Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 5

The sun begins to gild the western sky,
And now it is about the very hour
That Sylvia at Friar Patrick’s cell should meet me.

She will not fail, for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time,
So much they spur their expedition.

Go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern by the abbey wall.

Sir Proteus, what says Sylvia to my suit?

But love will not be spurred to what it loathes.

Therefore I pray you stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain foot
That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fled.

A thousand more mischances than this one
Have learned me how to brook this patiently.

A thousand more mischances than this one
Have learned me how to brook this patiently.

The thicket is beset; he cannot ’scape.

This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns;
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
And to the nightingale’s complaining notes
Tune my distresses and record my woes.

Repair me with thy presence, Sylvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain.

Repair me with thy presence, Sylvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain.

Madam, this service I have done for you—
Though you respect not aught your servant doth—
To hazard life, and rescue you from him
That would have forced your honor and your love.

Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this I am sure you cannot give.

Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this I am sure you cannot give.

Therefore begone; solicit me no more.

Read over Julia’s heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
Descended into perjury to love me.

Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Can no way change you to a milder form,
I’ll woo you like a soldier, at arms’ end,
And love you ’gainst the nature of love—force you.

Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,
Thou friend of an ill fashion.

Treacherous man,
Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me.

If hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offense,
I tender ’t here.

Who by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor Earth, for these are pleased;
By penitence th’ Eternal’s wrath’s appeased.

Who by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor Earth, for these are pleased;
By penitence th’ Eternal’s wrath’s appeased.

JULIA: [aside] O me unhappy! [She swoons.]

And Julia herself did give it me,
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.

How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!

Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live
In a disguise of love.

Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live
In a disguise of love.

O heaven, were man
But constant, he were perfect; that one error
Fills him with faults, makes him run through all th’ sins;
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.

The more degenerate and base art thou
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions.

The more degenerate and base art thou
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions.—

These banished men, that I have kept withal,
Are men endued with worthy qualities.

Thou hast prevailed; I pardon them and thee.

Dispose of them as thou know’st their deserts.

I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.