OME of the incidents in this play may be fup

SOME

posed to have been taken from The Arcadia, book 1. chap. 6, where Pyrocles consents to head the Helots. The love-adventure of Julia refembles that of Viola, in Twelfth Night, and is indeed common to many of the ancient novels. STEEVENS.

It is obfervable (I know not for what cause) that the ftyle of this comedy is lefs figurative, and more natural and unaffected, than the greater part of this author's, though supposed to be one of the first he

wrote.

POPE.

In this play there is a strange mixture of knowledge and ignorance, of care and negligence. The verfification is often excellent, the allufions are learned and juft; but the author conveys his heroes by fea from one inland town to another in the fame country; he places the emperor at Milan, and fends his young men to attend him, but never mentions him more; he makes Protheus, after an interview with Silvia, say he has only feen her picture; and, if we may credit the old copies, he has, by miftaking places, left his scenery inextricable. The reafon of all this confufion feems to be, that he took his ftory from a novel, which he fometimes followed, and fometimes forfook, fome times remembered, and fometimes forgot.

That this play is rightly attributed to Shakespeare, I have little doubt. If it be taken from him, to whom shall it be given? This question may be asked of all the disputed plays, except Titus Andronicus; and it will be found more credible, that Shakespeare might fometimes fink below his higheft flights, than that any other should rise up to his lowest.

JOHNSON.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Duke of Milan, Father to Silvia.
VALENTINE, the two Gentlemen.

PROTHEU3,

ANTHONIO, Father to Protheus.

THURIO, a foolish Rival to Valentine.
EGLAMOUR, Agent for Silvia, in her Escape..
SPEED, a clownish Servant to Valentine.

LAUNCE, the like to Protheus.

PANTHINO, Servant to Anthonio.

Hoft, where Julia lodges in Milan.
Out-laws.

JULIA, a Lady of Verona, beloved of Protheus. SILVIA, the Duke of Milan's Daughter, beloved of Val

entine.

LUCETTA, Waiting-Woman to Julia.

Servants, Muficians.

SCENE-fometimes in Verona; fometimes in Milan ;. and on the Frontiers of Mantua.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

ACT I. SCENE I.

An open Place in Verona. Enter VALENTINE, and

CEA

PROTHEUS.

Valentine.

EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus ;
Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits.
Were't not, affection chains thy tender days
To the fweet glances of thy honour'd love,
I rather would intreat thy company,
To fee the wonders of the world abroad,
Than, living dully fluggardiz'd at home,
Wear out thy youth with fhapeless idleness.
But, fince thou lov'ft, love ftill, and thrive therein,
Even as I would, when I to love begin.

Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu !
Think on thy Protheus, when thou, haply, seest
Some rare, note-worthy object in thy travel:
Wish me partaker in thy happiness,

When thou doft 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 bead's-man, Valentine.

Val. And on a love-book pray for my fuccefs. Pro. Upon fome book I love, I'll pray for thee. Val. That's on fome fhallow ftory of deep love, How young Leander crofs'd the Hellefpont.

Pro. That's a deep ftory of a deeper love; For he was more than over fhoes in love.

Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love,
And yet you never fwom the Hellefpont.

Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.
Val. No, I will not; for it boots thee not.
Pro. What?

Val. To be in love, where fcorn is bought with

groans;

Coy looks, with heart-fore fighs; one fading moment's

mirth,

With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights:
If haply one, perhaps, a hapless gain;
If loft, why then a grievous labour won;
However, but a folly bought with wit,
Or elfe a wit by folly vanquifhed.

Pro. So, by your circumftance, you call me fool.
Val. So, by your circumftance, I fear you'll prove.
Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not love.
Val. Love is your mafter, for he masters you;
And he that is fo yoked by a fool,

Methinks fhould not be chronicled for wife.

Pro. Yet writers fay, As in the fweeteft bud The eating canker dwells, fo eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

Val. And writers fay, As the most forward bud
Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,

Even fo by love the young and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly; blafting in the bud,
Lofing his verdure even in the prime,
And all the fair effects of future hopes.
But wherefore wafte I time to counfel thee,
That art a votary to fond defire ?

Once more adieu: my father at the road
Expects my coming, there to fee me fhipp'd.

Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.

Val. Sweet Protheus, no; now let us take our leave. At Milan, let me hear from thee by letters, Of thy fuccefs in love, and what news elfe Betideth here in abfence of thy friend; And I likewife will vifit thee with mine.

Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan ! Val. As much to you at home! and fo, farewel!

[Exit.

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 haft metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lofe my time, War with good counfel, fet the world at nought; Made wit with mufing weak, heart fick with thought.