The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: C6r - Comedies, p. 35

Left Column


The two Gentlemen of Uerona.

not I bid thee still marke me, and doe as I do; when did'st

thou see me heaue vp my leg, and make water against a

Gentlewomans farthingale? did'st thou euer see me doe

such a tricke?

Pro.
[1820]
Sebastian is thy name: I like thee well, And will imploy thee in some seruice presently.
Iu.

In what you please; ile doe what I can.

Pro. I hope thou wilt. How now you whor‑son pezant.
[1825]
Where haue you bin these two dayes loytering?
La.

Marry Sir, I carried Mistris Siluia the dogge you

bad me.

Pro.

And what saies she to my little Iewell?

La.

Marry she saies your dog was a cur, and tels you

[1830]

currish thanks is good enough for such a present.

Pro.

But she receiu'd my dog?

La. No indeede did she not: Here haue I brought him backe againe. Pro.

What, didst thou offer her this from me?

La.
[1835]
I Sir, the other Squirrill was stolne from me By the Hangmans boys in the market place, And then I offer'd her mine owne, who is a dog As big as ten of yours, and therefore the guift the greater.
Pro. Goe, get thee hence, and finde my dog againe,
[1840]
Or nere returne againe into my sight. Away, I say: stayest thou to vexe me here; A Slaue, that still an end, turnes me to shame: Sebastian, I have entertained thee, Partly that I haue neede of such a youth
[1845]
That can with some discretion doe my businesse: For 'tis no trusting to yond foolish Lowt, But chiefely, for thy face, and thy behauiour, Which (if my Augury deceiue me not) Witness good bringing vp, fortune, and truth:
[1850]
Therefore know thee, for this I entertaine thee. Go presently, and take this Ring with thee, Deliuer it to Madam Siluia; She lou'd me well, deliuer'd it to me.
Iul. It seemes you lou'd not her, to leaue her token:
[1855]
She is dead belike?
Pro.

Not so: I thinke she liues.

Iul.

Alas.

Pro.

Why do'st thou cry alas?

Iul.

I cannot choose but pitty her.

Pro.
[1860]

Wherefore should'st thou pitty her?

Iul. Because, me thinkes that she lou'd you as well As you doe loue your Lady Siluia: She dreames on him, that has forgot her loue, You doate on her, that cares not for your loue.
[1865]
'Tis pitty Loue, should be so contrary; And thinking on it makes me cry alas.
Pro. Well: giue her that Ring, and therewithall This Letter: that's her chamber: Tell my Lady I claime the promise for her heauenly Picture:
[1870]
Your message done, hye home vnto my chamber, Where thou shalt finde me sad, and solitarie.
Iul. How many women would doe such a message? Alas poore Protheus, thou hast entertain'd A Foxe to be the Shepheard of thy Lambs;
[1875]
Alas, poore foole, why doe I pitty him That with his very heart despiseth me? Because he loues her, he despiseth me; Because I loue him, I must pitty him. This Ring I gaue him, when he parted from me,
[1880]
To binde him to remember my good will: And now am I (vnhappy Messenger)

Right Column


To plead for that, which I would not obtaine; To carry that, which I would have refus'd; To praise his faith, which I would have disprais'd.
[1885]
I am my Masters true confirmed Loue, But cannot be true seruant to my Master, Vnless I proue false traitor to my selfe. Yet will I woe for him, but yet so coldly As (heauen it knowes) I would not have him speed.
[1890]
Gentlewoman, good day: I pray you be my meane To bring me where to speake with Madam Siluia.
Sil.

What would you with her, if that I be she?

Iul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience To heare me speake the message I am sent on. Sil.
[1895]

From whom?

Iul.

From my Master, Sir Protheus, Madam.

Sil.

Oh: he sends you for a Picture?

Iul.

I, Madam.

Sil. Vrsula, bring my Picture there,
[1900]
Goe, giue your Master this: tell him from me, One Iulia, that his changing thoughts forget Would better fit his Chamber, then this Shadow.
Iul. Madam, please you peruse this Letter; Pardon me (Madam) I have vnaduis'd
[1905]
Deliuer'd you a paper that I should not; This is the Letter to your Ladiship.
Sil.

I pray thee let me looke on that againe.

Iul.

It may not be: good Madam pardon me.

Sil. There, hold:
[1910]
I will not looke vpon your Masters lines: I know they are stuft with protestations, And full of new‑found oaths, which he will breake As easily as I doe teare his paper.
Iul.

Madam, he sends your Ladiship this Ring.

Sil.
[1915]
The more shame for him, that he sends it me; For I haue heard him say a thousand times His Iulia gave it him, at his departure: Though his false finger have prophan'd the Ring, Mine shall not doe his Iulia so much wrong.
Iul.
[1920]

She thankes you.

Sil.

What sai'st thou?

Iul. I thank you Madam, that you tender her: Poor Gentlewoman, my Master wrongs her much. Sil.

Do'st thou know her?

Iul.
[1925]
Almost as well as I doe know my selfe. To thinke vpon her woes, I doe protest That I haue wept a hundred severall times.
Sil.

Belike she thinks that Protheus hath forsook her?

Iul.

I thinke she doth: and that's her cause of sorrow.

Sil.
[1930]

Is she not passing faire?

Iul. She hath been fairer (Madam) than she is, When she did thinke my Master lou'd her well; She, in my iudgement, was as faire as you. But since she did neglect her looking‑glasse
[1935]
And threw her Sun‑expelling Masque away, The ayre hath staru'd the roses in her cheekes, And pinch'd the lilly‑tincture of her face, That now she is become as blacke as I.
Sil.

How tall was she?

Iul.
[1940]
About my stature: for at Pentecost, When all our Pageants of delight were plaid, Our youth got me to play the womans part, And I was trim'd in Madam Iulias gowne, Which serued me as fit, by all mens iudgements,
[1945]
As if the garment had bin made for me: Therefore I know she is about my height, And at that time I made her weepe a good, For

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