. Not so fair, boy, as well favoured. Speed. Sir, I know that well enough. Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favoured. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but ber favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count. Val. How painted? and how out of count? Speed. Marry, Sir, so painted, to make her fair that no man counts of her beauty. Val. How esteem'st thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed. Val. How long hath she been deformed? Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still I see her beautiful. Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her. Speed. Because love is blind. O that you had mine eyes; or your own hand the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered! Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more. Speed. And yet you will; and yet another [Aside. yet. Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it? |