Home
This site uses cookies
log out

The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act IV, Scene 4

Sign in with Google to add your annotations.
3 annotations

The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Act IV, Scene 4

Milan. Outside the Duke’s palace.

Launce's Substitute for Proteus' Dog

Launce's Substitute for Proteus' Dog

Augustus Egg, 1849

  1. Enter Launce with his dog.

Launce

1 - 34
  1. When a man’s servant shall play the cur with him, look you,
  2. it goes hard: one that I brought up of a puppy; one that I
  3. sav’d from drowning, when three or four of his blind
  4. brothers and sisters went to it. I have taught him, even as
  5. one would say precisely, “Thus I would teach a dog.” I was
  6. sent to deliver him as a present to Mistress Silvia from my
  7. master; and I came no sooner into the dining-chamber but he
  8. steps me to her trencher and steals her capon’s leg. O, ’tis
    Feb 26, 2019 Miko
    Crab went to her plate (trencher) and stole her rooster's (capon's) leg.
  9. a foul thing when a cur cannot keep himself in all
  10. companies! I would have (as one should say) one that takes
  11. upon him to be a dog indeed, to be, as it were, a dog at all
  12. things. If I had not had more wit than he, to take a fault
    Feb 26, 2019 Miko
    Here Launce uses the word “dog” to mean someone who is adept at something, in this case “all things”.
  13. upon me that he did, I think verily he had been hang’d
  14. for’t; sure as I live he had suffer’d for’t. You shall
  15. judge: he thrusts me himself into the company of three or
  16. four gentleman-like dogs, under the Duke’s table. He had not
  17. been there (bless the mark!) a pissing-while, but all the
  18. chamber smelt him. “Out with the dog,” says one. “What cur
  19. is that?” says another. “Whip him out,” says the third.
  20. “Hang him up,” says the Duke. I, having been acquainted with
  21. the smell before, knew it was Crab, and goes me to the
  22. fellow that whips the dogs: “Friend,” quoth I, “you mean to
  23. whip the dog?” “Ay, marry, do I,” quoth he. “You do him the
  24. more wrong,” quoth I, “’twas I did the thing you wot of.” He
  25. makes me no more ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How
  26. many masters would do this for his servant? Nay, I’ll be
  27. sworn, I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stol’n,
  28. otherwise he had been executed; I have stood on the pillory
  29. for geese he hath kill’d, otherwise he had suffer’d for’t.
  30. Thou think’st not of this now. Nay, I remember the trick you
  31. serv’d me, when I took my leave of Madam Silvia. Did not I
  32. bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? When didst thou see
  33. me heave up my leg and make water against a gentlewoman’s
  34. farthingale? Didst thou ever see me do such a trick?
  1. Enter Proteus, Julia disguised as Sebastian.

Proteus

35 - 36
  1. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well,
  2. And will employ thee in some service presently.

Julia

37
  1. In what you please; I’ll do what I can.

Proteus

38 - 40
  1. I hope thou wilt.
  2. To Launce.
  3. How now, you whoreson peasant,
  4. Where have you been these two days loitering?

Launce

41
  1. Marry, sir, I carried Mistress Silvia the dog you bade me.

Proteus

42
  1. And what says she to my little jewel?

Launce

43 - 44
  1. Marry, she says your dog was a cur, and tells you currish
  2. thanks is good enough for such a present.

Proteus

45
  1. But she receiv’d my dog?

Launce

46
  1. No indeed did she not; here have I brought him back again.

Proteus

47
  1. What, didst thou offer her this from me?

Launce

48 - 51
  1. Ay, sir, the other squirrel was stol’n from me by the
    Feb 26, 2019 Miko
    In Shakespeare's time the word “squirrel” was sometimes used to indicate a small dog.
  2. hangman’s boys in the market-place; and then I offer’d her
  3. mine own, who is a dog as big as ten of yours, and therefore
  4. the gift the greater.

Proteus

52 - 66
  1. Go, get thee hence, and find my dog again,
  2. Or ne’er return again into my sight.
  3. Away, I say! Stayest thou to vex me here?
  4. Exit Launce.
  5. A slave, that still an end turns me to shame!
  6. Sebastian, I have entertained thee,
  7. Partly that I have need of such a youth
  8. That can with some discretion do my business—
  9. For ’tis no trusting to yond foolish lout—
  10. But chiefly for thy face and thy behavior,
  11. Which (if my augury deceive me not)
  12. Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth:
  13. Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
  14. Go presently, and take this ring with thee,
  15. Deliver it to Madam Silvia—
  16. She lov’d me well deliver’d it to me.

Go give your master this

Walter Crane, Late 19th century

Julia

67 - 68
  1. It seems you lov’d not her, to leave her token:
  2. She is dead, belike?

Proteus

69
  1.                      Not so; I think she lives.

Julia

70
  1. Alas!

Proteus

71
  1.       Why dost thou cry “alas”?

Julia

72 - 73
  1.                           I cannot choose
  2. But pity her.

Proteus

74
  1.               Wherefore shouldst thou pity her?

Julia

75 - 80
  1. Because methinks that she lov’d you as well
  2. As you do love your lady Silvia:
  3. She dreams on him that has forgot her love;
  4. You dote on her that cares not for your love.
  5. ’Tis pity love should be so contrary;
  6. And thinking on it makes me cry “alas!”

Proteus

81 - 85
  1. Well, give her that ring and therewithal
  2. This letter; that’s her chamber. Tell my lady
  3. I claim the promise for her heavenly picture.
  4. Your message done, hie home unto my chamber,
  5. Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary.
  1. Exit.

