The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 1, Scene 3

comedy

The same. ANTONIO's house.

Scene Summary

Proteus's father Antonio has decided that his son should go to Milan and join Valentine at the Duke's court — a young man, he argues, should be out in the world, not sitting at home. Proteus arrives reading a letter from Julia and has to pretend it is from Valentine summoning him to Milan. Antonio is pleased and orders him to leave immediately. Proteus is trapped: he cannot explain the truth without revealing the letter, so he agrees. He is being sent away from Julia by a deception that he himself is helping to maintain.

Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO

ANTONIO

Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that

Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?

PANTHINO

'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.

ANTONIO

Why, what of him?

PANTHINO

He wonder'd that your lordship

Would suffer him to spend his youth at home,

While other men, of slender reputation,

Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:

Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;

Some to discover islands far away;

Some to the studious universities.

For any or for all these exercises,

He said that Proteus your son was meet,

And did request me to importune you

To let him spend his time no more at home,

Which would be great impeachment to his age,

In having known no travel in his youth.

ANTONIO

Nor need'st thou much importune me to that

Whereon this month I have been hammering.

I have consider'd well his loss of time

And how he cannot be a perfect man,

Not being tried and tutor'd in the world:

Experience is by industry achieved

And perfected by the swift course of time.

Then tell me, whither were I best to send him?

PANTHINO

I think your lordship is not ignorant

How his companion, youthful Valentine,

Attends the emperor in his royal court.

ANTONIO

I know it well.

PANTHINO

'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither:

There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,

Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen.

And be in eye of every exercise

Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.

ANTONIO

I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised:

And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it,

The execution of it shall make known.

Even with the speediest expedition

I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.

PANTHINO

To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,

With other gentlemen of good esteem,

Are journeying to salute the emperor

And to commend their service to his will.

ANTONIO

Good company; with them shall Proteus go:

And, in good time! now will we break with him.

Enter PROTEUS

PROTEUS

Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life!

Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;

Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn.

O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,

To seal our happiness with their consents!

O heavenly Julia!

ANTONIO

How now! what letter are you reading there?

PROTEUS

May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two

Of commendations sent from Valentine,

Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.

ANTONIO

Lend me the letter; let me see what news.

PROTEUS

There is no news, my lord, but that he writes

How happily he lives, how well beloved

And daily graced by the emperor;

Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.

ANTONIO

And how stand you affected to his wish?

PROTEUS

As one relying on your lordship's will

And not depending on his friendly wish.

ANTONIO

My will is something sorted with his wish.

Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;

For what I will, I will, and there an end.

I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time

With Valentinus in the emperor's court:

What maintenance he from his friends receives,

Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.

To-morrow be in readiness to go:

Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.

PROTEUS

My lord, I cannot be so soon provided:

Please you, deliberate a day or two.

ANTONIO

Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee:

No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.

Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd

To hasten on his expedition.

Exeunt ANTONIO and PANTHINO

PROTEUS

Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning,

And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.

I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter,

Lest he should take exceptions to my love;

And with the vantage of mine own excuse

Hath he excepted most against my love.

O, how this spring of love resembleth

The uncertain glory of an April day,

Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,

And by and by a cloud takes all away!

Re-enter PANTHINO

PANTHINO

Sir Proteus, your father calls for you:

He is in haste; therefore, I pray you to go.

PROTEUS

Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto,

And yet a thousand times it answers 'no.'

Exeunt