NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE

  Antony and Cleopatra

  As You Like It

  The Comedy of Errors

  Coriolanus

  Hamlet

  Henry IV, Parts One and Two

  Henry V

  Julius Caesar

  King Lear

  Macbeth

  Measure for Measure

  The Merchant of Venice

  A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  Much Ado About Nothing

  Othello

  Richard II

  Richard III

  Romeo and Juliet

  Sonnets

  The Taming of the Shrew

  The Tempest

  Twelfth Night

  Winter’s Tale

  NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE

  TWO

  GENTLEMEN

  OF VERONA

  SPARKNOTES and NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE are registered trademarks of SparkNotes LLC.

  Text © 2017 Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

  Cover © 2017 Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.

  ISBN 978-1-4549-2878-2

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  sterlingpublishing.com

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  Cover and title page illustration by Richard Amari.

  There’s matter in these sighs, these profound heaves. You must translate: ’tis fit we understand them.

  (Hamlet, 4.1.1–2)

  FEAR NOT.

  Have you ever found yourself looking at a Shakespeare play, then down at the footnotes, then back up at the play, and still not understanding? You know what the individual words mean, but they don’t add up. SparkNotes’ No Fear Shakespeare will help you break through all that. Put the pieces together with our easy-to-read translations. Soon you’ll be reading Shakespeare’s own words fearlessly— and actually enjoying it.

  No Fear Shakespeare pairs Shakespeare’s language with a translation into modern English—the kind of English people actually speak today. When Shakespeare’s words make your head spin, our translation will help you sort out what’s happening, who’s saying what, and why.

  TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

  Characters

  ACT ONE

  Scene 1

  Scene 2

  Scene 3

  ACT TWO

  Scene 1

  Scene 2

  Scene 3

  Scene 4

  Scene 5

  Scene 6

  Scene 7

  ACT THREE

  Scene 1

  Scene 2

  ACT FOUR

  Scene 1

  Scene 2

  Scene 3

  Scene 4

  ACT FIVE

  Scene 1

  Scene 2

  Scene 3

  Scene 4

  CHARACTERS

  Proteus—Valentine’s supposed best friend and one of the titular gentlemen of Verona. Proteus is Julia’s sweetheart at the beginning of the play, but when he joins Valentine at the duke’s palace, he falls in love with Silvia and attempts to steal her away from Valentine.

  Valentine—Proteus’s best friend and Silvia’s love. Valentine is the other titular gentleman of Verona. Banished to the forest after Proteus betrays to the duke Valentine’s plan to elope with Silvia, he becomes king of the outlaws.

  Julia—Proteus’s beloved, Julia, is mistress of the servant Lucetta. Julia disguises herself as Sebastian, an aristocratic male page, when she travels to Milan to visit Proteus. As the page, she does Proteus’s bidding, delivering to his new beloved, Silvia, the very ring she herself had earlier given him as a gift.

  Silvia—The duke’s daughter and beloved of Valentine. Proteus and Thurio also vie for her affections. Silvia commiserates with Sebastian over the wrong that Proteus has done to Julia. She escapes her father’s palace with the help of Sir Eglamour, who abandons her at the sight of the outlaws.

  Duke of Milan—Silvia’s father. He wants Silvia to marry the boorish but wealthy suitor Thurio. Upon hearing of Valentine’s plot to elope with Silvia, the duke banishes Valentine.

  Lucetta—Julia’s servant. She considers love from a practical point of view and helps Julia disguise herself as a man.

  Launce—Proteus’ servant and the master of a poorly trained mutt named Crab. His devotion to his dog knows no bounds and gives the play much humor. Launce falls in love with an unattractive but wealthy maid.

  Speed—Valentine’s page. At the beginning of the play, Speed does Proteus’s bidding as well. He is friendly with Launce.

  Thurio—A foolish rival to Valentine for Silvia’s hand. Thurio is wealthy and unpleasant.

  Sir Eglamour—The gentleman Silvia calls upon to help her escape from the duke’s court.

  Antonio—Proteus’s father and the master of the servant Panthino.

  Host—The person who houses Julia while she searches for Proteus.

  Outlaws—A crew of bandits who make Valentine their king when he is banished.

  Crab—Launce’s dog.

  Panthino—Antonio’s servant.

  ACT ONE

  SCENE 1

  Original Text

  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 honored love,

  5

  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,

  10

  Even as I would when I to love begin.

