Текст книги "William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition"

Автор книги: William Shakespeare

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The Two Gentlemen of Verona

1.1 Enter Valentine and Proteus

VALENTINE

Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus.

Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits.

Were’t not affection chains thy tender days

To the sweet glances of thy honoured love,

I rather would entreat thy company

To see the wonders of the world abroad

Than, living dully sluggardized at home,

Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.

But since thou lov’st, love still, and thrive therein—

Even as I would, when I to love begin.

PROTEUS

Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu.

Think on thy Proteus when thou haply seest

Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel.

Wish me partaker in thy happiness

When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger—

If ever danger do environ thee—

Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers;

For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.

VALENTINE

And on a love-book pray for my success?

PROTEUS

Upon some book I love I’ll pray for thee.

VALENTINE

That’s on some shallow story of deep love—

How young Leander crossed the Hellespont.

PROTEUS

That’s a deep story of a deeper love,

For he was more than over-shoes in love.

VALENTINE

‘Tis true, for you are over-boots in love,

And yet you never swam the Hellespont.

PROTEUS

Over the boots? Nay, give me not the boots.

VALENTINE

No, I will not; for it boots thee not.

PROTEUS

What?

VALENTINE

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;

However, but a folly bought with wit,

Or else a wit by folly vanquished.

PROTEUS

So by your circumstance you call me fool.

VALENTINE

So by your circumstance I fear you’ll prove.

PROTEUS

‘Tis love you cavil at. I am not love.

VALENTINE

Love is your master, for he masters you,

And he that is so yoked by a fool

Methinks should not be chronicled for wise.

PROTEUS

Yet writers say ‘As in the sweetest bud

The eating canker dwells, so doting love

Inhabits in the finest wits of all.’

VALENTINE

And writers say ‘As the most forward bud

Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,

Even so by love the young and tender wit

Is turned to folly, blasting in the bud,

Losing his verdure even in the prime,

And all the fair effects of future hopes.’

But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee

That art a votary to fond desire?

Once more adieu. My father at the road

Expects my coming, there to see me shipped.

PROTEUS

And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.

VALENTINE

Sweet Proteus, no. Now let us take our leave.

To Milan let me hear from thee by letters

Of thy success in love, and what news else

Betideth here in absence of thy friend;

And I likewise will visit thee with mine.

PROTEUS

All happiness bechance to thee in Milan.

VALENTINE

As much to you at home; and so farewell. Exit

PROTEUS

He after honour 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 metamorphosed me,

Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,

War with good counsel, set the world at naught;

Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.

Enter Speed

SPEED

Sir Proteus, save you. Saw you my master?

PROTEUS

But now he parted hence to embark for Milan.

SPEED

Twenty to one, then, he is shipped already,

And I have played the sheep in losing him.

PROTEUS

Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray,

An if the shepherd be a while away.

SPEED

You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then,

and I a sheep?

PROTEUS I do.

SPEED

Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.

PROTEUS A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.

SPEED This proves me still a sheep.

PROTEUS True, and thy master a shepherd.

SPEED Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.

PROTEUS It shall go hard but I’ll prove it by another.

SPEED The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd. But I seek my master, and my master seeks not me. Therefore I am no sheep.

PROTEUS 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.

SPEED Such another proof will make me cry ‘baa’.

PROTEUS 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.

PROTEUS Here’s too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

SPEED If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.

PROTEUS Nay, in that you are astray. ‘Twere best pound you.

SPEED Nay sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter.

PROTEUS 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.

PROTEUS But what said she?

SPEED (nods, then says) Ay.

PROTEUS 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’.

PROTEUS And that set together is ‘noddy’.

SPEED Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

PROTEUS No, no. You shall have it for bearing the letter.

SPEED Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.

PROTEUS Why, sir, how do you bear with me?

SPEED Marry, sir, the letter very orderly, having nothing but the word ‘noddy’ for my pains.

