The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Shakescleare Translation

The Two Gentlemen of Verona Translation Act 5, Scene 4

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Enter VALENTINE.

VALENTINE

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?

VALENTINE

Increasing familiarity can make people feel more at home, no matter where they are! This shadowy deserted place—a forest that no one ever visits—now feels better to me than towns bustling with people. Here, I can sit alone, and no one sees me. I can tune the sad songs I sing to the nightingale's sorrowful notes. Oh, you that live in my breast: don't leave my love's dwelling place so long without a tenant. Otherwise, it will become a ruin, and the building will fall and leave no memory of what it was! Revive me with your presence, Silvia. You gentle, beautiful creature: treasure me, your abandoned lover! What's this shouting and what hustle do we have here today? These are my friends that make their desires into their laws. They are following some unfortunate traveler. They love me, but I have a lot to do to keep them from committing uncivil and shocking acts. Valentine, keep away for now. Who's coming here? 

Enter PROTEUS, SILVIA, and JULIA

PROTEUS

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.

PROTEUS

Madam, I have done you this service. But you don't value what I—your servant—have done. I risked my life and rescued you from the outlaw that would have raped you. Give me just one beautiful look as my reward. I cannot ask for a smaller favor. And I am sure this is the least you can do for me.

VALENTINE

[Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.

VALENTINE

[To himself] What I see and hear is like a dream! Love, give me patience to wait for a while.

SILVIA

O miserable, unhappy that I am!

SILVIA

Oh, I am miserable and unhappy!

PROTEUS

Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;But by my coming I have made you happy.

PROTEUS

You were unhappy before I came, madam. But my coming here has made you happy.

SILVIA

By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy.

SILVIA

But your loving advances make me very unhappy.

JULIA

[Aside] And me, when he approacheth to your presence.

JULIA

[To herself] And when he makes those advances to you, Silvia, it makes me unhappy. 

SILVIA

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.

SILVIA

If I were taken by a hungry lion, I would rather have been the beast's breakfast than have the false Proteus rescue me. Oh, Heaven may be the judge of how much I love Valentine, whose life's as precious to me as my soul! And I hate the false, lying Proteus the most—more than words can express. Therefore, leave. Don't pursue me anymore. 

PROTEUS

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!

PROTEUS

I would take on any fight—even a deadly one—just for one loving glance! Oh, it's still proved true that love's curse is a woman who cannot reciprocate love. 

SILVIA

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!

SILVIA

No, when Proteus can't reciprocate love. Study Julia's heart, your first and truest love.You tore up your fidelity to Julia into a thousand false promises (which are now just lies) in order to love me. You have no fidelity left now—unless you maintain two separate senses of loyalty, one to her and one to me. And that's worse than if you had none. It's better to be faithful to no one than to be faithful to two women. That's too much for either woman to bear. You are a false imitation of a true friend like Valentine!

PROTEUS

In loveWho respects friend?

PROTEUS

Who takes a friend into consideration when it comes to love?

SILVIA

All men but Proteus.

SILVIA

All men do, except Proteus.

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.

PROTEUS

No, if the gentle nature of my wooing words cannot in any way make you behave more mildly, then I'll woo you like a soldier. I'll rape you at knife point, and love you in a way that goes against the nature of love.

SILVIA

O heaven!

SILVIA

Oh God!

PROTEUS

I'll force thee yield to my desire.

PROTEUS

I'll force you to give in to my desire.

VALENTINE

Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,Thou friend of an ill fashion!

VALENTINE

Rascal, stop that rude, brutish behavior, you wicked friend!

PROTEUS

Valentine!

PROTEUS

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!

VALENTINE

You are an ordinary friend that's without faith or love. And such a friend is now a treacherous man! You have deceived my hopes: nothing could have persuaded me about that except for witnessing your behavior firsthand. Now I won't dare to say that I have only one friend that's alive—because you would prove me wrong. Who should be trusted, when one's closest friend is a liar? Proteus, I am sorry I must never trust you again, but consider you a stranger. The personal wound is the deepest one. Oh, what an awful moment! Its terrible when a friend should be the worst among your enemies. 

PROTEUS

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.

PROTEUS

My shame and guilt overcome me. Forgive me, Valentine. If hearty sorrow can be enough to make up for my offense, I offer it here. I do suffer for the wrongs I've committed. 

VALENTINE

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.

VALENTINE

Then I am satisfied. And once again, I'll regard you as an honest man. He who is not satisfied with someone else's repentance is not of heaven or of earth. For repentance pleases both people on earth, and also God. Repentance calms God's anger. And to prove that my friendship can be honest and generous, I give you my claim to Silvia.

JULIA

O me unhappy!

JULIA

Oh, I am unhappy!

Swoons

PROTEUS

Look to the boy.

PROTEUS

Take care of that boy.

VALENTINE

Why, boy! Why, wag! How now! What's the matter?Look up; speak.

VALENTINE

Boy! Come on, boy! What's the matter? Look up and speak.

JULIA

O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ringto Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.

JULIA

Oh, good sir. My master instructed me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which I forgot to do.

