First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
Valentine: Protheus, and Speed. | Enter Valentine and Proteus | | TG I.i.1 | |
Valentine. | VALENTINE | | | |
CEase to perswade, my louing Protheus; | Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus; | | TG I.i.1 | |
Home-keeping youth, haue euer homely wits, | Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. | wit (n.)mind, brain, thoughts | TG I.i.2 | |
Wer't not affection chaines thy tender dayes | Were't not affection chains thy tender days | affection (n.)love, devotion | TG I.i.3 | |
To the sweet glaunces of thy honour'd Loue, | To the sweet glances of thy honoured love, | | TG I.i.4 | |
I rather would entreat thy company, | I rather would entreat thy company | | TG I.i.5 | |
To see the wonders of the world abroad, | To see the wonders of the world abroad | | TG I.i.6 | |
Then (liuing dully sluggardiz'd at home) | Than, living dully sluggardized at home, | sluggardized (adj.)like a sluggard, made lazy | TG I.i.7 | |
Weare out thy youth with shapelesse idlenesse. | Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. | shapeless (adj.)aimless, without guidance, desultory | TG I.i.8 | |
But since thou lou'st; loue still, and thriue therein, | But, since thou lovest, love still, and thrive therein, | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | TG I.i.9 | |
Euen as I would, when I to loue begin. | Even as I would when I to love begin. | | TG I.i.10 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine adew, | Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu. | | TG I.i.11 | |
Thinke on thy Protheus, when thou (hap'ly) seest | Think on thy Proteus, when thou haply seest | haply (adv.)perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck | TG I.i.12 | |
Some rare note-worthy obiect in thy trauaile. | Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel. | | TG I.i.13 | |
Wish me partaker in thy happinesse, | Wish me partaker in thy happiness, | | TG I.i.14 | |
When thou do'st meet good hap; and in thy danger, | When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger – | hap (n.)fortune, lot, fate | TG I.i.15 | |
(If euer danger doe enuiron thee) | If ever danger do environ thee – | environ (v.)surround, envelop, encircle, engulf | TG I.i.16 | |
Commend thy grieuance to my holy prayers, | Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, | grievance (n.)distress, suffering, pain | TG I.i.17 | |
| | commend (v.)commit, entrust, hand over | | |
For I will be thy beades-man, Valentine. | For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine. | beadsman (n.)almsman, pensioner [who prays for others] | TG I.i.18 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
And on a loue-booke pray for my successe? | And on a love-book pray for my success? | love-book (n.)book dealing with matters of love, courtship manual | TG I.i.19 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Vpon some booke I loue, I'le pray for thee. | Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee. | | TG I.i.20 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
That's on some shallow Storie of deepe loue, | That's on some shallow story of deep love, | | TG I.i.21 | |
How yong Leander crost the Hellespont. | How young Leander crossed the Hellespont. | Hellespont (n.)['helespont] Dardanelles; narrow strait in NW Turkey, connecting the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara | TG I.i.22 | |
| | Leander (n.)[li'ander] young man in love with Hero, who lived on the opposite side of the Hellespont; each night he swam across, guided by her lamp | | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
That's a deepe Storie, of a deeper loue, | That's a deep story of a deeper love, | | TG I.i.23 | |
For he was more then ouer-shooes in loue. | For he was more than overshoes in love. | overshoes, over-shoes (adj.)(plural) shoe-deep, following a reckless course | TG I.i.24 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
'Tis true; for you are ouer-bootes in loue, | 'Tis true; for you are overboots in love, | overboots, over-boots (adj.)(plural) boot-deep, following a reckless course | TG I.i.25 | |
And yet you neuer swom the Hellespont. | And yet you never swam the Hellespont. | | TG I.i.26 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Ouer the Bootes? nay giue me not the Boots. | Over the boots? Nay, give me not the boots. | boots, give someone themake fun of someone, make a fool of someone | TG I.i.27 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
No, I will not; for it boots thee not. | No, I will not; for it boots thee not. | boot (v.)help, serve, benefit, be useful [to] | TG I.i.28.1 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
What? | What? | | TG I.i.28.2 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
To be in loue; where scorne is bought with grones: | To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; | | TG I.i.29 | |
Coy looks, with hart-sore sighes: one fading moments mirth, | Coy looks, with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth, | coy (adj.)unresponsive, distant, standoffish, disdainful | TG I.i.30 | |
With twenty watchfull, weary, tedious nights; | With twenty, watchful, weary, tedious nights; | watchful (adj.)wakeful, unsleeping, vigilant | TG I.i.31 | |
If hap'ly won, perhaps a haplesse gaine; | If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; | haply (adv.)perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck | TG I.i.32 | |
| | hapless (adj.)luckless, unfortunate, unlucky | | |
If lost, why then a grieuous labour won; | If lost, why then a grievous labour won; | | TG I.i.33 | |
How euer: but a folly bought with wit, | However, but a folly bought with wit, | | TG I.i.34 | |