PROTEUS Beshrew me but you have a quick wit.

SPEED And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.

PROTEUS 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 delivered.

PROTEUS (giving money) Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?

SPEED Truly, sir, I think you’ll hardly win her.

PROTEUS 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, for she’s as hard as steel.

PROTEUS What said she? Nothing?

SPEED No, not so much as ‘Take this for thy pains’. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself. And so, sir, I’ll commend you to my master.

⌈Exit⌉

PROTEUS

Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck,

Which cannot perish having thee aboard,

Being destined to a drier death on shore.

I must go send some better messenger.

I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,

Receiving them from such a worthless post. Exit

1.2 Enter Julia and Lucetta

JULIA

But say, Lucetta, now we are alone—

Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?

LUCETTA

Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.

JULIA

Of all the fair resort of gentlemen

That every day with parle encounter me,

In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

LUCETTA

Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind

According to my shallow simple skill.

JULIA

What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?

LUCETTA

As of a knight well spoken, neat, and fine,

But were I you, he never should be mine.

JULIA

What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?

LUCETTA

Well of his wealth, but of himself, so-so.

JULIA

What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?

LUCETTA

Lord, lord, to see what folly reigns in us!

JULIA

How now? What means this passion at his name?

LUCETTA

Pardon, dear madam, ‘tis a passing shame

That I, unworthy body as I am,

Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.

JULIA

Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?

LUCETTA

Then thus: of many good, I think him best.

JULIA

Your reason?

LUCETTA

I have no other but a woman’s reason:

I think him so because I think him so.

JULIA

And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him?

LUCETTA

Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.

JULIA

Why, he of all the rest hath never moved me.

LUCETTA

Yet he of all the rest I think best loves ye.

JULIA

His little speaking shows his love but small.

LUCETTA

Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all.

JULIA

They do not love that do not show their love.

LUCETTA

O, they love least that let men know their love.

JULIA

I would I knew his mind.

LUCETTA (giving Proteus’ letter)

Peruse this paper, madam.

JULIA

‘To Julia’—say, from whom?

LUCETTA

That the contents will show.

JULIA

Say, say—who gave it thee?

LUCETTA

Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus. He would have given it you, but I being in the way Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray.

JULIA

Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker.

Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines?

To whisper, and conspire against my youth?

Now trust me, ‘tis an office of great worth,

And you an officer fit for the place.

There. Take the paper.

She gives Lucetta the letter

See it be returned,

Or else return no more into my sight.

LUCETTA

To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

JULIA

Will ye be gone?

LUCETTA

That you may ruminate.

Exit

JULIA

And yet I would I had o‘erlooked the letter.

It were a shame to call her back again

And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.

What fool is she, that knows I am a maid

And would not force the letter to my view,

Since maids in modesty say ‘No’ to that

Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay’.

Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love

That like a testy babe will scratch the nurse

And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod.

How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence

When willingly I would have had her here.

How angerly I taught my brow to frown

When inward joy enforced my heart to smile.

My penance is to call Lucetta back

And ask remission for my folly past.

What ho! Lucetta!

Enter Lucetta

LUCETTA

What would your ladyship?

JULIA

Is’t near dinner-time?

LUCETTA

I would it were,

That you might kill your stomach on your meat

And not upon your maid.

⌈She drops and picks up the letter⌉

JULIA

What is’t that you

Took up so gingerly?

LUCETTA Nothing.

JULIA

Why didst thou stoop then?

LUCETTA

To take a paper up that I let fall.

JULIA

And is that paper nothing?

LUCETTA

Nothing concerning me.

JULIA

Then let it lie for those that it concerns.

LUCETTA

Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,

Unless it have a false interpreter.

JULIA

Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.

LUCETTA

That I might sing it, madam, to a tune,

Give me a note. Your ladyship can set.

JULIA

As little by such toys as may be possible.

Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love’.

