The Two Gentlemen of Verona Translation Act 2, Scene 4
Enter SILVIA, VALENTINE, TURIO, and SPEED
SILVIA
Servant!
SILVIA
Servant!
VALENTINE
Mistress?
VALENTINE
Mistress?
SPEED
Master, Sir Turio frowns on you.
SPEED
Master, Sir Turio is frowning at you.
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Ay, boy, it's for love.
VALENTINE
Ah, yes, boy. He's frowning because of his love.
SPEED
Not of you.
SPEED
Not his love for you.
VALENTINE
Of my mistress, then.
VALENTINE
Love for my mistress, then.
SPEED
'Twere good you knocked him.
SPEED
It would be a good idea for you to hit him.
Exit
SILVIA
Servant, you are sad.
SILVIA
You are sad, servant.
VALENTINE
Indeed, madam, I seem so.
VALENTINE
Indeed, madam, I seem sad.
TURIO
Seem you that you are not?
TURIO
Do you seem what you are not?
VALENTINE
Haply I do.
VALENTINE
Maybe I do.
TURIO
So do counterfeits.
TURIO
So do impostors.
VALENTINE
So do you.
VALENTINE
So do you.
TURIO
What seem I that I am not?
TURIO
What do I seem that I'm not?
VALENTINE
Wise.
VALENTINE
Wise.
TURIO
What instance of the contrary?
TURIO
What's the evidence that I'm not wise?
VALENTINE
Your folly.
VALENTINE
Your foolishness.
TURIO
And how quote you my folly?
TURIO
And how can you tell that I'm foolish?
VALENTINE
I quote it in your jerkin.
VALENTINE
I can tell by your sleeveless jacket.
TURIO
My jerkin is a doublet.
TURIO
My sleeveless jacket is a doublet.
VALENTINE
Well, then, I'll double your folly.
VALENTINE
Well, then, I'll double your foolishness.
TURIO
How?
TURIO
How?
SILVIA
What, angry, Sir Turio! Do you change colour?
SILVIA
Oh, are you angry, Sir Turio? Is your face changing color?
VALENTINE
Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.
VALENTINE
Let him be, madam. He is like a chameleon.
TURIO
That hath more mind to feed on your blood than livein your air.
TURIO
A chameleon that would rather feed on your blood than live off of the same air you breathe.
VALENTINE
You have said, sir.
VALENTINE
Well, you have said it, sir.
TURIO
Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.
TURIO
Yes, sir, and I am finished too. For now.
VALENTINE
I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.
VALENTINE
I know that well enough, sir. You always stop before you've started.
SILVIA
A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off.
SILVIA
That's a fine exchange of words, gentlemen. And quickly fired.
VALENTINE
'Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver.
VALENTINE
It is indeed, madam. We thank the one who gave it to us.
SILVIA
Who is that, servant?
SILVIA
Who is that, servant?
VALENTINE
Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire. Sir Turio borrows his wit from your ladyship's looks, and spends what he borrows kindly in your company.
VALENTINE
You, sweet lady. Because you gave us the spark to set it off. Sir Turio borrows his wit from your Ladyship's appearance, and spends what he borrows in your company.
TURIO
Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shallmake your wit bankrupt.
TURIO
Sir, if you waste a word with me, I shall bankrupt your wit.
VALENTINE
I know it well, sir; you have an exchequer of words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your followers, for it appears by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words.
VALENTINE
I know that well enough, sir. You have a treasury of words. And I think that no other treasure helps you get servants. It seems that they live on your words alone, based on their shabby uniforms.
SILVIA
No more, gentlemen, no more:—here comes my father.
SILVIA
No more, gentlemen. No more. My father is coming.
Enter DUKE
DUKE
Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. Sir Valentine, your father's in good health: What say you to a letter from your friends Of much good news?
DUKE
Now you are besieged by suitors, my daughter Silvia.
[To VALENTINE] Sir Valentine, your father is well. What would you say to a letter from your friends, passing on a lot of good news?
VALENTINE
My lord, I will be thankful.To any happy messenger from thence.
VALENTINE
My lord, I would be thankful for any happy message from home.
DUKE
Know ye Don Antonio, your countryman?
DUKE
Do you know Don Antonio? He is from your country.
VALENTINE
Ay, my good lord, I know the gentlemanTo be of worth and worthy estimationAnd not without desert so well reputed.
