The Two Gentlemen of Verona (The RSC Shakespeare) - Softcover

Shakespeare, William

 
9780812969382: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (The RSC Shakespeare)

Inhaltsangabe

“They do not love that do not show their love.”
—Two Gentlemen of Verona
 
Eminent Shakespearean scholars Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen provide a fresh new edition of the classic comedy of courtship and delicious rivalry.
 
THIS VOLUME ALSO INCLUDES MORE THAN A HUNDRED PAGES OF EXCLUSIVE FEATURES:
 
• an original Introduction to Two Gentlemen of Verona
• incisive scene-by-scene synopsis and analysis with vital facts about the work
• commentary on past and current productions based on interviews with leading directors, actors, and designers
• photographs of key RSC productions
• an overview of Shakespeare’s theatrical career and chronology of his plays
 
Ideal for students, theater professionals, and general readers, these modern and accessible editions from the Royal Shakespeare Company set a new standard in Shakespearean literature for the twenty-first century.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare's vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnets. His dramatic works have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Jonathan Bate is a professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance literature at the University of Warwick. Widely known as a critic, award-winning biographer, and broadcaster, Bate is the author of several books on Shakespeare. He is also the principal editor of the Modern Library’s and Royal Shakespeare Company’s highly acclaimed William Shakespeare: Complete Works.

Eric Rasmussen, a professor of English at the University of Nevada, is one of today's leading textual experts on Shakespeare.

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Chapter 1

Act 1 Scene 1 running scene 1

Enter Valentine [and] Proteus

VALENTINE Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus:

Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits.

Were't not affection chains thy tender days

To the sweet glances of thy honoured love,

I rather would entreat thy company

To see the wonders of the world abroad,

Than - living dully sluggardized at home -

Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.

But since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein,

Even as I would, when I to love begin.

PROTEUS Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu.

Think on thy Proteus, when thou haply see'st

Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel.

Wish me partaker in thy happiness

When thou dost meet good hap: and in thy danger -

If ever danger do environ thee -

Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,

For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.

VALENTINE And on a love-book pray for my success?

PROTEUS Upon some book I love, I'll pray for thee.

VALENTINE That's on some shallow story of deep love:

How young Leander crossed the Hellespont.

PROTEUS That's a deep story, of a deeper love,

For he was more than over-shoes in love.

VALENTINE 'Tis true: for you are over-boots in love,

And yet you never swam the Hellespont.

PROTEUS Over the boots? Nay, give me not the boots.

VALENTINE No, I will not, for it boots thee not.

PROTEUS What?

VALENTINE To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans:

Coy looks with heart-sore sighs, one fading moment's mirth,

With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights;

If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain,

If lost, why then a grievous labour won;

However, but a folly bought with wit,

Or else a wit by folly vanquishèd.

PROTEUS So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.

VALENTINE So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll prove.

PROTEUS 'Tis Love you cavil at: I am not Love.

VALENTINE Love is your master, for he masters you:

And he that is so yokèd by a fool,

Methinks should not be chronicled for wise.

PROTEUS Yet writers say: as in the sweetest bud

The eating canker dwells, so eating love

Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

VALENTINE And writers say: as the most forward bud

Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,

Even so by love, the young and tender wit

Is turned to folly, blasting in the bud,

Losing his verdure, even in the prime,

And all the fair effects of future hopes.

But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee

That art a votary to fond desire?

Once more, adieu. My father at the road

Expects my coming, there to see me shipped.

PROTEUS And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.

VALENTINE Sweet Proteus, no: now let us take our leave.

To Milan let me hear from thee by letters

Of thy success in love, and what news else

Betideth here in absence of thy friend:

And I likewise will visit thee with mine.

PROTEUS All happiness bechance to thee in Milan.

VALENTINE As much to you at home: and so, farewell. Exit

PROTEUS He after honour hunts, I after love;

He leaves his friends to dignify them more;

I leave myself, my friends and all, for love.

Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me:

Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,

War with good counsel, set the world at nought;

Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.

[Enter Speed]

SPEED Sir Proteus, 'save you. Saw you my master?

PROTEUS But now he parted hence to embark for Milan.

SPEED Twenty to one then, he is shipped already,

And I have played the sheep in losing him.

PROTEUS Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray,

An if the shepherd be awhile away.

SPEED You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep?

PROTEUS I do.

SPEED Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.

PROTEUS A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.

SPEED This proves me still a sheep.

PROTEUS True: and thy master a shepherd.

SPEED Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.

PROTEUS It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another.

SPEED The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me. Therefore I am no sheep.

PROTEUS The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep: thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee. Therefore thou art a sheep.

SPEED Such another proof will make me cry 'baa'.

PROTEUS But dost thou hear? Gav'st thou my letter to Julia?

SPEED Ay, sir: I, a lost-mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced- mutton, and she, a laced-mutton, gave me, a lost-mutton, nothing for my labour.

PROTEUS Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

SPEED If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.

PROTEUS Nay, in that you are astray: 'twere best pound you.

SPEED Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter.

PROTEUS You mistake: I mean the pound - a pinfold.

SPEED From a pound to a pin? Fold it over and over, 'tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. Speed

PROTEUS But what said she? Nods his head

SPEED Ay.

PROTEUS Nod - ay - why, that's 'noddy'.

SPEED You mistook, sir: I say she did nod, and you ask me if she did nod, and I say 'ay'.

PROTEUS And that set together is noddy.

SPEED Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

PROTEUS No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter.

SPEED Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.

PROTEUS Why sir, how do you bear with me?

SPEED Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly, having nothing but the word 'noddy' for my pains.

PROTEUS Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.

SPEED And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.

PROTEUS Come come, open the matter in brief: what said she?

SPEED Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered.

PROTEUS Well, sir: here is for your pains. What said she? Gives a coin

SPEED Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Examines coin, with contempt

PROTEUS Why? Couldst thou perceive so much from her?

SPEED Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter. And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but stones, for she's as hard as steel.

PROTEUS What said she, nothing?

SPEED No, not so much as 'Take this for thy pains.' To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself. And so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.

PROTEUS Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wreck, [Exit Speed]

Which cannot perish having thee aboard,

Being destined to a drier death on shore.

I must go send some better messenger:

I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,

Receiving them from such a worthless post. Exit

Act 1 Scene 2 running scene 2

Enter Julia and Lucetta

JULIA But say, Lucetta - now we are alone -

Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?

LUCETTA Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.

JULIA Of all the fair resort of gentlemen

That every day with parle encounter me,

In thy opinion, which is worthiest love?

LUCETTA Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind,

According to my...

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