LUCETTA

It is too heavy for so light a tune.

JULIA

Heavy? Belike it hath some burden, then?

LUCETTA

Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.

JULIA

And why not you?

LUCETTA

I cannot reach so high.

JULIA

Let’s see your song.

⌈She tries to take the letters⌉

How now, minion!

LUCETTA

Keep tune there still. So you will sing it out.

And yet methinks I do not like this tune.

JULIA You do not?

LUCETTA

No, madam, ‘tis too sharp.

JULIA

You, minion, are too saucy.

LUCETTA

Nay, now you are too flat,

And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.

There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.

JULIA

The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.

LUCETTA

Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.

JULIA

This bauble shall not henceforth trouble me.

Here is a coil with protestation.

She tears the letter and drops the pieces

Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie.

You would be fing’ring them to anger me.

LUCETTA (aside)

She makes it strange, but she would be best pleased

To be so angered with another letter.

Exit

JULIA

Nay, would I were so angered with the same.

O hateful hands, to tear such loving words;

Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey

And kill the bees that yield it with your stings.

I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.

She picks up some of the pieces of paper

Look, here is writ ‘Kind Julia’—unkind Julia,

As in revenge of thy ingratitude

I throw thy name against the bruising stones,

Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.

And here is writ ‘Love-wounded Proteus’.

Poor wounded name, my bosom as a bed

Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly healed;

And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.

But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.

Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away

Till I have found each letter in the letter

Except mine own name. That, some whirlwind bear

Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock

And throw it thence into the raging sea.

Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ:

‘Poor forlorn Proteus’, ‘passionate Proteus’,

‘To the sweet Julia’—that I’ll tear away.

And yet I will not, sith so prettily

He couples it to his complaining names.

Thus will I fold them, one upon another.

Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.

Enter Lucetta

LUCETTA

Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays.

JULIA Well, let us go.

LUCETTA

What, shall these papers lie like telltales here?

JULIA

If you respect them, best to take them up.

LUCETTA

Nay, I was taken up for laying them down.

Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.

JULIA

I see you have a month’s mind to them.

LUCETTA

Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see.

I see things too, although you judge I wink.

JULIA Come, come, will’t please you go?

Exeunt

1.3 Enter Antonio and Panthino

ANTONIO

Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that

Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?

PANTHINO

‘Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.

ANTONIO

Why, what of him?

PANTHINO He wondered that your lordship

Would suffer him to spend his youth at home

While other men, of slender reputation,

Put forth their sons to seek preferment out—

Some to the wars, to try their fortune there,

Some to discover islands far away,

Some to the studious universities.

For any or for all these exercises

He said that Proteus your son was meet,

And did request me to importune you

To let him spend his time no more at home,

Which would be great impeachment to his age

In having known no travel in his youth.

ANTONIO

Nor need’st thou much importune me to that

Whereon this month I have been hammering.

I have considered well his loss of time,

And how he cannot be a perfect man,

Not being tried and tutored in the world.

Experience is by industry achieved,

And perfected by the swift course of time.

Then tell me, whither were I best to send him?

PANTHINO

I think your lordship is not ignorant

How his companion, youthful Valentine,

Attends the Emperor in his royal court.

ANTONIO I know it well.

PANTHINO

‘Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither.

There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,

Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen,

And be in eye of every exercise

Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.

ANTONIO

I like thy counsel. Well hast thou advised,

And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it,

The execution of it shall make known.

Even with the speediest expedition

I will dispatch him to the Emperor’s court.

PANTHINO

Tomorrow, may it please you, Don Alfonso,

With other gentlemen of good esteem,

Are journeying to salute the Emperor

And to commend their service to his will.

ANTONIO

Good company. With them shall Proteus go.

Enter Proteus with a letter. He does not see Antonio and Panthino

And in good time. Now will we break with him.

PROTEUS Sweet love, sweet lines, sweet life!

Here is her hand, the agent of her heart.