VALENTINE
Yes, my good lord. I know that he is a gentleman of high rank; one who deserves respect and esteem.
DUKE
Hath he not a son?
DUKE
Doesn't he have a son?
VALENTINE
Ay, my good lord; a son that well deservesThe honour and regard of such a father.
VALENTINE
Yes, my good lord. He has a son that deserves the honor and regard of such a great father.
DUKE
You know him well?
DUKE
Do you know him well?
VALENTINE
I know him as myself; for from our infancy We have conversed and spent our hours together: And though myself have been an idle truant, Omitting the sweet benefit of time To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection, Yet hath Sir Proteus, for that's his name, Made use and fair advantage of his days; His years but young, but his experience old; His head unmellow'd, but his judgment ripe; And, in a word, for far behind his worth Comes all the praises that I now bestow, He is complete in feature and in mind With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
VALENTINE
I know him like I know myself. Ever since we were children, we have talked and spent all our time together. And although I have been a lazy delinquent—disregarding the benefit of time to perfect myself in my old age—Sir Proteus (that's the son's name) used his time well. He is young, but he is old if we consider his experience. There are no grey hairs on his head, and yet his judgement is mature. And, to sum it up (because my praises are not enough to praise his worth), he is perfect in his appearance and in his mind. And he has all the good grace that a gentleman has.
DUKE
Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good, He is as worthy for an empress' love As meet to be an emperor's counsellor. Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me, With commendation from great potentates; And here he means to spend his time awhile: I think 'tis no unwelcome news to you.
DUKE
Curse me, sir, if he is as good as you say he is. He deserves an empress' love as well as a position to advise an emperor. Well, sir, this gentleman is coming to me, with recommendation from powerful rulers. And he is thinking of spending some time here. I think you like this news too.
VALENTINE
Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he.
VALENTINE
If I could have wished for something, it would have been for him to come here!
DUKE
Welcome him then according to his worth. Silvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Turio; For Valentine, I need not cite him to it: I will send him hither to you presently.
DUKE
Welcome him, then, according to his worth. Silvia and Sir Turio, I speak to you, because I don't need to urge Valentine. I will send Proteus here to you immediately.
Exit
VALENTINE
This is the gentleman I told your ladyship Had come along with me, but that his mistress Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks.
VALENTINE
This is the gentleman I told your Ladyship about. He would have come along with me, but his mistress kept his eyes locked on her.
SILVIA
Belike that now she hath enfranchised themUpon some other pawn for fealty.
SILVIA
Perhaps she has now freed his eyes, and instead chosen another man's vow of loyalty.
VALENTINE
Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
VALENTINE
No, I think she still holds his eyes as prisoners.
SILVIA
Nay, then he should be blind; and, being blindHow could he see his way to seek out you?
SILVIA
No, then he should be blind. And if he's blind, how could he see his way to find you?
VALENTINE
Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.
VALENTINE
Indeed, Lady: Love has twenty pair of eyes.
TURIO
They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
TURIO
They say that Love is blind.
VALENTINE
To see such lovers, Turio, as yourself:Upon a homely object Love can wink.
VALENTINE
Love is blind to such lovers as yourself, Turio. Love can shut its eyes when it meets an unattractive object.
SILVIA
Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman.
SILVIA
Enough, enough! Here he comes.
Exit TURIO
Enter PROTEUS
VALENTINE
Welcome, dear Proteus! Mistress, I beseech you,Confirm his welcome with some special favour.
VALENTINE
Welcome, dear Proteus!
[To SILVIA] Mistress, I beg you to welcome him with a special favor.
SILVIA
His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,If this be he you oft have wish'd to hear from.
SILVIA
His worth is a guarantee for his welcome here, if this is the same man that you have often wanted to hear from.
VALENTINE
Mistress, it is: sweet lady, entertain himTo be my fellow-servant to your ladyship.
VALENTINE
Mistress, it is him. Sweet lady, receive him as my fellow servant to your Ladyship.
SILVIA
Too low a mistress for so high a servant.
SILVIA
I am a mistress too humble to have such a superior servant.
PROTEUS
Not so, sweet lady: but too mean a servantTo have a look of such a worthy mistress.
PROTEUS
Not at all, sweet lady. I am an unworthy servant to have ever seen such a worthy mistress.
VALENTINE
Leave off discourse of disability:Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
VALENTINE
Stop this talk of inadequacy.
[To SILVIA] Sweet lady, receive him as your servant.