PROTEUS

Where is that ring, boy?

PROTEUS

Where is that ring, boy?

JULIA

Here 'tis; this is it.

JULIA

Here it is. 

PROTEUS

How! Let me see:Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.

PROTEUS

Let me see. But this is the ring I gave to Julia!

JULIA

O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook:This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

JULIA

Oh, forgive me sir. I have made a mistake. This is the ring you sent to Silvia.

PROTEUS

But how camest thou by this ring? At my departI gave this unto Julia.

PROTEUS

But how is it that you have this ring? I gave it to Julia when we said goodbye.

JULIA

And Julia herself did give it me;And Julia herself hath brought it hither.

JULIA

And Julia herself gave it to me. And Julia herself has brought it here. 

PROTEUS

How! Julia!

PROTEUS

Julia?! Is that you?

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.

JULIA

Look at me, the women who was once the object of all your promises. I received them deeply in my heart. How often have you split the bottom of my heart when you broke a promise! Oh, Proteus, let my outfit make you blush! Be ashamed that I have been wearing such immodest clothing—if it can be shameful to wear a disguise for the sake of love. It's much more appropriate and a lesser fault for women to be deceptive in their appearance than for men to be deceptive in their love. 

PROTEUS

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?

PROTEUS

Than for men to be unfaithful! That's true. Oh heaven! If only man could be faithful, then he would be perfect. Because one mistake fills him with faults, he commits so many sins. Being unfaithful gets old very fast. What is in Silvia's face, that I can't see more clearly in Julia's with faithful eyes?

VALENTINE

Come, come, a hand from either: Let me be blest to make this happy close; 'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.

VALENTINE

Come, come, give me your hands. Let me be blessed to make a happy end to this. It would be a pity if two friends like you should be enemies.

PROTEUS

Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever.

PROTEUS

Heaven, be my witness. I will keep my wish forever. 

JULIA

And I mine.

JULIA

And I will keep mine.

Enter Outlaws, with DUKE and TURIO

OUTLAWS

A prize, a prize, a prize!

OUTLAWS

A prize, a prize, a prize!

VALENTINE

Forbear, forbear, I say! It is my lord the duke.Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced,Banished Valentine.

VALENTINE

Stop, stop, I say! It is my lord, the Duke. It is I, a dishonored man—the banished Valentine—who welcomes Your Grace.

DUKE

Sir Valentine!

DUKE

Sir Valentine!

TURIO

Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine.

TURIO

There's Silvia, and Silvia is mine.

VALENTINE

Turio, 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.

VALENTINE

Turio, move back, or else accept your death. Don't come close to the range of my anger. Do not call Silvia yours. If you do that once more, Verona won't protect you. Here she is. Go ahead, try to only touch her and take her as your own; I dare you to do so much as breathe on my love.

TURIO

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.

TURIO

Sir Valentine, I don't care about her. I think a man would be foolish to put his body in danger for a girl that doesn't love him. I don't call her mine, and therefore she is yours.

DUKE

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.

DUKE

[To TURIO] You are all the more degenerate and lowly, because you went to such lengths to win her, and then just left her based on such insubstantial grounds.

[To VALENTINE] Now, by the honor of my ancestry, I congratulate your spirit, Valentine. And I think you are worthy of an empress' love.
Know that I will now forget all previous trouble, cancel all hatred, and allow you to return to your home again. Ask for a new set of circumstances based on your unquestionable merit, and I'll agree to them.Sir Valentine, you are a gentleman. Take Silvia, because you have earned her. 

VALENTINE

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.

VALENTINE

Thank you, your Grace. The gift has made me happy. I now ask you—for your daughter's sake—to do me one more favor.

DUKE

I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.

DUKE

I'll grant your request, whatever it may be.

VALENTINE

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.

VALENTINE

These banished men that I have lived with have some valuable qualities. Forgive them for what they have done here, and let them return home from their exile. They are reformed, civil, full of goodness, and ready to do you great service, noble Lord.

DUKE

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.

DUKE

You have convinced me. I pardon them, and I pardon you. Make arrangements for them in accordance with what they deserve. Come, let's go. We will bring this all to an end with festivities, joy, and a marvelous celebration.

VALENTINE

And, as we walk along, I dare be boldWith our discourse to make your grace to smile.What think you of this page, my lord?

VALENTINE

And as we walk along, I will dare to be bold with our conversation—so I can make your Grace smile. [Referring to JULIA] What do you think of this boy, my lord?

DUKE

I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.

DUKE

I think the boy is charming. He blushes.

VALENTINE

I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy.

VALENTINE

I guarantee, my lord, that this person is more beautiful and charming than this person is a boy.

DUKE

What mean you by that saying?

DUKE

What do you mean by that?

VALENTINE

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.

VALENTINE

If you wish, I'll tell you while we walk—and you will marvel at what has happened.

[To PROTEUS] 
Come, Proteus. Your punishment will be to listen to the story of your discovered love.
When that's done, our wedding day will also be yours. One feast, one house, and one mutual happiness.

Exeunt