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: C4v - Comedies, p. 32

Left Column


The two Gentlemen of Uerona. Pro. And that (my Lord) I shall be loath to doe: 'Tis an ill office for a Gentleman,
[1455]
Especially against his very friend. Du. Where your good word cannot aduantage him, Your slander neuer can endamage him; Therefore the office is indifferent, Being entreated to it by your friend. Pro.
[1460]
You haue preuail'd (my Lord) if I can doe it By ought that I can speake in his dispraise, She shall not long continue loue to him: But say this weede her loue from Valentine, It followes not that she will loue sir Thurio. Th.
[1465]
Therefore, as you vnwind her loue from him; Least it should rauell, and be good to none, You must prouide to bottome it on me: Which must be done, by praising me as much As you, in worth dispraise, sir Ualentine. Du.
[1470]
And Protheus, we dare trust you in this kinde, Because we know (on Valentines report) You are already Loues firme votary, And cannot soone reuolt, and change your minde. Vpon this warrant, shall you haue accesse
[1475]
Where you, with Siluia, may conferre at large. For she is lumpish, heauy, mellancholly, And (for your friends sake) will be glad of you; Where you may temper her, by your perswasion, To hate yong Ualentine, and loue my friend. Pro.
[1480]
As much as I can doe, I will effect: But you sir Thurio, are not sharpe enough: You must lay Lime, to tangle her desires By walefull Sonnets, whose composed Rimes Should be full fraught with seruiceable vowes. Du.
[1485]

I, much is the force of heauen‑bred Poesie.

 Pro. Say that vpon the altar of her beauty You sacrifice your teares, your sighes, your heart: Write till your inke be dry; and with your teares Moist it againe, and frame some feeling line,
[1490]
That may discouer such integrity: For Orpheus Lute, was strung with Poets sinewes, Whose golden touch could soften steele and stones, Make Tygers tame, and huge Leuiathans Forsake vnsounded deepes, to dance on Sands.
[1495]
After your dire‑lamenting Elegies, Visit by night your Ladies chamber‑window With some sweet Consort; To their Instruments Tune a deploring dumpe: the nights dead silence Will well become such sweet complaining grieuance:
[1500]
This, or else nothing, will inherit her. Du.

This discipline, showes thou hast bin in loue.

 Th. And thy aduice, this night, ile put in practice: Therefore, sweet Protheus, my direction‑giuer, Let vs into the City presently
[1505]
To sort some Gentlemen, well skil'd in Musicke. I haue a Sonnet, that will serue the turne To giue the on‑set to thy good aduice. Du.

About it Gentlemen.

 Pro. We'll wait vpon your Grace, till after Supper,
[1510]
And afterward determine our proceedings. Du. Euen now about it, I will pardon you. Exeunt.
Actus Quartus. Scœna Prima. [Act 4, Scene 1] Enter Valentine, Speed, and certain Out‑lawes. 1. Out‑l.

Fellowes, stand fast: I see a passenger.

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2. Out.

If there be ten, shrinke not, but down with 'em.

 3. Out. Stand sir, and throw vs that you haue about'ye.
[1515]
If not: we'll make you sit, and rifle you. Sp. Sir we are vndone; these are the Villaines That all the Trauailers doe feare so much. Ual.

My friends.

 1. Out.

That's not so, sir: we are your enemies.

 2. Out.
[1520]

Peace: we'll heare him.

 3. Out.

I by my beard will we: for he is a proper man.

 Val. Then know that I haue little wealth to loose; A man I am, cross'd with aduersitie; My riches, are these poore habiliments,
[1525]
Of which, if you should here disfurnish me, You take the sum and substance that I haue. 2. Out.

Whither trauell you?

 Val.

To Verona.

1. Out.

Whence came you?

 Val.
[1530]

From Millaine.

3. Out.

Haue you long soiourn'd there?

 Val. Some sixteene moneths, and longer might haue (staid, If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. 1. Out.

What, were you banish'd thence?

 Val.
[1535]

I was.

 2. Out.

For what offence?

 Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse; I kil'd a man, whose death I much repent, But yet I slew him manfully, in fight,
[1540]
Without false vantage, or base treachery. 1. Out. Why nere repent it, if it were done so; But were you banisht for so small a fault? Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doome. 2. Out. Haue you the Tongues? Val.
[1545]
My youthfull trauaile, therein made me happy, Or else I often had beene often miserable. 3. Out. By the bare scalpe of Robin Hoods fat Fryer, This fellow were a King, for our wilde faction. 1. Out. We'll haue him: Sirs, a word. Sp.
[1550]
Master, be one of them: It's an honourable kinde of theeuery. Val. Peace villaine. 2. Out. Tell vs this: haue you any thing to take to? Val.

Nothing but my fortune.

 3. Out.
[1555]
Know then, that some of vs are Gentlemen, Such as the fury of ungouern'd youth Thrust from the company of awfull men. My selfe was from Verona banished, For practising to steale away a Lady,
[1560]
And heire and Neece, alide vnto the Duke. 2. Out. And I from Mantua, for a Gentleman, Who, in my moode, I stab'd vnto the heart. 1. Out. And I, for such like petty crimes as these. But to the purpose: for we cite our faults,
[1565]
That they may hold excus'd our lawlesse liues; And partly seeing you are beautyfide With goodly shape; and by your owne report, A Linguist, and a man of such perfection, As we doe in our quality much want. 2. Out.
[1570]
Indeede because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, aboue the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our Generall? To make a vertue of necessity, And liue as we doe in this wildernesse? 3. Out.
[1575]
What saist thou? wilt thou be of our consort? Say I, and be the captaine of vs all: We'll doe thee homage, and be rul'd by thee, Loue thee, as our Commander, and our King. 1. Out

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