Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play
    The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play
    The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play
    Ebook205 pages1 hour

    The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play

    By Donald J. Richardson

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    The Two Gentlemen of Verona doesnt enjoy a high reputation among Shakespeareans. As an early comedy, it suffers from internal inconsistencies and a questionable resolution. However, having produced and directed a radio version of the play (for WSUI in Iowa City, Iowa), I have partial feelings for the work. Thus, I ask that the play be taken for what it is: somewhat flawed but generally rewarding.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateJan 23, 2015
    ISBN9781496964496
    The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play
    Author

    Donald J. Richardson

    Although he has long been eligible to retire, Donald J. Richardson continues to (try to) teach English Composition at Phoenix College in Arizona. He defines his life through his teaching, his singing, his volunteering, and his grandchildren.

    Read more from Donald J. Richardson

    Related to The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona

    Related ebooks

    Classics For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Brush Up Your Shakespeare!

      Jan 5, 2023

      Maybe it’s because although Shakespeare as a writer is of course inimitable, the hundreds (if not thousands) of tribute acts in novel, movie, stage, short story and any number of other formats have been enriching the literary life of the English-spea

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Reliable Weekly Laugh

      May 21, 2023

      A Reliable Weekly Laugh
      4 min read

    • Article

      Everlasting Lane

      Feb 24, 2022

      SEND FORUM SUBMISSIONS TO THE EDITOR: DRSUTTON@FORTEANTIMES.COM In the summer of 2020, when the first lockdown started to lift, I took up walking again. I was never going to repeat the crazy mile-munching escapades of my youth, like marching to the “

      3 min read

    • Article

      Everlasting Lane

      Feb 24, 2022

      SEND FORUM SUBMISSIONS TO THE EDITOR: DRSUTTON@FORTEANTIMES.COM In the summer of 2020, when the first lockdown started to lift, I took up walking again. I was never going to repeat the crazy mile-munching escapades of my youth, like marching to the “

      3 min read

    • Article

      From 'Ten Commandments' To 'Uncut Gems,' Here Are 12 Great Movies For Passover And Easter

      Apr 10, 2020

      It's not uncommon for some of us to describe a great, genuinely transcendent movie as a religious experience. We like to exalt the sublimity of the moving image, sacralizing what is too often regarded as a godless, sometimes profane medium. We make o

      4 min read

    • Article

      Notes on Nonfiction Camp

      Sep 9, 2018

      Notes on Nonfiction Camp
      5 min read

    • Article

      Double Trouble In Chaotic Comedy

      Nov 25, 2021

      THE ARRIVAL OF THE Christmas season is a reminder that while the West End is the beating heart of British theatre, it is in what used to be called the “provinces” — now more delicately in arts-speak the “regions” — that most of the country experience

      3 min read

    • Article

      Anne McElvoy on Theatre

      Apr 27, 2023

      Anne McElvoy on Theatre
      3 min read

    • Article

      Most Eligible Bachelors

      Jun 20, 2023

      Out’s editors pen love letters to the single queer men in Hollywood changing the world with their brains, beauty, and hearts It has been several years since Out released its once-annual roundup of Most Eligible Bachelors. As a list of the “most datea

      11 min read

    • Article

      Ethics Men

      Jun 30, 2022

      WITH THAT VACANCY FOR Archbishop of Canterbury looming (as all fervently hope), might I suggest that candidates preferable to recent Koko-the-clown incumbents might be found not among the posturing pygmies of the House of Bishops but rather in the ra

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Time for Art Is Now

      Mar 22, 2018

      The Time for Art Is Now
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Symposium on Charm

      Sep 1, 2018

      A Symposium on Charm
      16 min read

    • Article

      Meet Your New Favorite Poet

      Feb 20, 2019

      Meet Your New Favorite Poet
      6 min read

    • Article

      Wanted: Stories With Happily Ever Afters - Here's Where To Start Looking

      Mar 26, 2020

      In uncertain times, we want stories that reassure us that everything will be okay. Here are some books, films, plays and TV shows that believe in Happily Ever After.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Heartless Heights

      Feb 24, 2022

      Heartless Heights
      3 min read

    • Article

      The 10 Best Albums of 2021

      Dec 14, 2021

      The most memorable music made during a disorienting year, from Lorde, Arca, Jazmine Sullivan, and more

      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Complete Two Gentlemen of Verona - Donald J. Richardson

