Page:Two Gentlemen of Verona (1924) Yale.djvu/13

 

 

Val. 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 honour'd love,

I rather would entreat thy company

To see the wonders of the world abroad

Than, living dully sluggardiz'd at home,

Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.

But since thou lov'st, love still, and thrive therein,

Even as I would when I to love begin.

Pro. 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

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.

Val. And on a love-book pray for my success?

Pro. Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee.

Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love,

 8 shapeless: aimless

9 still: always

12 haply: by chance

17 Commend to: commit to the attention of

18 beadsman: one employed to pray for others

19 love-book: book treating of love (instead of prayer-book) 