Or else a wit, by folly vanquished. | Or else a wit by folly vanquished. | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | TG I.i.35 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
So, by your circumstance, you call me foole. | So, by your circumstance, you call me fool? | circumstance (n.)special argument, detailed explanation | TG I.i.36 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
So, by your circumstance, I feare you'll proue. | So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll prove. | circumstance (n.)condition, state, situation | TG I.i.37 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
'Tis Loue you cauill at, I am not Loue. | 'Tis Love you cavil at; I am not Love. | cavil (v.)dispute over details, raise pointless objections | TG I.i.38 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
Loue is your master, for he masters you; | Love is your master, for he masters you; | | TG I.i.39 | |
And he that is so yoked by a foole, | And he that is so yoked by a fool, | | TG I.i.40 | |
Me thinkes should not be chronicled for wise. | Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. | chronicle (v.)register, log, put on record [as] | TG I.i.41 | |
| | methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)it seems / seemed to me | | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Yet Writers say; as in the sweetest Bud, | Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud | | TG I.i.42 | |
The eating Canker dwels; so eating Loue | The eating canker dwells, so eating love | canker (n./adj.)grub that destroys plant buds and leaves, cankerworm, parasite | TG I.i.43 | |
Inhabits in the finest wits of all. | Inhabits in the finest wits of all. | wits, also five witsfaculties of the mind (common wit, imagination, fantasy, estimation, memory) or body (the five senses) | TG I.i.44 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
And Writers say; as the most forward Bud | And writers say, as the most forward bud | forward (adj.)promising, early-maturing, precocious | TG I.i.45 | |
Is eaten by the Canker ere it blow, | Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, | blow (v.)blossom, bloom, flower | TG I.i.46 | |
| | canker (n./adj.)grub that destroys plant buds and leaves, cankerworm, parasite | | |
Euen so by Loue, the yong, and tender wit | Even so by love the young and tender wit | | TG I.i.47 | |
Is turn'd to folly, blasting in the Bud, | Is turned to folly, blasting in the bud, | blast (v.)blight, wither, destroy | TG I.i.48 | |
Loosing his verdure, euen in the prime, | Losing his verdure even in the prime, | prime (n.)early years, prime of life, fullness of youth | TG I.i.49 | |
| | verdure, verdour (n.)sap, vitality, vigour, freshness | | |
And all the faire effects of future hopes. | And all the fair effects of future hopes. | effect (n.)result, end, outcome, fulfilment | TG I.i.50 | |
| | fair (adj.)fine, pleasing, splendid, excellent | | |
But wherefore waste I time to counsaile thee | But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee | | TG I.i.51 | |
That art a votary to fond desire? | That art a votary to fond desire? | fond (adj.)infatuated, doting, passionate | TG I.i.52 | |
| | votary (n.)devotee, disciple, worshipper [of] | | |
Once more adieu: my Father at the Road | Once more adieu. My father at the road | road (n.)harbour, anchorage, roadstead | TG I.i.53 | |
Expects my comming, there to see me ship'd. | Expects my coming, there to see me shipped. | expect (v.)wait for, await | TG I.i.54 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
And thither will I bring thee Valentine. | And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. | bring (v.)accompany, conduct, escort | TG I.i.55 | |
Val. | VALENTINE | | | |
Sweet Protheus, no: Now let vs take our leaue: | Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. | | TG I.i.56 | |
To Millaine let me heare from thee by Letters | To Milan let me hear from thee by letters | | TG I.i.57 | |
Of thy successe in loue; and what newes else | Of thy success in love, and what news else | success (n.)fortune, destiny | TG I.i.58 | |
Betideth here in absence of thy Friend: | Betideth here in absence of thy friend; | betide (v.)happen (to), befall, come (to) | TG I.i.59 | |
And I likewise will visite thee with mine. | And I likewise will visit thee with mine. | visit (v.)supply, furnish, provide | TG I.i.60 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
All happinesse bechance to thee in Millaine. | All happiness bechance to thee in Milan. | bechance (v.)happen to, befall | TG I.i.61 | |
Val | VALENTINE | | | |
As much to you at home: and so farewell. | As much to you at home. And so farewell. | | TG I.i.62 | |
Exit. | Exit | | TG I.i.62 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
He after Honour hunts, I after Loue; | He after honour hunts, I after love. | | TG I.i.63 | |
He leaues his friends, to dignifie them more; | He leaves his friends to dignify them more; | | TG I.i.64 | |
I loue my selfe, my friends, and all for loue: | I leave myself, my friends, and all for love. | | TG I.i.65 | |
Thou Iulia, thou hast metamorphis'd me: | Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me, | metamorphose (v.)transform, alter one's disposition, change one's shape | TG I.i.66 | |
Made me neglect my Studies, loose my time; | Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, | lose (v.)waste, throw away, give unprofitably | TG I.i.67 | |
Warre with good counsaile; set the world at nought; | War with good counsel, set the world at naught; | | TG I.i.68 | |
Made Wit with musing, weake; hart sick with thought. | Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. | thought (n.)melancholic reflection, anxiety, sorrow, worry | TG I.i.69 | |