Here is her oath for love, her honour’s pawn.

O that our fathers would applaud our loves

To seal our happiness with their consents.

O heavenly Julia!

ANTONIO

How now, what letter are you reading there?

PROTEUS

May’t please your lordship, ‘tis a word or two

Of commendations sent from Valentine,

Delivered by a friend that came from him.

ANTONIO

Lend me the letter. Let me see what news.

PROTEUS

There is no news, my lord, but that he writes

How happily he lives, how well beloved

And daily gracèd by the Emperor,

Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.

ANTONIO

And how stand you affected to his wish?

PROTEUS

As one relying on your lordship’s will,

And not depending on his friendly wish.

ANTONIO

My will is something sorted with his wish.

Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed,

For what I will, I will, and there an end.

I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time

With Valentinus in the Emperor’s court.

What maintenance he from his friends receives,

Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.

Tomorrow be in readiness to go.

Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.

PROTEUS

My lord, I cannot be so soon provided.

Please you deliberate a day or two.

ANTONIO

Look what thou want’st shall be sent after thee.

No more of stay. Tomorrow thou must go.

Come on, Panthino. You shall be employed

To hasten on his expedition.

Exeunt Antonio and Panthino

PROTEUS

Thus have I shunned the fire for fear of burning

And drenched me in the sea where I am drowned.

I feared to show my father Julia’s letter

Lest he should take exceptions to my love,

And with the vantage of mine own excuse

Hath he excepted most against my love.

O, how this spring of love resembleth

The uncertain glory of an April day,

Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,

And by and by a cloud takes all away.

Enter Panthino

PANTHINO

Sir Proteus, your father calls for you.

He is in haste, therefore I pray you go.

PROTEUS

Why, this it is. My heart accords thereto,

And yet a thousand times it answers ‘No’.

Exeunt

2.1 Enter Valentine and Speed

SPEED (offering Valentine a glove)

Sir, your glove.

VALENTINE

Not mine. My gloves are on.

SPEED

Why then, this may be yours, for this is but one.

VALENTINE

Ha, let me see. Ay, give it me, it’s mine—

Sweet ornament, that decks a thing divine.

Ah, Silvia, Silvia!

SPEED Madam Silvia, Madam Silvia!

VALENTINE How now, sirrah?

SPEED She is not within hearing, sir.

VALENTINE Why, sir, who bade you call her?

SPEED Your worship, sir, or else I mistook.

VALENTINE Well, you’ll still be too forward.

SPEED And yet I was last chidden for being too slow.

VALENTINE Go to, sir. Tell me, do you know Madam Silvia?

SPEED She that your worship loves?

VALENTINE 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 malcontent; to relish a love-song, like a robin redbreast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a schoolboy that had lost his ABC; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions. When you fasted, it was presently after dinner; 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.

VALENTINE Are all these things perceived in me?

SPEED They are all perceived without ye.

VALENTINE Without me? They cannot.

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.

VALENTINE But tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia?

SPEED She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper?

VALENTINE Hast thou observed that? Even she I mean.

SPEED Why sir, I know her not.

VALENTINE Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know’st her not?

SPEED Is she not hard-favoured, sir?

VALENTINE Not so fair, boy, as well favoured.

SPEED Sir, I know that well enough.

VALENTINE What dost thou know?

SPEED That she is not so fair as of you well favoured.

VALENTINE I mean that her beauty is exquisite but her favour infinite.

SPEED That’s because the one is painted and the other out of all count.

VALENTINE How painted? And how out of count?

SPEED Marry, sir, so painted to make her fair that no man counts of her beauty.

VALENTINE How esteem’st thou me? I account of her beauty.

SPEED You never saw her since she was deformed.

VALENTINE How long hath she been deformed?

SPEED Ever since you loved her.

VALENTINE I have loved her ever since I saw her, and still I see her beautiful.

SPEED If you love her you cannot see her.

