THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THE opinions of commentators are divided upon this play. Hanmer supposes that some particular speeches ars Shakspeare's: Upton, that he had no hand in its production: Theobald considers it one of his worst pieces: Pope decides that the style is more natural and unaffected than our poet's usually was: and Johnson declares that both in the serious and ludicrous scenes, the language and sentiments are Shakspeare's; and that few of his plays have more lines or passages, which, singly considered, are eminently beautiful. One thing, however, appears certain---that this drama was one of his earliest efforts; that it was not very favourably received; and that, being seldom exhibited, it escaped the corruptions and interpolations, to which his more popular performances were subjected. The incidents of the play have not been assigned to any definite source; though it is not improbable that The Arcadia, and the common romances so much in vogue at that period, might have suggested some of them. Dr. Johnson says, that it evinces "a strange mixture of knowledge and ignorance, of care and negligence ;" and that "the versification is often excellent---the allusions, learned and just." SCENE-sometimes in Verona, sometimes in Milan, and on the Frontiers of Mantua. prove. Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And he that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Val. Yet writers say, As the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Once more adieu: my father at the road Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. Of Milan, let us hear from thee by letters, thee in Pro. 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. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of 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. Pro. 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. Pro. But what said she? did she nod ? Speed. I. [SPEED nods. Pro. Nod, I why, that's noddy. † Speed. You mistook, Sir; I say she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod, and I say, I. 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. 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 Pro. 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 deliver'd. Val. As much to you at home! and so fare-purse. well. [Exit VALENTINE. Pro. 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 metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world nought! at Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. stance. Pro. Well, Sir, here is for your pains: What said she? Speed. Truly, Sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Could'st thou perceive so much from her? Speed, Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from ber; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: And being so hard to ine that brought your mind. I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her uo token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, Sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by SCENE II.-The same. another. Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not thy sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me; therefore, I am no sheep. Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food foilows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore, thou art a sheep. house. [Exeunt. Garden of JULIA'S Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. A term for a girl of pleasure: Mutton-lane, in Clerkenwell, is so called from being frequented by Speed. Such another proof will make me cry such persons. A game at cards. Given me a sixpence. baa. |