Julia

86 - 105
  1. How many women would do such a message?
  2. Alas, poor Proteus, thou hast entertain’d
  3. A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs.
  4. Alas, poor fool, why do I pity him
  5. That with his very heart despiseth me?
  6. Because he loves her, he despiseth me;
  7. Because I love him, I must pity him.
  8. This ring I gave him when he parted from me,
  9. To bind him to remember my good will;
  10. And now am I (unhappy messenger)
  11. To plead for that which I would not obtain,
  12. To carry that which I would have refus’d,
  13. To praise his faith which I would have disprais’d.
  14. I am my master’s true confirmed love;
  15. But cannot be true servant to my master,
  16. Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
  17. Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly
  18. As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed.
  19. Enter Silvia attended.
  20. Gentlewoman, good day; I pray you be my mean
  21. To bring me where to speak with Madam Silvia.
Crab at the party

Crab at the party

John Augustus Atkinson, circa 1800

Silvia

106
  1. What would you with her, if that I be she?

Julia

107 - 108
  1. If you be she, I do entreat your patience
  2. To hear me speak the message I am sent on.

Silvia

109
  1. From whom?

Julia

110
  1. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam.

Silvia

111
  1. O, he sends you for a picture?

Julia

112
  1. Ay, madam.

Silvia

113 - 116
  1. Ursula, bring my picture there.
  2. Go give your master this. Tell him from me,
  3. One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget,
  4. Would better fit his chamber than this shadow.

Julia

117 - 120
  1. Madam, please you peruse this letter—
  2. Pardon me, madam, I have unadvis’d
  3. Deliver’d you a paper that I should not:
  4. This is the letter to your ladyship.

Silvia

121
  1. I pray thee let me look on that again.

Julia

122
  1. It may not be; good madam, pardon me.

Silvia

123 - 127
  1. There, hold!
  2. I will not look upon your master’s lines;
  3. I know they are stuff’d with protestations,
  4. And full of new-found oaths, which he will break
  5. As easily as I do tear his paper.

Julia

128
  1. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring.

Silvia

129 - 133
  1. The more shame for him that he sends it me;
  2. For I have heard him say a thousand times
  3. His Julia gave it him at his departure:
  4. Though his false finger have profan’d the ring,
  5. Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.

Julia

134
  1. She thanks you.

Silvia

135
  1. What say’st thou?

Julia

136 - 137
  1. I thank you, madam, that you tender her.
  2. Poor gentlewoman, my master wrongs her much.

Silvia

138
  1. Dost thou know her?

Julia

139 - 141
  1. Almost as well as I do know myself.
  2. To think upon her woes I do protest
  3. That I have wept a hundred several times.

Silvia

142
  1. Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her?

Julia

143
  1. I think she doth; and that’s her cause of sorrow.

Silvia

144
  1. Is she not passing fair?

Julia

145 - 152
  1. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is:
  2. When she did think my master lov’d her well,
  3. She, in my judgment, was as fair as you;
  4. But since she did neglect her looking-glass,
  5. And threw her sun-expelling mask away,
  6. The air hath starv’d the roses in her cheeks,
  7. And pinch’d the lily-tincture of her face,
  8. That now she is become as black as I.

Silvia

153
  1. How tall was she?

Julia

154 - 168
  1. About my stature; for at Pentecost,
  2. When all our pageants of delight were play’d,
  3. Our youth got me to play the woman’s part,
  4. And I was trimm’d in Madam Julia’s gown,
  5. Which served me as fit, by all men’s judgments,
  6. As if the garment had been made for me;
  7. Therefore I know she is about my height.
  8. And at that time I made her weep agood,
  9. For I did play a lamentable part.
  10. Madam, ’twas Ariadne passioning
  11. For Theseus’ perjury and unjust flight;
  12. Which I so lively acted with my tears
  13. That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
  14. Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead
  15. If I in thought felt not her very sorrow.
Costume designs for Silvia's attendants

Costume designs for Silvia's attendants

Walford Graham Robertson, circa 1900

Silvia

169 - 174
  1. She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.
  2. Alas, poor lady, desolate and left!
  3. I weep myself to think upon thy words.
  4. Here, youth, there is my purse; I give thee this
  5. For thy sweet mistress’ sake, because thou lov’st her.
  6. Farewell.

Julia

175 - 201
  1. And she shall thank you for’t, if e’er you know her.
  2. Exit Silvia with Attendants.
  3. A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful!
  4. I hope my master’s suit will be but cold,
  5. Since she respects my mistress’ love so much.
  6. Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
  7. Here is her picture: let me see; I think
  8. If I had such a tire, this face of mine
  9. Were full as lovely as is this of hers;
  10. And yet the painter flatter’d her a little,
  11. Unless I flatter with myself too much.
  12. Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow:
  13. If that be all the difference in his love,
  14. I’ll get me such a color’d periwig.
  15. Her eyes are grey as glass, and so are mine;
  16. Ay, but her forehead’s low, and mine’s as high.
  17. What should it be that he respects in her,
  18. But I can make respective in myself,
  19. If this fond Love were not a blinded god?
  20. Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
  21. For ’tis thy rival. O thou senseless form,
  22. Thou shalt be worshipp’d, kiss’d, lov’d, and ador’d;
  23. And were there sense in his idolatry,
  24. My substance should be statue in thy stead.
  25. I’ll use thee kindly for thy mistress’ sake
  26. That us’d me so; or else, by Jove I vow,
  27. I should have scratch’d out your unseeing eyes,
  28. To make my master out of love with thee.
  1. Exit.
Ariadne in Naxos

Ariadne in Naxos

Evelyn De Morgan, 1877

© 2021 Unotate.com • contact • privacy policy • Creative Commons text from PlayShakespeare.com • All illustrations are public domain or Creative Commons