The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 5, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 2 of The Two Gentlemen of Verona from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia, disguised as Sebastian. THURIO Sir Proteus, what says Sylvia to my suit? PROTEUS O sir, I find her milder than she was, And yet she takes exceptions at your person. THURIO What? That my leg is too long? PROTEUS No, that it is too little. 5 THURIO I’ll wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder. JULIA, aside But love will not be spurred to what it loathes. THURIO What says she to my face? PROTEUS She says it is a fair one. THURIO Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. 10 PROTEUS But pearls are fair, and the old saying is, Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies’ eyes. JULIA, aside ’Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies’ eyes, For I had rather wink than look on them. THURIO How likes she my discourse? 15 PROTEUS Ill, when you talk of war. THURIO But well when I discourse of love and peace. JULIA, asideBut better, indeed, when you hold your peace. THURIO What says she to my valor? PROTEUS O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. 20 JULIA, aside She needs not when she knows it cowardice. THURIO What says she to my birth? PROTEUS That you are well derived. JULIA, aside True, from a gentleman to a fool. THURIO Considers she my possessions? 25 PROTEUS O, ay, and pities them. THURIO Wherefore? JULIA, aside That such an ass should owe them. PROTEUS That they are out by lease. JULIA, as Sebastian Here comes the Duke. 30 Enter Duke. DUKE How now, Sir Proteus?—How now, Thurio? Which of you saw Eglamour of late? THURIO Not I. PROTEUS Nor I. DUKE Saw you my daughter? 35 PROTEUS Neither. DUKE Why, then, she’s fled unto that peasant, Valentine, And Eglamour is in her company. ’Tis true, for Friar Lawrence met them both As he, in penance, wandered through the forest; 40 Him he knew well and guessed that it was she, But, being masked, he was not sure of it. Besides, she did intend confession At Patrick’s cell this even, and there she was not. These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence. 45 Therefore I pray you stand not to discourse, But mount you presently and meet with me Upon the rising of the mountain foot That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fled. Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. 50 He exits. THURIO Why, this it is to be a peevish girl That flies her fortune when it follows her. I’ll after, more to be revenged on Eglamour Than for the love of reckless Sylvia. He exits. PROTEUS And I will follow, more for Sylvia’s love 55 Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her. He exits. JULIA And I will follow, more to cross that love Than hate for Sylvia, that is gone for love. She exits.	At the Duke's court in Milan, Thurio asks Proteus to tell him what Sylvia thinks of him. Proteus answers him with what sounds like praise, but could be interpreted in less than favorable terms...which is what Julia, who is standing nearby as Sebastian, does. For every compliment Proteus gives Thurio, Julia offers an alternative (and unfavorable) interpretation. She does this in "asides," muttering the insults so that the audience can hear, but not the characters on stage with her. The Duke storms in and announces that Eglamour and Sylvia have run off to find that loser Valentine. Everyone should grab their gear and horses so they can help track down the runaways. Thurio says he'll go along, but more to punish Eglamour than out of love for Sylvia. Proteus plans to go for his love of Sylvia, not any anger with Eglamour. And Julia? She's going to mess up Proteus's plans.

Original Text

Translated Text

Source: Folger Shakespeare Library

Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia, disguised as
Sebastian.

THURIO
Sir Proteus, what says Sylvia to my suit?

PROTEUS
O sir, I find her milder than she was,
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.

THURIO What? That my leg is too long?

PROTEUS No, that it is too little. 5

THURIO
I’ll wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder.

JULIA, aside
But love will not be spurred to what it loathes.

THURIO What says she to my face?

PROTEUS She says it is a fair one.

THURIO
Nay, then the wanton lies; my face is black. 10

PROTEUS
But pearls are fair, and the old saying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies’ eyes.

JULIA, aside
’Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies’ eyes,
For I had rather wink than look on them.

THURIO How likes she my discourse? 15

PROTEUS Ill, when you talk of war.

THURIO
But well when I discourse of love and peace.

JULIA, asideBut better, indeed, when you hold your peace.

THURIO What says she to my valor?

PROTEUS O, sir, she makes no doubt of that. 20

JULIA, aside
She needs not when she knows it cowardice.

THURIO What says she to my birth?

PROTEUS That you are well derived.

JULIA, aside True, from a gentleman to a fool.

THURIO Considers she my possessions? 25

PROTEUS O, ay, and pities them.

THURIO Wherefore?

JULIA, aside That such an ass should owe them.

PROTEUS
That they are out by lease.

JULIA, as Sebastian Here comes the Duke. 30

Enter Duke.

DUKE
How now, Sir Proteus?—How now, Thurio?
Which of you saw Eglamour of late?

THURIO
Not I.

PROTEUS Nor I.

DUKE Saw you my daughter? 35

PROTEUS Neither.

DUKE
Why, then, she’s fled unto that peasant, Valentine,
And Eglamour is in her company.
’Tis true, for Friar Lawrence met them both
As he, in penance, wandered through the forest; 40
Him he knew well and guessed that it was she,
But, being masked, he was not sure of it.
Besides, she did intend confession
At Patrick’s cell this even, and there she was not.
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence. 45
Therefore I pray you stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently and meet with me
Upon the rising of the mountain foot
That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fled.
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. 50

He exits.

THURIO
Why, this it is to be a peevish girl
That flies her fortune when it follows her.
I’ll after, more to be revenged on Eglamour
Than for the love of reckless Sylvia.

He exits.

PROTEUS
And I will follow, more for Sylvia’s love 55
Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her.

He exits.

JULIA
And I will follow, more to cross that love
Than hate for Sylvia, that is gone for love.

She exits.

At the Duke's court in Milan, Thurio asks Proteus to tell him what Sylvia thinks of him. Proteus answers him with what sounds like praise, but could be interpreted in less than favorable terms...which is what Julia, who is standing nearby as Sebastian, does.

For every compliment Proteus gives Thurio, Julia offers an alternative (and unfavorable) interpretation.

She does this in "asides," muttering the insults so that the audience can hear, but not the characters on stage with her.

The Duke storms in and announces that Eglamour and Sylvia have run off to find that loser Valentine. Everyone should grab their gear and horses so they can help track down the runaways.

Thurio says he'll go along, but more to punish Eglamour than out of love for Sylvia.

Proteus plans to go for his love of Sylvia, not any anger with Eglamour.

And Julia? She's going to mess up Proteus's plans.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 5, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 2 of The Two Gentlemen of Verona from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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