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Home > Two Gentlemen of Verona > ACT I - SCENE III. The same. ANTONIO's house.

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ACT I - SCENE III. The same. ANTONIO's house.
Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO

ANTONIO
1    Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that
2    Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
PANTHINO
3    'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.
ANTONIO
4    Why, what of him?
PANTHINO
5    He wonder'd that your lordship
6    Would suffer him to spend his youth at home,
7    While other men, of slender reputation,
8    Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
9    Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;
10   Some to discover islands far away;
11   Some to the studious universities.
12   For any or for all these exercises,
13   He said that Proteus your son was meet,
14   And did request me to importune you
15   To let him spend his time no more at home,
16   Which would be great impeachment to his age,
17   In having known no travel in his youth.
ANTONIO
18   Nor need'st thou much importune me to that
19   Whereon this month I have been hammering.
20   I have consider'd well his loss of time
21   And how he cannot be a perfect man,
22   Not being tried and tutor'd in the world:
23   Experience is by industry achieved
24   And perfected by the swift course of time.
25   Then tell me, whither were I best to send him?
PANTHINO
26   I think your lordship is not ignorant
27   How his companion, youthful Valentine,
28   Attends the emperor in his royal court.
ANTONIO
29   I know it well.
PANTHINO
30   'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither:
31   There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
32   Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen.
33   And be in eye of every exercise
34   Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
ANTONIO
35   I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised:
36   And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it,
37   The execution of it shall make known.
38   Even with the speediest expedition
39   I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.
PANTHINO
40   To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
41   With other gentlemen of good esteem,
42   Are journeying to salute the emperor
43   And to commend their service to his will.
ANTONIO
44   Good company; with them shall Proteus go:
45   And, in good time! now will we break with him.
Enter PROTEUS

PROTEUS
46   Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life!
47   Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
48   Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn.
49   O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,
50   To seal our happiness with their consents!
51   O heavenly Julia!
ANTONIO
52   How now! what letter are you reading there?
PROTEUS
53   May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two
54   Of commendations sent from Valentine,
55   Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.
ANTONIO
56   Lend me the letter; let me see what news.
PROTEUS
57   There is no news, my lord, but that he writes
58   How happily he lives, how well beloved
59   And daily graced by the emperor;
60   Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
ANTONIO
61   And how stand you affected to his wish?
PROTEUS
62   As one relying on your lordship's will
63   And not depending on his friendly wish.
ANTONIO
64   My will is something sorted with his wish.
65   Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;
66   For what I will, I will, and there an end.
67   I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
68   With Valentinus in the emperor's court:
69   What maintenance he from his friends receives,
70   Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
71   To-morrow be in readiness to go:
72   Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
PROTEUS
73   My lord, I cannot be so soon provided:
74   Please you, deliberate a day or two.
ANTONIO
75   Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee:
76   No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.
77   Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd
78   To hasten on his expedition.
Exeunt ANTONIO and PANTHINO

PROTEUS
79   Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning,
80   And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
81   I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter,
82   Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
83   And with the vantage of mine own excuse
84   Hath he excepted most against my love.
85   O, how this spring of love resembleth
86   The uncertain glory of an April day,
87   Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
88   And by and by a cloud takes all away!
Re-enter PANTHINO

PANTHINO
89   Sir Proteus, your father calls for you:
90   He is in haste; therefore, I pray you to go.
PROTEUS
91   Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto,
92   And yet a thousand times it answers 'no.'
Exeunt

< (Previous) ACT I, SCENE IIACT II, I (Next) >
Scene Index
ACT I
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III


  • ACT II
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI
  • SCENE VII


  • ACT III
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II


  • ACT IV
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV


  • ACT V
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV

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