PROTEUS
My duty will I boast of; nothing else.
PROTEUS
I will only boast of my sense of duty, nothing else.
SILVIA
And duty never yet did want his meed:Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
SILVIA
And duty never lacked its reward. You are welcome, servant, to a worthless mistress.
PROTEUS
I'll die on him that says so but yourself.
PROTEUS
I'll die fighting with anyone who says that—except for you, of course.
SILVIA
That you are welcome?
SILVIA
Anyone who says that you are welcome?
PROTEUS
That you are worthless.
PROTEUS
Anyone who says that you are worthless.
Re-enter TURIO
TURIO
Madam, my lord your father would speak with you.
TURIO
Madam, my lord—your father—would like to speak to you.
SILVIA
I wait upon his pleasure. Come, Sir Turio, Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome: I'll leave you to confer of home affairs; When you have done, we look to hear from you.
SILVIA
I will come to please him. Come, Sir Turio, go with me.
[To PROTEUS] Once more, welcome, new servant. I'll leave you to catch up about what's happening at home. When you're done, we look forward to hearing from you.
PROTEUS
We'll both attend upon your ladyship.
PROTEUS
We both serve your Ladyship.
Exeunt SILVIA and TURIO
VALENTINE
Now, tell me, how do all from whence you came?
VALENTINE
Now, tell me: how are things from where you've come?
PROTEUS
Your friends are well and have them much commended.
PROTEUS
Your friends are well, and they send their hearty greetings.
VALENTINE
And how do yours?
VALENTINE
And how are your friends?
PROTEUS
I left them all in health.
PROTEUS
They were all well when I left them.
VALENTINE
How does your lady? And how thrives your love?
VALENTINE
How is your lady doing? And how is your love?
PROTEUS
My tales of love were wont to weary you;I know you joy not in a love discourse.
PROTEUS
My tales of love used to make you tired. I know that you don't enjoy talking about love.
VALENTINE
Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now: I have done penance for condemning Love, Whose high imperious thoughts have punish'd me With bitter fasts, with penitential groans, With nightly tears and daily heart-sore sighs; For in revenge of my contempt of love, Love hath chased sleep from my enthralled eyes And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow. O gentle Proteus, Love's a mighty lord, And hath so humbled me , as, I confess, There is no woe to his correction, Nor to his service no such joy on earth. Now no discourse, except it be of love; Now can I break my fast, dine, sup and sleep, Upon the very naked name of love.
VALENTINE
Yes, Proteus, but that's all changed now. I am repenting for condemning love. Love's high, domineering thoughts have punished me with bitter fasting; with groans of penance; with nightly tears and daily sighs from heartache. In revenge for my sneering at love, love has taken sleep from my enslaved eyes, and keep them open, as watchers of my heart's sorrow. Oh, dear Proteus, Love is a powerful lord, and has made me so humble. And, I confess, no misery is as bad as that which results from love's punishment. And yet, there is no joy on earth that can compare with serving love. Now there is no discussion, except about love. Now I can have breakfast, lunch, dinner and sleep—only feeding on the mere name of love.
PROTEUS
Enough; I read your fortune in your eye.Was this the idol that you worship so?
PROTEUS
That's enough. I can read it all from your eyes. Was Silvia the idol that you worship?
VALENTINE
Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint?
VALENTINE
That's her. And isn't she like a saint from heaven?
PROTEUS
No; but she is an earthly paragon.
PROTEUS
No. But she is person from earth who's beyond compare.
VALENTINE
Call her divine.
VALENTINE
Call her divine.
PROTEUS
I will not flatter her.
PROTEUS
I won't flatter her.
VALENTINE
O, flatter me; for love delights in praises.
VALENTINE
Oh, then flatter me. Because love enjoys praises.
PROTEUS
When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills,And I must minister the like to you.
PROTEUS
When I was in love, you didn't mince words. So I must give you the same treatment.
VALENTINE
Then speak the truth by her; if not divine, Yet let her be a principality, Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.
VALENTINE
Then speak the truth about her. If she is not divine, let her be one of the nine orders of angels, ruling all the creatures of the earth.
PROTEUS
Except my mistress.
PROTEUS
Except for my mistress.
VALENTINE
Sweet, except not any;Except thou wilt except against my love.
VALENTINE
Ah, no! Except for no one. Unless you will object to my love.
PROTEUS
Have I not reason to prefer mine own?
