The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 2, Scene 2
comedy
Verona. JULIA'S house.
Proteus and Julia say goodbye in Verona before he leaves for Milan. They exchange rings as tokens of faithfulness. Proteus swears to be constant. Julia weeps and can barely speak. The scene is short, but the ring Proteus gives Julia will reappear at a critical moment near the end of the play, making this quiet farewell matter more than it appears to.
Rehearsing this scene?
Pick your part to highlight your lines and step through the scene one speech at a time. You can hide your lines to learn them from the cue.
Or read it aloud and let the page follow you (voice follow, beta)Enter PROTEUS and JULIA
PROTEUS
Have patience, gentle Julia.
JULIA
I must, where is no remedy.
PROTEUS
When possibly I can, I will return.
JULIA
If you turn not, you will return the sooner.
Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake.
Giving a ring
PROTEUS
Why then, we'll make exchange; here, take you this.
JULIA
And seal the bargain with a holy kiss.
PROTEUS
Here is my hand for my true constancy;
And when that hour o'erslips me in the day
Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake,
The next ensuing hour some foul mischance
Torment me for my love's forgetfulness!
My father stays my coming; answer not;
The tide is now: nay, not thy tide of tears;
That tide will stay me longer than I should.
Julia, farewell!
Exit JULIA
What, gone without a word?
Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak;
For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it.
Enter PANTHINO
PANTHINO
Sir Proteus, you are stay'd for.
PROTEUS
Go; I come, I come.
Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb.
Exeunt