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How use doth breed a habit in a man! This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods, I better brook than flourishing peopled towns: Here can I sit alone, unseen of any, And to the nightingale’s complaining notes Tune my distresses and record my woes. O thou that dost inhabit in my breast, Leave not the mansion so long tenantless, Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall And leave no memory of what it was! Repair me with thy presence, Silvia; Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swain! What halloing and what stir is this to-day? These are my mates, that make their wills their law, Have some unhappy passenger in chase. They love me well; yet I have much to do To keep them from uncivil outrages. Withdraw thee, Valentine: who’s this comes here?
How habits form when a man does something often! This lonely, empty wilderness, these deserted woods, I bear it better than busy, crowded cities: Here I can sit alone, unseen by anyone, And listen to the nightingale’s sad song While I pour out my troubles and write down my sorrows. Oh, you who live in my heart, Don’t leave my heart empty for too long, Or else, if it falls into ruin, it will collapse And there will be no trace of what it once was! Restore me with your presence, Silvia; You gentle spirit, take care of your lonely lover! What’s all this shouting and commotion today? These are my companions, who follow their own desires, Chasing some unlucky soul. They care for me, but I still have a lot to do To keep them from acting out in rude ways. Step back, Valentine: who’s this coming here?
Madam, this service I have done for you, Though you respect not aught your servant doth, To hazard life and rescue you from him That would have forced your honour and your love; Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look; A smaller boon than this I cannot beg And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give.
Madam, this service I’ve done for you, Even though you don’t care about what your servant does, To risk my life and rescue you from him Who would have dishonored and hurt you; Please grant me, as my reward, just one kind look; A smaller gift than this I cannot ask, And less than this, I’m sure, you cannot give.
[Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear! Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.
[Aside] How dreamlike this all seems to me! Love, give me the patience to endure this for a while.
O miserable, unhappy that I am!
Oh, miserable, unhappy that I am!
Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came; But by my coming I have made you happy.
You were unhappy, madam, before I came; But by my arrival, I have made you happy.
By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy.
Your coming has made me even more unhappy.
[Aside] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.
[Aside] And me, when he comes near you.
Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the beast, Rather than have false Proteus rescue me. O, Heaven be judge how I love Valentine, Whose life’s as tender to me as my soul! And full as much, for more there cannot be, I do detest false perjured Proteus. Therefore be gone; solicit me no more.
If I had been attacked by a hungry lion, I would have gladly become the beast’s meal, Rather than have false Proteus rescue me. Oh, Heaven, judge how much I love Valentine, Whose life is as dear to me as my own soul! And just as much, because there can be no more love than this, I hate false, lying Proteus. So go away; don’t bother me anymore.
What dangerous action, stood it next to death, Would I not undergo for one calm look! O, ’tis the curse in love, and still approved, When women cannot love where they’re beloved!
What dangerous thing, even if it meant death, Would I not do for one peaceful look! Oh, it’s the curse of love, always true, That women cannot love where they’re loved!
When Proteus cannot love where he’s beloved. Read over Julia’s heart, thy first best love, For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths Descended into perjury, to love me. Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou’dst two; And that’s far worse than none; better have none Than plural faith which is too much by one: Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!
When Proteus cannot love where he’s loved. Look at Julia’s heart, your first true love, For whose sake you tore your promises Into a thousand false oaths; and all those oaths Turned into lies, to love me. You have no faith left now, unless you have two; And that’s even worse than having none; Better to have no faith at all than two-faced faith, Which is one too many: You’re a fake to your true friend!
In love Who respects friend?
In love, Who cares about friendship?
All men but Proteus.
Everyone except Proteus.
Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words Can no way change you to a milder form, I’ll woo you like a soldier, at arms’ end, And love you ’gainst the nature of love,--force ye.
If the sweet power of words Can’t change you to be kinder, I’ll woo you like a soldier, sword in hand, And love you against the very nature of love,—I’ll force you.
O heaven!
Oh, Heaven!
I’ll force thee yield to my desire.
I’ll make you give in to my desires.
Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch, Thou friend of an ill fashion!
Thug, stop that rude and uncivil touch, You friend of a bad crowd!
Valentine!
Valentine!
Thou common friend, that’s without faith or love, For such is a friend now; treacherous man! Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me. Who should be trusted, when one’s own right hand Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus, I am sorry I must never trust thee more, But count the world a stranger for thy sake. The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst, ’Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
You common friend, who has no faith or love, Because that’s what a friend is these days; treacherous man! You’ve tricked my hopes; nothing but my eyes Could have convinced me: now I can’t even say I have a friend alive; you would prove me wrong. Who can be trusted, when your own right hand Lies to your heart? Proteus, I’m sorry, but I can never trust you again, And I’ll treat the world as a stranger because of you. The private hurt is the worst: O time, most cursed, Among all enemies, that a friend should be the worst!
My shame and guilt confounds me. Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow Be a sufficient ransom for offence, I tender ’t here; I do as truly suffer As e’er I did commit.
My shame and guilt overwhelm me. Forgive me, Valentine: if deep sorrow Is enough to make up for my wrong, I offer it here; I truly suffer As much as I ever sinned.
Then I am paid; And once again I do receive thee honest. Who by repentance is not satisfied Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased. By penitence the Eternal’s wrath’s appeased: And, that my love may appear plain and free, All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.
Then I’m paid; And once again I accept you as honest. Anyone who isn’t satisfied with repentance Is neither of heaven nor earth, because both are pleased. By repentance, the Eternal’s anger is calmed: And, so my love can be clear and free, Everything I had with Silvia, I give to you.
O me unhappy!
Oh, I am so unlucky!