VALENTINE Why?

SPEED Because love is blind. O that you had mine eyes, or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered.

VALENTINE What should I see then?

SPEED Your own present folly and her passing deformity; for he being in love could not see to garter his hose, and you being in love cannot see to put on your hose.

VALENTINE 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.

VALENTINE In conclusion, I stand affected to her.

SPEED I would you were set. So your affection would cease.

VALENTINE Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves.

SPEED And have you?

VALENTINE I have. 85

SPEED Are they not lamely writ?

VALENTINE No, boy, but as well as I can do them. Peace, here she comes.

Enter Silvia

SPEED (aside) O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet!

Now will he interpret to her.

VALENTINE

Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows.

SPEED (aside)

O, give ye good e’en! Here’s a million of manners.

SILVIA

Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand.

SPEED (aside) He should give her interest, and she gives it him.

VALENTINE

As you enjoined me, I have writ your letter

Unto the secret, nameless friend of yours;

Which I was much unwilling to proceed in

But for my duty to your ladyship.

He gives her a letter

SILVIA

I thank you, gentle servant. ‘Tis very clerkly done.

VALENTINE

Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off;

For being ignorant to whom it goes

I writ at random, very doubtfully.

SILVIA

Perchance you think too much of so much pains?

VALENTINE

No, madam. So it stead you I will write—

Please you command—a thousand times as much.

And yet . . .

SILVIA

A pretty period. Well, I guess the sequel.

And yet I will not name it. And yet I care not.

And yet, take this again.

She offers him the letter

And yet I thank you,

Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.

SPEED (aside)

And yet you will, and yet another yet.

VALENTINE

What means your ladyship? Do you not like it?

SILVIA

Yes, yes. The lines are very quaintly writ,

But since unwillingly, take them again.

She presses the letter upon him

Nay, take them.

VALENTINE

Madam, they are for you.

SILVIA

Ay, ay. You writ them, sir, at my request,

But I will none of them. They are for you.

I would have had them writ more movingly.

VALENTINE

Please you, I’ll write your ladyship another.

SILVIA

And when it’s writ, for my sake read it over,

And if it please you, so. If not, why, so.

VALENTINE

If it please me, madam? What then?

SILVIA

Why, if it please you, take it for your labour.

And so good morrow, servant.

Exit

SPEED (aside)

O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible

As a nose on a man’s face or a weathercock on a

steeple.

My master sues to her, and she hath taught her suitor,

He being her pupil, to become her tutor.

O excellent device! Was there ever heard a better?—

That my master, being scribe, to himself should write

the letter.

VALENTINE How now, sir—what, are you reasoning with yourself?

SPEED Nay, I was rhyming. ‘Tis you that have the reason.

VALENTINE To do what?

SPEED To be a spokesman from Madam Silvia.

VALENTINE To whom?

SPEED To yourself. Why, she woos you by a figure.

VALENTINE What figure?

SPEED By a letter, I should say.

VALENTINE Why, she hath not writ to me.

SPEED What need she, when she hath made you write to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest?

VALENTINE No, believe me.

SPEED No believing you indeed, sir. But did you perceive her earnest?

VALENTINE She gave me none, except an angry word.

SPEED Why, she hath given you a letter.

VALENTINE That’s the letter I writ to her friend.

SPEED And that letter hath she delivered, and there an end.

VALENTINE I would it were no worse.

SPEED I’ll warrant you, ‘tis as well.

For often have you writ to her, and she in modesty

Or else for want of idle time could not again reply,

Or fearing else some messenger that might her mind

discover,

Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her

lover.

—All this I speak in print, for in print I found it. Why

muse you, sir? ‘Tis dinner-time.

VALENTINE I have dined.

SPEED Ay, but hearken, sir. Though the chameleon love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourished by my victuals, and would fain have meat. O, be not like your mistress—be moved, be moved!

Exeunt