  PROTEUS

  Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu!

  Think on thy Proteus when thou haply seest

  Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel.

  Wish me partaker in thy happiness

  15

  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

  20

  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

  25

  ’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

  30

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

  Coy looks with heartsore sighs, one fading moment’s mirth

  With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights.

  If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain;

  35

  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

  40

  ’Tis love you cavil at. I am not Love.

  VALENTINE

  Love is your master, for he masters you;

  And he that is so yoked by a fool

  Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise.

  PROTEUS

  Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud

  45

  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

  50

  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?

  55

  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

  60

  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 VALENTINE

  PROTEUS

  65

  He after honor 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,

  70

  War with good counsel, set the world at naught;

  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,

  75

  And I have played the sheep in losing him.

  PROTEUS

  Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray,

  An if the shepherd be a while away.

  SPEED

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

  PROTEUS

  80

  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

  85

  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.

  90

  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

  95

  Such another proof will make me cry “Baa.”

  PROTEUS

  But dost thou hear? Gavest 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 labor.

  PROTEUS

  100

  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

  105

  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.

  PROTEUS

  But what said she?

  SPEED

  (Nodding) Ay.

  PROTEUS

  110

  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.

  115

  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.

  120

  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.

  125

  PROTEUS

  (Giving him money) Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?

  SPEED

  Truly, sir, I think you’ll hardly win her.

  PROTEUS

  Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?

  SPEED

  130

  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

  135

  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

  140

  Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wreck,

  Which cannot perish having thee aboard,

  Being destined to a drier death on shore.

  Exit SPEED

  I must go send some better messenger.

  I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,

  145

  Receiving them from such a worthless post.

  Exit

  ACT ONE

  SCENE 1

  Modern Text

  VALENTINE and PROTEUS enter.

  VALENTINE1

  Stop trying to persuade me, Proteus2. Young homebodies have dull minds. If you weren’t so tied to the girl you love, I’d ask you to come with me to see the distant wonders of the world rather than waste your youth living aimlessly as a sluggard at home. But, since you’re in love, keep on loving and thrive in your love. I would do the same were I in love.

  PROTEUS

  Are you going now? Goodbye, Valentine, my dear friend! Think of me when you happen to see some rare and noteworthy object in your travels. Wish me happiness, too, when you have good fortune. And if you’re ever in danger, trust that my prayers will protect you, for I will pray for you, Valentine.

  VALENTINE

  And you’ll be praying for me on a book about love3, I suspect?

  PROTEUS

  I’ll pray for you on a book I love.

  VALENTINE

  No doubt on some shallow story of “true” love, like the one about young Leander crossing the Hellespont4.

  PROTEUS

  That’s a deep story of a deeper love—the love was so deep it covered his shoes.

  VALENTINE

  It’s true. And your love is so deep it covers your boots, and yet you never swam across the Hellespont.

  PROTEUS

  Covers my boots? Don’t make fun of me.

  VALENTINE

  No, I won’t, for it doesn’t benefit you any.

  PROTEUS

  What?

  VALENTINE

  When you’re in love, your lovesick groans only earn her scorn, your brokenhearted sighs just get you flirtatious glances, and twenty tedious, sleepless nights spent pining for your sweetheart only yield you a brief moment of happiness. If by chance you succeed, it may turn out to be an unlucky win. And if you don’t, then you’ve only managed to waste your time. Either way, you win foolishness by being clever, or your cleverness is killed by foolishness.

  PROTEUS

  So, by your logic, I’m a fool.

  VALENTINE

  Because of your logic, I fear you’ll become a fool.

  PROTEUS

  It’s love you have a problem with. But don’t blame me—I’m not Love.

  VALENTINE

  Love is your master, because he’s got the better of you. And in my opinion, anyone who’s been taken in by a fool shouldn’t be considered very wise himself.

  PROTEUS

  Yet writers say that just as the destructive caterpillar dwells within the sweetest flower buds, love inhabits the cleverest minds.

  VALENTINE

  And writers also say that just as the caterpillar eats the greatest flower bud before it blooms, so too does love make young and fragile minds foolish. It destroys the young lover, who loses his youth while still in his prime, and takes away all his future hopes. But why am I wasting my time giving advice to you, a man who is devoted to foolish love? So, once again, farewell! My father expects to meet me at the harbor to see my ship off.

  PROTEUS

  I’ll go with you, Valentine.