The Two Gentlemen of Verona. ACT FIRST. Scene I. Verona. An open place. Enter Valentine and Proteus. Val. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus: But since thou lovest, love still, and thrive therein, Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu ? Wish me partaker in thy happiness, When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine. Val. And on a love-book pray for my success ? ΙΟ 20 Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love : For he was more than over shoes in love. Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. Pro. What? Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. And he that is so yoked by a fool, Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud Even so by love the young and tender wit 30 40 50 But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee, Once more adieu! my father at the road Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd. And I likewise will visit thee with mine. 60 [Exit. He leaves his friends to dignify them more; Enter Speed. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master? And I have play'd the sheep in losing him. An if the shepherd be awhile away. Speed. You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. 70 80 Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. sheep. Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the 90 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. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry 'baa.' 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. ΙΙΟ Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound,—a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, II0 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. Pro. But what said she! Speed. [First nodding] Ay Pro. Nod-Ay-why, that's noddy. Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me if she did nod; and I say, 'Ay.' 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. 120 Speed. Well, I perceive I must be fain 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. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said she? Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter 130 may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why, couldst 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 me that brought : your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but stones; 140 for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What said she? nothing? Speed. No, not so much as Take this for thy pains.' |