The Bodleian First Folio

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



Text and Image

Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.

Page Image & Text
Digital Text
XML

Reference: C5v - Comedies, p. 34

Left Column


The two Gentlemen of Uerona. Pro.

I likewise heare that Valentine is dead.

Sil. And so suppose am I; for in his graue Assure thy selfe, my loue is buried. Pro.
[1705]

Sweet Lady, let me rake it from the earth.

Sil. Goe to thy Ladies graue, and call hers thence, Or at the least, in hers sepulcher thine. Iul.

He heard not that.

Pro. Madam: if your heart be so obdurate:
[1710]
Vouchsafe me yet your Picture for my loue, The Picture that is hanging in your chamber: To that ile speake, to that ile sigh and weepe: For since the substance of your perfect selfe Is else devoted, I am but a shadow;
[1715]
And to your shadow will I make true love.
Iul. If 'twere a substance, you would sure deceive it, And make it but a shadow, as I am. Sil. I am very loath to be your Idoll, sir; But since your falsehood shall become you well
[1720]
To worship shadows and adore false shapes, Send to me in the morning, and ile send it; And so, good rest.
Pro. As wretches have ore‑night That wait for execution in the morne. Iul.
[1725]

Host, will you goe?

Ho.

By my hallidome, I was fast asleepe.

Iul.

Pray you, where lies Sir Protheus?

Ho. Marry, at my house: Trust me, I think 'tis almost day. Iul.
[1730]
Not so; but it hath been the longest night That ere I watch'd, and the most heauiest.
Scœna Tertia [Act 4, Scene 3] Enter Eglamore, Siluia. Eg. This is the hour that Madam Siluia Entreated me to call and know her minde: Ther's some great matter she'ld employ me in.
[1735]
Madam, madam.
Sil.

Who cals?

Eg. Your seruant and your friend; One that attends your Ladiships command. Sil. Sir Eglamore, a thousand times good morrow. Eg.
[1740]
As many (worthy lady) to your selfe: According to your Ladiships impose, I am thus early come, to know what seruice It is your pleasure to command me in.
Sil. Oh Eglamoure, thou art a Gentleman:
[1745]
Thinke not I flatter, (for I sweare I doe not) Valiant, wise, remorse‑ful, well accomplish'd. Thou art not ignorant what deere good will I beare vnto the banish'd Ualentine: Nor how my father would enforce me marry
[1750]
Vaine Thurio, (whom my very soule abhor'd.) Thy selfe hast lou'd; and I haue heard thee say No griefe did euer come so neere thy heart As when thy Lady and thy true‑loue dide, Vpon whose Graue thou vow'dst pure chastitie:
[1755]
Sir Eglamoure: I would to Valentine, To Mantua, where I heare, he makes abord; And, for the waies are dangerous to passe, I doe desire thy worthy company,

Right Column


Vpon whose faith and honor, I repose.
[1760]
Vrge not my fathers anger, ( Eglamoure), But thinke vpon my griefe (a Ladies griefe) And on the justice of my flying hence To keep me from a most unholy match, Which heauen and fortune still rewards with plagues.
[1765]
I doe desire thee, euen from a heart As full of sorrowes, as the Sea of sands, To beare me company, and goe with me: If not, to hide what I have said to thee, That I may venture to depart alone.
Egl.
[1770]
Madam, I pity much your grieuances; Which, since I know they vertuously are plac'd, I giue consent to goe along with you, Wreaking as little what betideth me, As much, I wish all good befortune you.
[1775]
When will you goe?
Sil.

This euening comming.

Eg.

Where shall I meete you?

Sil. At Frier Patrickes Cell, Where I intend holy Confession. Eg.
[1780]
I will not faile your Ladiship: Good morrow (gentle Lady.)
Sil. Good morrow, kinde Sir Eglamoure. Exeunt.
Scena Quarta [Act 4, Scene 4] Enter Launce, Protheus, Iulia, Siluia. Lau.

When a mans seruant shall play the Curre with

him (looke you) it goes hard‐ one that I brought vp of

[1785]

a puppy: one that I sau'd from drowning, when three or

foure of his blinde brothers and sisters went to it: I haue

taught him (euen as one would say precisely, thus I

would teach a dog) I was sent to deliuer him, as a pre­

sent to Mistris Siluia from my Master; and I came no

[1790]

sooner into the dyning‑chamber, but he steps me to her

Trencher and steales her Capons‑leg: O, 'tis a foule

thing, when a Cur cannot keepe himselfe in all compa­

nies: I would haue (as one should say) one that takes vp­

on him to be a dog indeede, to be, as it were, a dog at all

[1795]

things. If I had not had more wit then he, to take a fault

vpon me that he did, I thinke verily hee had bin hang'd

for't: sure as I liue, he had suffer'd for't. You shall iudge:

Hee thrusts me himselfe into the company of three or

foure gentleman‑like‑dogs, vnder the Dukes table: hee

[1800]

had not bin there (blesse the marke) a pissing while, but

all the chamber smelt him: out with the dog (saies one)

what cur is that? (saies another) whip him out (saies the

third) hang him vp (saies the Duke). I, hauing bin ac­

quainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab; and

[1805]

goes me to the fellow that whips the dogges: friend

(quoth I) you mean to whip the dog: I marry doe I

(quoth he) you doe him the more wrong (quoth I) 'twas

I did the thing you wot of: he makes me no more adoe,

but whips me out of the chamber. How many Masters

[1810]

would doe this for his Seruant? nay, ile be sworne I haue

sat in the stockes, for puddings he hath stolne, otherwise

he had been executed: I haue stood on the Pillorie for

Geese he hath kil'd, otherwise he had sufferd for't: thou

think'st not of this now: nay, I remember the tricke you

[1815]

seru'd me, when I tooke my leaue of Madam Siluia: did

not

Download the digital text and images of the play