A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 2 of The Two Gentlemen of Verona from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Original Text |
Translated Text |
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| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library | |
Enter Proteus. PROTEUS Enter Thurio and Musicians. THURIO PROTEUS THURIO PROTEUS THURIO PROTEUS Ay, Sylvia, for your sake. 25 THURIO | Proteus stands outside Sylvia's window in the moonlight. He laments that Silvia has been spurning his advances. (Shocker.) She's also been reminding him of his friendship with Valentine and his commitment to Julia. Thurio shows up with a band of musicians and they all serenade Sylvia. |
Enter Host of the inn, and Julia, disguised as a HOST Now, my young guest, methinks you’re allycholly. JULIA, as Sebastian Marry, mine host, because I 30 HOST Come, we’ll have you merry. I’ll bring you where JULIA, as Sebastian But shall I hear him speak? 35 HOST Ay, that you shall. JULIA, as Sebastian That will be music. HOST Hark, hark. Music plays. JULIA, as Sebastian Is he among these? HOST Ay. But peace; let’s hear ’em. 40 Song. PROTEUS "Who is Sylvia? What is she, "Is she kind as she is fair? "Then to Sylvia let us sing, HOST How now? Are you sadder than you were before? JULIA, as Sebastian You mistake. The musician likes me HOST Why, my pretty youth? 60 JULIA, as Sebastian He plays false, father. HOST How, out of tune on the strings? JULIA, as Sebastian Not so; but yet so false that he HOST You have a quick ear. 65 JULIA, as Sebastian Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes HOST I perceive you delight not in music. JULIA, as Sebastian Not a whit when it jars so. HOST Hark, what fine change is in the music! 70 JULIA, as Sebastian Ay; that change is the spite. HOST You would have them always play but one JULIA, as Sebastian HOST I tell you what Lance his man told me: he loved JULIA, as Sebastian Where is Lance? HOST Gone to seek his dog, which tomorrow, by his 80 Music ends. JULIA, as Sebastian Peace. Stand aside. The company Host and Julia move away. PROTEUS THURIO PROTEUS At Saint Gregory’s well. THURIO Farewell. Thurio and the Musicians exit. | Julia (who is disguised as a young man) enters with the Host, who leads her over to Proteus and the musicians. At first, Julia is thrilled to be observing Proteus, but she is not happy that Proteus is singing to some other girl. She tells the host she's unhappy with the music because it rings false, but she let's him assume she's talking about the quality of the music or the choice of song—not Proteus's betrayal. Julia also learns from the Host that Proteus is in love with Sylvia. And that tomorrow, Proteus is planning to give her Lance's dog, Crab, as a gift. (Seems like Proteus's romance-meter might be broken if he really thinks he's going to win Sylvia over with a dog named Crab.) |
Enter Sylvia, above. PROTEUS SYLVIA PROTEUS SYLVIA Sir Proteus, as I take it. 95 PROTEUS SYLVIA PROTEUS That I may compass yours. SYLVIA PROTEUS JULIA, aside ’Twere false if I should speak it, SYLVIA PROTEUS SYLVIA PROTEUS SYLVIA JULIA, aside He heard not that. 125 PROTEUS JULIA, aside SYLVIA Sylvia exits. PROTEUS As wretches have o’ernight 140 Proteus exits. JULIA, as Sebastian Host, will you go? HOST By my halidom, I was fast asleep. JULIA, as Sebastian Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus? HOST Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think ’tis almost 145 JULIA, as Sebastian They exit. | After Thurio and the musicians take off, Julia watches Proteus try to seduce Sylvia. Sylvia tells Proteus to get lost—he's a disloyal snake. Proteus lies and says his girlfriend and Valentine are both dead so there's no reason why they can't be together. Sylvia promises to give Proteus a picture of her tomorrow if he'll go away and leave her alone. Julia is devastated. She's also still wearing her disguise. She wakes the Host, who apparently fell asleep, and asks him where Proteus is staying. Uh-oh. Something tells us this isn't going to go well. |