PROTEUS
Do I not have a reason to promote my own?
VALENTINE
And I will help thee to prefer her too: She shall be dignified with this high honour— To bear my lady's train, lest the base earth Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss And, of so great a favour growing proud, Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower And make rough winter everlastingly.
VALENTINE
And I will help you to promote her too. She will be dignified with this high honor: to carry my lady's train. Then, the lowly earth won't brush against her dress. And if she did let the earth touch it, the earth might glow so much with pride that it could refuse to allow summer flowers to take root. It would make the harsh winter last forever.
PROTEUS
Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this?
PROTEUS
Valentine, what's with your bragging?
VALENTINE
Pardon me, Proteus: all I can is nothingTo her whose worth makes other worthies nothing;She is alone.
VALENTINE
I'm sorry, Proteus. All that I can say is nothing compared to her. Her worth makes other valuable nothing. She is unique.
PROTEUS
Then let her alone.
PROTEUS
Then let her be alone and remain unique.
VALENTINE
Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own, And I as rich in having such a jewel As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, The water nectar and the rocks pure gold. Forgive me that I do not dream on thee, Because thou see'st me dote upon my love. My foolish rival, that her father likes Only for his possessions are so huge, Is gone with her along, and I must after, For love, thou know'st, is full of jealousy.
VALENTINE
Not for the whole world! Indeed, man: she is my own. And, having a jewel like her, I am as twenty seas—if all their sand were pearls; their water, nectar; and their rocks, pure gold. Forgive me that I'm not paying much attention to you, because you see me only focusing lovingly on my love. My foolish rival in love—the one that her father likes only because he is rich—has gone with her. And so I must follow them. Because love, as you know, is full of jealousy.
PROTEUS
But she loves you?
PROTEUS
But she loves you, doesn't she?
VALENTINE
Ay, and we are betroth'd: nay, more, our, marriage-hour, With all the cunning manner of our flight, Determined of; how I must climb her window, The ladder made of cords, and all the means Plotted and 'greed on for my happiness. Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber, In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
VALENTINE
Yes, and we are engaged. No, more than that. We have decided on the time of our marriage, as well as an ingenious escape plan. I must climb up to her window on a rope ladder, and we have planned and agreed on all the other details for my happiness. Good Proteus, go with me to my room, and you can help me with your advice on these matters.
PROTEUS
Go on before; I shall inquire you forth: I must unto the road, to disembark Some necessaries that I needs must use, And then I'll presently attend you.
PROTEUS
Go before me. I will seek you out. I have to go back to the road to unpack some things from my luggage that I need to use. And then I'll help you afterwards.
VALENTINE
Will you make haste?
VALENTINE
Will you hurry?
PROTEUS
I will.
PROTEUS
I will.
Exit VALENTINE
PROTEUS
Even as one heat another heat expels, Or as one nail by strength drives out another, So the remembrance of my former love Is by a newer object quite forgotten. Is it mine, or Valentine's praise, Her true perfection, or my false transgression, That makes me reasonless to reason thus? She is fair; and so is Julia that I love— That I did love, for now my love is thaw'd; Which, like a waxen image, 'gainst a fire, Bears no impression of the thing it was. Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold, And that I love him not as I was wont. O, but I love his lady too too much, And that's the reason I love him so little. How shall I dote on her with more advice, That thus without advice begin to love her! 'Tis but her picture I have yet beheld, And that hath dazzled my reason's light; But when I look on her perfections, There is no reason but I shall be blind. If I can cheque my erring love, I will; If not, to compass her I'll use my skill.
PROTEUS
It's like one source of heat replaces another one; or as if one nail drives out another by being stronger. So my memory of my past love is quite forgotten because of this newer sight. Is it my or Valentine's praise of her true perfection? Or is it my faithless sin that makes me justify myself without cause? She is beautiful and so is Julia whom I love—whom I loved. My love for Julia has now melted, like an image out of wax put next to a fire, which no longer looks like the thing it was. I think that my devotion to Valentine has gone cold, and that I don't love him like I used to. Oh, but I love this lady Silvia far too much, and that's why I love him less. How shall I adore her upon more reflection, since I started to fall in love with her without giving it a thought at all? It's only her appearance that I've seen so far, and that has dazzled me more than the light of my reason. But when I come to look at her exquisite inner qualities, no doubt I will be completely blinded by love. If I can restrain my wandering love, I will. If not, I will use my skill to win her.
Exit