| Enter Speed | | TG I.i.70 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Sir Protheus: 'saue you: saw you my Master? | Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master? | | TG I.i.70 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
But now he parted hence to embarque for Millain. | But now he parted hence to embark for Milan. | | TG I.i.71 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Twenty to one then, he is ship'd already, | Twenty to one then he is shipped already, | | TG I.i.72 | |
And I haue plaid the Sheepe in loosing him. | And I have played the sheep in losing him. | | TG I.i.73 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Indeede a Sheepe doth very often stray, | Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, | | TG I.i.74 | |
And if the Shepheard be awhile away. | An if the shepherd be a while away. | an if (conj.)if | TG I.i.75 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
You conclude that my Master is a Shepheard then, | You conclude that my master is a shepherd then, | | TG I.i.76 | |
and I Sheepe? | and I a sheep? | | TG I.i.77 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
I doe. | I do. | | TG I.i.78 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Why then my hornes are his hornes, whether I wake | Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake | | TG I.i.79 | |
or sleepe. | or sleep. | | TG I.i.80 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
A silly answere, and fitting well a Sheepe. | A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. | | TG I.i.81 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
This proues me still a Sheepe. | This proves me still a sheep. | | TG I.i.82 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
True: and thy Master a Shepheard. | True; and thy master a shepherd. | | TG I.i.83 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. | Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. | circumstance (n.)special argument, detailed explanation | TG I.i.84 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
It shall goe hard but ile proue it by another. | It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another. | hard (adv.)badly, poorly, ill | TG I.i.85 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
The Shepheard seekes the Sheepe, and not the Sheepe | The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep | | TG I.i.86 | |
the Shepheard; but I seeke my Master, and my Master | the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master | | TG I.i.87 | |
seekes not me: therefore I am no Sheepe. | seeks not me. Therefore I am no sheep. | | TG I.i.88 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
The Sheepe for fodder follow the Shepheard, the | The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the | | TG I.i.89 | |
Shepheard for foode followes not the Sheepe: thou for | shepherd for food follows not the sheep. Thou for | | TG I.i.90 | |
wages followest thy Master, thy Master for wages followes | wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows | | TG I.i.91 | |
not thee: therefore thou art a Sheepe. | not thee. Therefore thou art a sheep. | | TG I.i.92 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Such another proofe will make me cry baâ. | Such another proof will make me cry, ‘baa'. | | TG I.i.93 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
But do'st thou heare: gau'st thou my Letter to | But dost thou hear? Gavest thou my letter to | | TG I.i.94 | |
Iulia? | Julia? | | TG I.i.95 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
I Sir: I (a lost-Mutton) gaue your Letter to her | Ay, sir. I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, | | TG I.i.96 | |
(a lac'd-Mutton) and she (a lac'd-Mutton) gaue mee (a lost- | a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost | mutton (n.)prostitute, courtesan | TG I.i.97 | |
Mutton) nothing for my labour. | mutton, nothing for my labour. | | TG I.i.98 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Here's too small a Pasture for such store of | Here's too small a pasture for such store of | | TG I.i.99 | |
Muttons. | muttons. | | TG I.i.100 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
If the ground be ouer-charg'd, you were best sticke | If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick | overcharged (adj.)overburdened, overstocked, overfilled | TG I.i.101 | |
| | stick (v.)slaughter, kill [by stabbing] | | |
her. | her. | | TG I.i.102 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Nay, in that you are astray: 'twere best pound | Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere best pound | pound (v.)shut up, confine [as animals in a pound] | TG I.i.103 | |
you. | you. | | TG I.i.104 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Nay Sir, lesse then a pound shall serue me for | Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for | | TG I.i.105 | |
carrying your Letter. | carrying your letter. | | TG I.i.106 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
You mistake; I meane the pound, a Pinfold. | You mistake; I mean the pound – a pinfold. | pinfold (n.)pound, place for keeping stray animals | TG I.i.107 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
From a pound to a pin? fold it ouer and ouer, | From a pound to a pin? Fold it over and over, | pin (n.)trifle, triviality, insignificant amount | TG I.i.108 | |
'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your louer | 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. | | TG I.i.109 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
But what said she? | But what said she? | | TG I.i.110 | |
| Speed nods | | TG I.i.111 | |
| A nod? | | TG I.i.111 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
