VALENTINE    Then know that I have little wealth to lose. A man I am, crossed with adversity. My riches are these poor habiliments, Of which if you should here disfurnish me You take the sum and substance that I have. SECOND OUTLAW     Whither travel you? VALENTINE To Verona. FIRST OUTLAW         Whence came you? VALENTINE From […]

Enter Outlaws FIRST OUTLAW         Fellows, stand fast – I see a passenger. SECOND OUTLAW     If there be ten, shrink not, but down with ’em. [Enter Valentine and Speed] THIRD OUTLAW        Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye. If not, we’ll make you sit, and rifle you. SPEED [to Valentine] Sir, we are undone! These […]

THURIO          And thy advice this night I’ll put in practice. Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, Let us into the city presently To sort some gentlemen well-skilled in music. I have a sonnet that will serve the turn To give the onset to thy good advice. DUKE  About it, gentlemen. PROTEUS       We’ll wait upon your grace […]

PROTEUS       After your dire-lamenting elegies, Visit by night your lady’s chamber-window With some sweet consort. To their instruments Tune a deploring dump. The night’s dead silence Will well become such sweet complaining grievance. This, or else nothing, will inherit her. DUKE  This discipline shows thou hast been in love.        (3.2.81-87)   Proteus is really into […]

PROTEUS       Say that upon the altar of her beauty You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart. Write till your ink be dry, and with your tears Moist it again, and frame some feeling line, That may discover such integrity. For Orpheus’ lute was strung with poets’ sinews, Whose golden touch could soften steel and […]

PROTEUS       As much as I can do, I will effect. But you, Sir Thurio, are not sharp enough. You must lay lime to tangle her desires By wailful sonnets, whose composed rhymes Should be full-fraught with serviceable vows. DUKE  Ay, much is the force of heaven-bred poesy.         (3.2.66-71)   Oh, totally, I’ll do what I […]

DUKE  And Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind Because we know, on Valentine’s report, You are already love’s firm votary, And cannot soon revolt, and change your mind. Upon this warrant shall you have access Where you with Silvia may confer at large. For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy, And for your friend’s […]

THURIO          Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, Lest it should ravel and be good to none You must provide to bottom it on me; Which must be done by praising me as much As you in worth dispraise Sir Valentine.     (3.2.51-55)   Thurio’s conceit is fabulous but also deeply weird, especially to a […]

DUKE  Where your good word cannot advantage him Your slander never can endamage him. Therefore, the office is indifferent, Being entreated to it by your friend. PROTEUS       You have prevailed, my lord. If I can do it By aught that I can speak in his dispraise She shall not long continue love to him. But […]

PROTEUS       The best way is to slander Valentine With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent, Three things that women highly hold in hate. DUKE  Ay, but she’ll think that it is spoke in hate. PROTEUS Ay, if his enemy deliver it. Therefore it must with circumstance be spoken By one whom she esteemeth as his friend. […]