The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 2, Scene 2

    comedy

    Verona. JULIA'S house.

    Scene Summary

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    Proteus and Julia say goodbye in Verona before he leaves for Milan. They exchange rings as tokens of faithfulness. Proteus swears to be constant. Julia weeps and can barely speak. The scene is short, but the ring Proteus gives Julia will reappear at a critical moment near the end of the play, making this quiet farewell matter more than it appears to.

    Enter PROTEUS and JULIA
    PROTEUS
    Have patience, gentle Julia.
    JULIA
    I must, where is no remedy.
    PROTEUS
    When possibly I can, I will return.
    JULIA
    If you turn not, you will return the sooner.
    Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake.
    Giving a ring
    PROTEUS
    Why then, we'll make exchange; here, take you this.
    JULIA
    And seal the bargain with a holy kiss.
    PROTEUS
    Here is my hand for my true constancy;
    And when that hour o'erslips me in the day
    Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake,
    The next ensuing hour some foul mischance
    Torment me for my love's forgetfulness!
    My father stays my coming; answer not;
    The tide is now: nay, not thy tide of tears;
    That tide will stay me longer than I should.
    Julia, farewell!
    Exit JULIA
    What, gone without a word?
    Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak;
    For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it.
    Enter PANTHINO
    PANTHINO
    Sir Proteus, you are stay'd for.
    PROTEUS
    Go; I come, I come.
    Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb.
    Exeunt