I. | Ay. | | TG I.i.112 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Nod-I, why that's noddy. | Nod-ay? Why, that's noddy. | noddy (n.)fool, simpleton, buffoon | TG I.i.113 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
You mistooke Sir: I say she did nod; / And you aske | You mistook, sir. I say she did nod; and you ask | | TG I.i.114 | |
me if she did nod, and I say I. | me if she did nod, and I say ‘ Ay.’ | | TG I.i.115 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
And that set together is noddy. | And that set together is ‘ noddy.’ | | TG I.i.116 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Now you haue taken the paines to set it together, | Now you have taken the pains to set it together, | | TG I.i.117 | |
take it for your paines. | take it for your pains. | | TG I.i.118 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
No, no, you shall haue it for bearing the letter. | No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter. | | TG I.i.119 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Well, I perceiue I must be faine to beare with you. | Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you. | fain (adj.)obliged, forced, compelled | TG I.i.120 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Why Sir, how doe you beare with me? | Why, sir, how do you bear with me? | | TG I.i.121 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Marry Sir, the letter very orderly, / Hauing nothing | Marry, sir, the letter very orderly, having nothing | orderly (adv.)according to the rules, properly, in the prescribed way | TG I.i.122 | |
| | marry (int.)[exclamation] by Mary | | |
but the word noddy for my paines. | but the word ‘ noddy ’ for my pains. | | TG I.i.123 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Beshrew me, but you haue a quicke wit. | Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. | wit (n.)mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity | TG I.i.124 | |
| | beshrew, 'shrew (v.)curse, devil take, evil befall | | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
And yet it cannot ouer-take your slow purse. | And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. | | TG I.i.125 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Come, come, open the matter in briefe; what | Come, come, open the matter in brief; what | open (v.)reveal, uncover, disclose | TG I.i.126 | |
| | matter (n.)subject-matter, content, substance | | |
| | brief, inquickly, speedily, expeditiously | | |
said she. | said she? | | TG I.i.127 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Open your purse, that the money, and the matter | Open your purse, that the money and the matter | | TG I.i.128 | |
may be both at once deliuered. | may be both at once delivered. | | TG I.i.129 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Well Sir: here is for your paines: | Well, sir, here is for your pains. | | TG I.i.130 | |
| He gives Speed money | | TG I.i.131 | |
what said she? | What said she? | | TG I.i.131 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Truely Sir, I thinke you'll hardly win her. | Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. | | TG I.i.132 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Why? could'st thou perceiue so much from | Why? Couldst thou perceive so much from | perceive (v.)receive, get, obtain | TG I.i.133 | |
her? | her? | | TG I.i.134 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
Sir, I could perceiue nothing at all from her; / No, | Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, | | TG I.i.135 | |
not so much as a ducket for deliuering your letter: / And | not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter; and | ducat (n.)gold (sometimes silver) coin used in several European countries | TG I.i.136 | |
being so hard to me, that brought your minde; / I feare / she'll | being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll | | TG I.i.137 | |
proue as hard to you in telling your minde. / Giue her no | prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no | | TG I.i.138 | |
token but stones, for she's as hard as steele. | token but stones, for she's as hard as steel. | | TG I.i.139 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
What said she, nothing? | What said she? Nothing? | | TG I.i.140 | |
Sp. | SPEED | | | |
No, not so much as take this for thy pains: / To | No, not so much as ‘ Take this for thy pains.’ To | | TG I.i.141 | |
testifie your bounty, I thank you, you haue cestern'd me; | testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; | testern (v.)give a sixpence [tester] as a tip | TG I.i.142 | |
| | bounty (n.)special gift, present | | |
In requital whereof, henceforth, carry your letters your selfe; | in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself. | requital (n.)recompense, reward, repayment | TG I.i.143 | |
And so Sir, I'le commend you to my Master. | And so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. | commend (v.)convey greetings, present kind regards | TG I.i.144 | |
| Exit | | TG I.i.144 | |
Pro. | PROTEUS | | | |
Go, go, be gone, to saue your Ship from wrack, | Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, | | TG I.i.145 | |
Which cannot perish hauing thee aboarde, | Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, | | TG I.i.146 | |
Being destin'd to a drier death on shore: | Being destined to a drier death on shore. | | TG I.i.147 | |
I must goe send some better Messenger, | I must go send some better messenger. | | TG I.i.148 | |
I feare my Iulia would not daigne my lines, | I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, | deign (v.)willingly accept, not disdain | TG I.i.149 | |
Receiuing them from such a worthlesse post. | Receiving them from such a worthless post. | post (n.)express messenger, courier | TG I.i.150 | |
Exit. | Exit | | TG I.i.150 | |