The Two Gentlemen of Verona

by: William Shakespeare

Act 1 Scene 1

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS	VALENTINE St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers. VALENTINE and PROTEUS In Greek myth, Proteus was a sea god who could change shape. The name suggests that Shakespeare’s Proteus frequently changes his mind. PROTEUS enter.
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, 5I 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, 10Even as I would when I to love begin.	VALENTINE Stop trying to persuade me, Proteus. 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, love constantly and thrive in your love. I would do the same were I in love.
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 15When 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.	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 on a love book pray for my success?	VALENTINE And you’ll be praying for me on a book about love As opposed to the Bible. Valentine implies that Proteus makes love his religion. a book about love, I suspect?
PROTEUS 20Upon some book I love I’ll pray for thee.	PROTEUS I’ll pray for you on a book I love.
VALENTINE That’s on some shallow story of deep love, How young Leander crossed the Hellespont.	VALENTINE No doubt on some shallow story of “true” love, like the one about young Leander crossing the Hellespont In classical myth, Leander swam across the Hellespont each night to see his love, Hero. But he drowned in a storm during his crossing one night. Leander crossing the Hellespont.

Read the Summary of Act I, scene i

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