Back to main page
The Two Gentlemen of Verona - Act 4, scene 4
Cite
Download The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Last updated: Fri, Jul 31, 2015
- PDF Download as PDF
- DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) without line numbers Download as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) without line numbers
- DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) with line numbers Download as DOC (for MS Word, Apple Pages, Open Office, etc.) with line numbers
- HTML Download as HTML
- TXT Download as TXT
- XML Download as XML
- TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis) Download as TEISimple XML (annotated with MorphAdorner for part-of-speech analysis)
Navigate this work
The Two Gentlemen of Verona - Act 4, scene 4Act 4, scene 4
Scene 4
Synopsis:
Proteus learns to his horror that Lance has tried to present Crab to Sylvia as a gift. Proteus then sends Sebastian (Julia in disguise) to Sylvia with a letter and a ring. Sylvia refuses these gifts, but sends Proteus the promised picture of herself.
Enter Lance, ⌜with his dog, Crab.⌝LANCE 1824 When a man’s servant shall play the cur with
1825 him, look you, it goes hard—one that I brought up
1826 of a puppy, one that I saved from drowning when
1827 three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went
1828 5 to it. I have taught him even as one would say
1829 precisely “Thus I would teach a dog.” I was sent to
p.
149
1830
deliver him as a present to Mistress Sylvia from my1831 master; and I came no sooner into the dining
1832 chamber but he steps me to her trencher and steals
1833 10 her capon’s leg. O, ’tis a foul thing when a cur
1834 cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have,
1835 as one should say, one that takes upon him to be a
1836 dog indeed; to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I
1837 had not had more wit than he, to take a fault upon
1838 15 me that he did, I think verily he had been hanged
1839 for ’t. Sure as I live, he had suffered for ’t. You shall
1840 judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of
1841 three or four gentlemanlike dogs under the Duke’s
1842 table; he had not been there—bless the mark!—a
1843 20 pissing while but all the chamber smelt him. “Out
1844 with the dog!” says one. “What cur is that?” says
1845 another. “Whip him out!” says the third. “Hang him
1846 up!” says the Duke. I, having been acquainted with
1847 the smell before, knew it was Crab, and goes me to
1848 25 the fellow that whips the dogs. “Friend,” quoth I,
1849 “You mean to whip the dog?” “Ay, marry, do I,”
1850 quoth he. “You do him the more wrong,” quoth I.
1851 “’Twas I did the thing you wot of.” He makes me no
1852 more ado but whips me out of the chamber. How
1853 30 many masters would do this for his servant? Nay,
1854 I’ll be sworn I have sat in the stocks for puddings he
1855 hath stolen; otherwise he had been executed. I have
1856 stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed; otherwise
1857 he had suffered for ’t. ⌜To Crab.⌝ Thou think’st
1858 35 not of this now. Nay, I remember the trick you
1859 served me when I took my leave of Madam Sylvia.
1860 Did not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do?
1861 When didst thou see me heave up my leg and make
1862 water against a gentlewoman’s farthingale? Didst
1863 40 thou ever see me do such a trick?
p.
151
⌜Enter⌝ Proteus ⌜and⌝ Julia ⌜disguised as Sebastian.⌝PROTEUS
1864 Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well
1865 And will employ thee in some service presently.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1866 In what you please. I’ll do what I can.
PROTEUS
1867 I hope thou wilt. ⌜To Lance.⌝ How now, you
1868 45 whoreson peasant?
1869 Where have you been these two days loitering?
LANCE 1870 Marry, sir, I carried Mistress Sylvia the dog you
1871 bade me.
PROTEUS 1872 And what says she to my little jewel?
LANCE 1873 50Marry, she says your dog was a cur, and tells
1874 you currish thanks is good enough for such a
1875 present.
PROTEUS 1876 But she received my dog?
LANCE 1877 No, indeed, did she not. Here have I brought
1878 55 him back again.
PROTEUS 1879 What, didst thou offer her this from me?