      AuthorHouse™

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.authorhouse.com

      Phone: 1-800-839-8640

      © 2015 by Donald J. Richardson. All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      Published by AuthorHouse 01/21/2015

      ISBN: 978-1-4969-6450-2 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4969-6451-9 (hc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4969-6449-6 (e)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2015900734

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Contents

      About the Book

      About the Author

      The Two Gentlemen of Verona

      ACT I

      ACT II

      ACT III

      ACT IV

      ACT V

      Works Cited

      Other Books by Donald J. Richardson

      Dust in the Wind, 2001

      Rails to Light, 2005

      Song of Fools, 2006

      Words of Truth, 2007

      The Meditation of My Heart, 2008

      The Days of Darkness, 2009

      The Dying of the Light, 2010

      Between the Darkness and the Light, 2011

      The Days of Thy Youth, 2012

      Those Who Sit in Darkness¸ 2013

      Just a Song at Twilight, 2014

      The Complete Hamlet, 2012

      The Complete Macbeth, 2013

      The Complete Romeo and Juliet, 2013

      The Complete King Lear, 2013

      The Complete Julius Caesar, 2013

      The Complete Merchant of Venice, 2013

      The Complete Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2013

      The Complete Much Ado About Nothing, 2013

      The Complete Twelfth Night, 2014

      The Complete Taming of the Shrew, 2014

      The Complete Tempest, 2014

      The Complete Othello, 2014

      The Complete Henry IV, Part One, 2014

      The Complete Antony and Cleopatra, 2014

      The Complete Comedy of Errors, 2014

      The Complete Henry IV, Part Two, 2014

      The Complete Henry V, 2014

      The Tragedy of Richard the Third, 2015

      For all lovers of early Shakespeare

      About the Book

      The Two Gentlemen of Verona doesn’t enjoy a high reputation among Shakespeareans. As an early comedy, it suffers from internal inconsistencies and a questionable resolution. However, having produced and directed a radio version of the play (for WSUI, in Iowa City, Iowa), I have partial feelings for the work. Thus, I ask that the play be taken for what it is: somewhat flawed but generally rewarding.

      About the Author

      Donald J. Richardson is still trying to teach English Composition at Phoenix College.

      The Two Gentlemen of Verona

      ACT I

      SCENE I. Verona. An open place.

      Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS Valentine: By association with the St. Valentine’s Day tradition the word means ‘a true lover’.; Proteus: In Greek mythology Proteus was an old man of the sea who guarded the flocks of Poseidon. Although he had the gift of prophecy, those who wished to consult him found that on being questioned he eluded them by assuming different shapes. (Sanders, 137)

      VALENTINE

      1 Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus:

      2 Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. Home-keeping … wits: Among the upper classes of Shakespeare’s day travelling was beginning to be considered an educational and broadening experience appropriate for a young man. (Sanders, 137); homely: simple (Riverside, 181)

      3 Were’t not affection chains thy tender days Affection: "passion (stronger then the modern meaning); tender: youthful (Riverside, 181)

      4 To the sweet glances of thy honor’d love,

      5 I rather would entreat thy company

      6 To see the wonders of the world abroad,

      7 Than, living dully sluggardized at home, Sluggardized: i.e., made lazy or sluggish

      (Mowat, 6)

      8 Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. Shapeless: lacking form, aimless (Riverside, 181)

      9 But since thou lovest, love still and thrive therein, Love still: go on loving (Riverside, 181); still: always (Young, 1)

      10 Even as I would when I to love begin.

      PROTEUS Proteus: In Greek mythology, Proteus was an infinitely changeable sea deity …, and much of the action in this play is produced by the changeable character of the Proteus we now meet. (Asimov, 465)

      11 Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu!

      12 Think on thy Proteus, when thou happ’ly seest Happ’ly: haply, perchance

      (Riverside, 181)

      13 Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel: Object: sight (Riverside, 181)

      14 Wish me partaker in thy happiness

      15 When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, Hap: fortune (Riverside, 181)

      16 If ever danger do environ thee,

      17 Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, Commend thy grievance: commit your trouble (Riverside, 181)

      18 For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine. Beadsman: one who prays in another’s behalf (Riverside, 181)

      VALENTINE

      19 And on a love-book pray for my success? Love-book: love-manual or love story (instead of a prayer book) (Riverside, 181)

      PROTEUS

      20 Upon some book I love I’ll pray for thee.

      VALENTINE

      21 That’s on some shallow story of deep love: Shallow … love: "The quibble here is on shallow and deep water and shallow (not profound) and deep (passionate) love." (Sanders, 138)

      22 How young Leander cross’d the Hellespont. Leander: youth who nightly swam the Hellespont to visit Hero. One night he drowned in his attempt, whereupon Hero threw herself into the Hellespont and drowned also.