Look to the boy.
Help the girl.
Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what’s the matter? Look up; speak.
Why, girl! Why, what’s wrong? What’s the matter? Look up; speak.
O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.
Oh, good sir, my master asked me to deliver a ring To Madam Silvia, which, because of my carelessness, I never did.
Where is that ring, boy?
Where is that ring, girl?
Here ’tis; this is it.
Here it is; this is the one.
How! let me see: Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.
What! Let me see: Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.
O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook: This is the ring you sent to Silvia.
Oh, I’m so sorry, sir, I’ve made a mistake: This is the ring you gave to Silvia.
But how camest thou by this ring? At my depart I gave this unto Julia.
But how did you get this ring? When I left, I gave this to Julia.
And Julia herself did give it me; And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
And Julia herself gave it to me; And Julia herself brought it here.
How! Julia!
What! Julia!
Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths, And entertain’d ’em deeply in her heart. How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root! O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush! Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me Such an immodest raiment, if shame live In a disguise of love: It is the lesser blot, modesty finds, Women to change their shapes than men their minds.
Look at her who inspired all your promises, And took them deeply to her heart. How often have you broken your word, cutting to the core! Oh, Proteus, let this make you ashamed! Be ashamed that I’ve put on such bold clothes, if shame still exists In the disguise of love: It’s less shameful, as modesty sees it, For women to change their appearance than for men to change their minds.
Than men their minds! ’tis true. O heaven! were man But constant, he were perfect. That one error Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins: Inconstancy falls off ere it begins. What is in Silvia’s face, but I may spy More fresh in Julia’s with a constant eye?
Men change their minds! That’s true. Oh, heaven! If only man Were consistent, he’d be perfect. That one mistake Leads to all other faults; it makes him commit every sin: Inconsistency vanishes before it even starts. What’s in Silvia’s face that I can’t see More clearly in Julia’s, if I look with true love?
Come, come, a hand from either: Let me be blest to make this happy close; ’Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
Come, come, let’s shake hands: Let me be lucky enough to make this end happily; It would be a shame if two such friends stayed enemies.
Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever.
Witness, Heaven, I’ve gotten my wish forever.
And I mine.
And I have mine.
A prize, a prize, a prize!
A prize, a prize, a prize!
Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my lord the duke. Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced, Banished Valentine.
Stop, stop, I say! It’s my lord the duke. Your grace, you’re welcome to a disgraced man, Banished Valentine.
Sir Valentine!
Sir Valentine!
Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia’s mine.
There’s Silvia; and Silvia is mine.
Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death; Come not within the measure of my wrath; Do not name Silvia thine; if once again, Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands; Take but possession of her with a touch: I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.
Thurio, step back, or you’ll face your death; Don’t come near me when I’m angry; Don’t say Silvia is yours; if you do again, Verona won’t be able to hold you. Here she stands; Just touch her, and she’s yours: I dare you even to breathe near my love.
Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I; I hold him but a fool that will endanger His body for a girl that loves him not: I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
Sir Valentine, I don’t care for her, I think anyone who’d risk his life For a woman who doesn’t love him is a fool: I don’t claim her, so she’s yours.
The more degenerate and base art thou, To make such means for her as thou hast done And leave her on such slight conditions. Now, by the honour of my ancestry, I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, And think thee worthy of an empress’ love: Know then, I here forget all former griefs, Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again, Plead a new state in thy unrivall’d merit, To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine, Thou art a gentleman and well derived; Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.
You’re even more dishonorable and base, To go to such lengths for her and then leave her so easily. Now, by the honor of my family, I admire your spirit, Valentine, And think you worthy of an empress’ love: So, I’ll forget all my past grievances, Cancel all grudges, and bring you back home, Start a new chapter based on your unmatched worth, To which I hereby agree: Sir Valentine, You are a gentleman of good birth; Take Silvia, for you’ve earned her.
I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy. I now beseech you, for your daughter’s sake, To grant one boom that I shall ask of you.
I thank your grace; this gift has made me happy. I now ask you, for your daughter’s sake, To grant one favor that I’ll ask of you.
I grant it, for thine own, whate’er it be.
I’ll grant it, whatever it is, for your sake.
These banish’d men that I have kept withal Are men endued with worthy qualities: Forgive them what they have committed here And let them be recall’d from their exile: They are reformed, civil, full of good And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
The banished men I’ve kept with me Are men with good qualities: Forgive them for what they’ve done here And let them return from exile: They’ve changed, they’re polite, full of goodness, And ready for important work, my lord.
Thou hast prevail’d; I pardon them and thee: Dispose of them as thou know’st their deserts. Come, let us go: we will include all jars With triumphs, mirth and rare solemnity.
You’ve won; I pardon them and you: Handle them as you see fit based on their actions. Come, let’s go: we’ll forget all our disputes And celebrate with joy, laughter, and special ceremony.
And, as we walk along, I dare be bold With our discourse to make your grace to smile. What think you of this page, my lord?
And as we walk, I’ll be bold enough To make you smile with our conversation. What do you think of this boy, my lord?
I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.
I think the boy has charm; he’s blushing.
I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.
I’m sure, my lord, he has more charm than just being a boy.
What mean you by that saying?
What do you mean by that?
Please you, I’ll tell you as we pass along, That you will wonder what hath fortuned. Come, Proteus; ’tis your penance but to hear The story of your loves discovered: That done, our day of marriage shall be yours; One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
If you’ll allow me, I’ll explain as we go, And you’ll be amazed at what’s happened. Come, Proteus; your punishment is just to listen To the story of your loves revealed: Once that’s done, our wedding day will be yours; One feast, one home, one shared happiness.