LANCE 1880 Ay, sir. The other squirrel was stolen from me
1881 by the hangman’s boys in the market-place, and
1882 then I offered her mine own, who is a dog as big as
1883 60 ten of yours, and therefore the gift the greater.
PROTEUS
1884 Go, get thee hence, and find my dog again,
1885 Or ne’er return again into my sight.
1886 Away, I say. Stayest thou to vex me here?
⌜Lance exits with Crab.⌝
1887 A slave that still an end turns me to shame.
1888 65 Sebastian, I have entertainèd thee,
1889 Partly that I have need of such a youth
1890 That can with some discretion do my business—
1891 For ’tis no trusting to yond foolish lout—
1892 But chiefly for thy face and thy behavior,
p.
153
1893
70 Which, if my augury deceive me not,1894 Witness good bringing-up, fortune, and truth.
1895 Therefore, know ⌜thou,⌝ for this I entertain thee.
1896 Go presently, and take this ring with thee;
1897 Deliver it to Madam Sylvia.
1898 75 She loved me well delivered it to me.
⌜He gives her a ring.⌝
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1899 It seems you loved not her, ⌜to⌝ leave her token.
1900 She is dead belike?
PROTEUS 1901 Not so; I think she lives.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ 1902 Alas!
PROTEUS 1903 80Why dost thou cry “Alas”?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ 1904 I cannot choose but pity her.
PROTEUS 1905 Wherefore shouldst thou pity her?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1906 Because methinks that she loved you as well
1907 As you do love your lady Sylvia.
1908 85 She dreams on him that has forgot her love;
1909 You dote on her that cares not for your love.
1910 ’Tis pity love should be so contrary,
1911 And thinking on it makes me cry “Alas.”
PROTEUS
1912 Well, give her that ring and therewithal
1913 90 This letter. ⌜He gives her a paper.⌝ That’s her
1914 chamber. Tell my lady
1915 I claim the promise for her heavenly picture.
1916 Your message done, hie home unto my chamber,
1917 Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary.
⌜Proteus exits.⌝
JULIA
1918 95 How many women would do such a message?
1919 Alas, poor Proteus, thou hast entertained
1920 A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs.
1921 Alas, poor fool, why do I pity him
p.
155
1922
That with his very heart despiseth me?1923 100 Because he loves her, he despiseth me;
1924 Because I love him, I must pity him.
1925 This ring I gave him when he parted from me,
1926 To bind him to remember my good will;
1927 And now am I, unhappy messenger,
1928 105 To plead for that which I would not obtain,
1929 To carry that which I would have refused,
1930 To praise his faith, which I would have dispraised.
1931 I am my master’s true confirmèd love,
1932 But cannot be true servant to my master
1933 110 Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
1934 Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly
1935 As—Heaven it knows!—I would not have him
1936 speed.
⌜Enter⌝ Sylvia.
1937 ⌜As Sebastian.⌝ Gentlewoman, good day. I pray you be
1938 115 my mean
1939 To bring me where to speak with Madam Sylvia.
SYLVIA
1940 What would you with her, if that I be she?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1941 If you be she, I do entreat your patience
1942 To hear me speak the message I am sent on.
SYLVIA 1943 120From whom?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ 1944 From my master, Sir Proteus,
1945 madam.
SYLVIA 1946 O, he sends you for a picture?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ 1947 Ay, madam.
SYLVIA, ⌜calling⌝ 1948 125Ursula, bring my picture there.
⌜She is brought the picture.⌝
1949 Go, give your master this. Tell him from me,
1950 One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,
1951 Would better fit his chamber than this shadow.
p.
157
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1952
Madam, please you peruse this1953 130 letter.⌜She gives Sylvia a paper.⌝
1954 Pardon me, madam, I have unadvised
1955 Delivered you a paper that I should not.
1956 This is the letter to your Ladyship.
⌜She takes back the first paper
and hands Sylvia another.⌝
SYLVIA
1957 I pray thee let me look on that again.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1958 135 It may not be; good madam, pardon me.
