Puck. If we fhadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended;
That you have but flumbred here,
While thefe vifions did appear.
And this weak and idle theam
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon, we will mend.
And as I am honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck

Now to 'fcape the ferpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long:
Elfe the Puck a liar call:

So good night unto you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends;
And Robin fhall restore amends.

[Exeunt omnes.

៩

THE

THE TWO

GENTLEMEN

OF

VERO N A.

H 3

Anthonio, Father to Protheus.

Thurio, a foolish Rival to Valentine.

Eglamore, Agent for Silvia in her Escape..
Hoft, where Julia lodges in Milan.
Out-laws.

Speed, a clownish Servant to Valentine..

Launce, the like to Protheus.

Panthion, Servant to Anthonio.

Julia, a Lady of Verona, beloved of Protheus...

Silvia, the Duke of Milan's Daughter below'd of Valentine, Lucetta, Waiting-woman to Julia.

Servants, Muficians..

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

THE

TWO GENTLEMEN

O F

(1) VERONA.

A C T I.

SCENE, an open Place in Verona.
Enter Valentine and Protheus.

C

VALENTINE.

EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus;
Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits;
Wer'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)

I

(1) Mr. Pope has obferv'd, that the ftile of this Comedy is lefs figurative, and more natural and unaffected, than the greater part of Our Author's plays, tho' fuppos'd to be one of the first he wrote. muft obferve, too, that as I take it to be one of his very worst, it happens to be freeft from accidental corruptions of the Editors: which is the reafon, that my notes are fewer on this; than on any one of his other pieces.

H 4

Wear

Wear out thy youth with fhapeless idleness.
But fince thou lov'ft, love ftill, and thrive there in;
Ev'n as I would, when I to love begin..

Pro. Wilt thou be gone? fweet l'alentine, adieu;
Think on thy Protheus, when thou, haply, feest
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 prayer;
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 cross'd the Hellefpont.

Pre. 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. (2)
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 won, perhaps, an hapless gain :
If loft, why then a grievous labour won;
However, but a folly bought with wit;
Or else 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 mafters you. And he that is fo yoaked by a fool,

(2) nay, give me not the boots.] A proverbial expreffion, tho' now difus'd, fignifying, don't make a laughing stock of me; don't play upon me. The French have a phrase, Bailler foin en corne; which. Cotgrave thus interprets, To give one the boots; to fell him a bargain.

Methinks