      (Riverside, 181)

      PROTEUS

      23 That’s a deep story of a deeper love:

      24 For he was more than over shoes in love. Over shoes in love: determined recklessly to pursue his love affair (Sanders, 139)

      VALENTINE

      25 ’Tis true; for you are over boots in love, Over boots in: i.e. recklessly committed to pursuing (Mowat, 8)

      26 And yet you never swom the Hellespont. Swom: swam (Riverside,1 81)

      PROTEUS

      27 Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots. Give … boots: i.e. do not make fun of me (Riverside, 181); "There may also be a reference here to the boots, a Scottish instrument of torture used to extort confessions from prisoners." (Mowat, 8)

      VALENTINE

      28 No, I will not, for it boots thee not. Boots: profits (Riverside, 181)

      PROTEUS

      29 What?

      VALENTINE

      30 To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans;

      31 Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment’s mirth

      32 With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: Watchful: wakeful (Riverside, 181)

      33 If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; Haply: by chance (Sanders, 139); hapless: unfortunate (Riverside, 181)

      34 If lost, why then a grievous labor won; If lost … labor won: "i.e., if the object of one’s love is lost, then all one has gained is a grievous labor" (Mowat, 8)

      35 However, but a folly bought with wit, However: whichever, either way (Riverside, 181); but: merely; wit: mind, intellect (Mowat, 8)

      36 Or else a wit by folly vanquished.

      PROTEUS

      37 So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Circumstance: detailed proof (so also at line 84) (Riverside, 181); circumlocution (Young, 2)

      VALENTINE

      38 So, by your circumstance, I fear you’ll prove. Circumstance: condition, situation (Riverside, 181)

      PROTEUS

      39 ’Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love. Love, Love: "Here, as elsewhere in the play, the meaning shifts between love as an emotion of passion and love’s personification as Love, i.e. Cupid, the Roman god of love… . It is not always clear which meaning is intended." (Mowat, 8)

      VALENTINE

      40 Love is your master, for he masters you:

      41 And he that is so yoked by a fool, Yoked: subjugated, enslaved (Mowat, 8)

      42 Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise. Methinks: i.e., it seems to me (Mowat, 8); chronicled for wise: Literally, this means ‘set down in the Chronicle for wisdom’, but here it merely means ‘reputed to be wise’. (Sanders, 140)

      PROTEUS

      43 Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud

      44 The eating canker dwells, so eating love Canker: cankerworm, grub (Mowat, 10)

      45 Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Inhabits: dwells (Riverside, 181); wits: minds, intellects (Sanders, 140)

      VALENTINE

      46 And writers say, as the most forward bud Forward: advanced in growth (Sanders, 140)

      47 Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Blow: open (Riverside, 181); bloom (Young, 2)

      48 Even so by love the young and tender wit

      49 Is turn’d to folly, blasting in the bud, Blasting: withering (Riverside, 182)

      50 Losing his verdure even in the prime His verdure: its fresh vigor; prime: early spring (Riverside, 182)

      51 And all the fair effects of future hopes. Effects: fulfillments; future hopes: promise of future development (Riverside, 182)

      52 But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee, Wherefore: why (Mowat, 10)

      53 That art a votary to fond desire? Votary to: addicted to (with the religious overtone implying ‘worshipping’) (Sanders, 140); fond: foolish, doting (Riverside, 182)

      54 Once more adieu! my father at the road Road: roadstead, harbor (Riverside, 182)

      55 Expects my coming, there to see me shipp’d. Expects: awaits; shipp’d: aboard. Shakespeare seems to have supposed that Verona was a seaport. (Riverside, 182)

      PROTEUS

      56 And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Bring: accompany (Riverside, 182)

      VALENTINE

      57 Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. Take our leave: bid farewell (to each other) (Mowat, 10)

      58 To Milan let me hear from thee by letters

      59 Of thy success in love, and what news else Success: fortune (good or bad) (Riverside, 182)

      60 Betideth here in absence of thy friend; Betideth: takes place (Sanders, 140)

      61 And likewise will visit thee with mine. Visit: bestow the same benefit on (Riverside, 182)

      PROTEUS

      62 All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1