SYLVIA 1959 There, hold.
1960 I will not look upon your master’s lines;
1961 I know they are stuffed with protestations
1962 And full of new-found oaths, which he will break
1963 140 As easily as I do tear his paper.
⌜She tears the second paper.⌝
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1964 Madam, he sends your Ladyship this ring.
⌜She offers Sylvia a ring.⌝
SYLVIA
1965 The more shame for him, that he sends it me;
1966 For I have heard him say a thousand times
1967 His Julia gave it him at his departure.
1968 145 Though his false finger have profaned the ring,
1969 Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝ 1970 She thanks you.
SYLVIA 1971 What sayst thou?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1972 I thank you, madam, that you tender her;
1973 150 Poor gentlewoman, my master wrongs her much.
SYLVIA 1974 Dost thou know her?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1975 Almost as well as I do know myself.
p.
159
1976
To think upon her woes, I do protest1977 That I have wept a hundred several times.
SYLVIA
1978 155 Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1979 I think she doth, and that’s her cause of sorrow.
SYLVIA 1980 Is she not passing fair?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1981 She hath been fairer, madam, than she is;
1982 When she did think my master loved her well,
1983 160 She, in my judgment, was as fair as you.
1984 But since she did neglect her looking-glass
1985 And threw her sun-expelling mask away,
1986 The air hath starved the roses in her cheeks
1987 And pinched the lily tincture of her face,
1988 165 That now she is become as black as I.
SYLVIA 1989 How tall was she?
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
1990 About my stature; for at Pentecost,
1991 When all our pageants of delight were played,
1992 Our youth got me to play the woman’s part,
1993 170 And I was trimmed in Madam Julia’s gown,
1994 Which served me as fit, by all men’s judgments,
1995 As if the garment had been made for me;
1996 Therefore I know she is about my height.
1997 And at that time I made her weep agood,
1998 175 For I did play a lamentable part;
1999 Madam, ’twas Ariadne, passioning
2000 For Theseus’ perjury and unjust flight,
2001 Which I so lively acted with my tears
2002 That my poor mistress, movèd therewithal,
2003 180 Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead
2004 If I in thought felt not her very sorrow.
SYLVIA
2005 She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.
p.
161
2006
Alas, poor lady, desolate and left!2007 I weep myself to think upon thy words.
2008 185 Here, youth, there is my purse.
⌜She gives Julia a purse.⌝
2009 I give thee this
2010 For thy sweet mistress’ sake, because thou lov’st her.
2011 Farewell.
JULIA, ⌜as Sebastian⌝
2012 And she shall thank you for ’t if e’er you know her.
⌜Sylvia exits.⌝
2013 190 A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful.
2014 I hope my master’s suit will be but cold,
2015 Since she respects my mistress’ love so much.—
2016 Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
2017 Here is her picture; let me see. I think
2018 195 If I had such a tire, this face of mine
2019 Were full as lovely as is this of hers;
2020 And yet the painter flattered her a little,
2021 Unless I flatter with myself too much.
2022 Her hair is auburn; mine is perfect yellow;
2023 200 If that be all the difference in his love,
2024 I’ll get me such a colored periwig.
2025 Her eyes are gray as glass, and so are mine.
2026 Ay, but her forehead’s low, and mine’s as high.
2027 What should it be that he respects in her
2028 205 But I can make respective in myself
2029 If this fond Love were not a blinded god?
2030 Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
2031 For ’tis thy rival. O, thou senseless form,
2032 Thou shalt be worshipped, kissed, loved, and
2033 210 adored;
2034 And were there sense in his idolatry,
2035 My substance should be statue in thy stead.
p.
163
2036
I’ll use thee kindly for thy mistress’ sake,2037 That used me so, or else, by Jove I vow,
2038 215 I should have scratched out your unseeing eyes
2039 To make my master out of love with thee.
⌜She⌝ exits.