Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 1 Scene 3 runs 92 lines of dialogue, spoken by 3 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 112 lines. This scene is part of Act 1 of Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Full Dialogue
Antonio ♂
Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that
Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
Panthino ♂
'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.
Antonio ♂
Why, what of him?
Panthino ♂
He wonder'd that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home,
While other men, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some to discover islands far away;
Some to the studious universities.
For any or for all these exercises,
He said that Proteus your son was meet,
And did request me to importune you
To let him spend his time no more at home,
Which would be great impeachment to his age,
In having known no travel in his youth.
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home,
While other men, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some to discover islands far away;
Some to the studious universities.
For any or for all these exercises,
He said that Proteus your son was meet,
And did request me to importune you
To let him spend his time no more at home,
Which would be great impeachment to his age,
In having known no travel in his youth.
Antonio ♂
Nor need'st thou much importune me to that
Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have consider'd well his loss of time
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being tried and tutor'd in the world:
Experience is by industry achieved
And perfected by the swift course of time.
Then tell me, whither were I best to send him?
Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have consider'd well his loss of time
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being tried and tutor'd in the world:
Experience is by industry achieved
And perfected by the swift course of time.
Then tell me, whither were I best to send him?
Panthino ♂
I think your lordship is not ignorant
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.
Antonio ♂
I know it well.
Panthino ♂
'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him thither:
There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen.
And be in eye of every exercise
Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen.
And be in eye of every exercise
Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
Antonio ♂
I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised:
And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it,
The execution of it shall make known.
Even with the speediest expedition
I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.
And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it,
The execution of it shall make known.
Even with the speediest expedition
I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.
Panthino ♂
To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
With other gentlemen of good esteem,
Are journeying to salute the emperor
And to commend their service to his will.
With other gentlemen of good esteem,
Are journeying to salute the emperor
And to commend their service to his will.
Antonio ♂
Good company; with them shall Proteus go:
And, in good time! now will we break with him.
And, in good time! now will we break with him.
Proteus ♂
Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life!
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn.
O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,
To seal our happiness with their consents!
O heavenly Julia!
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn.
O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,
To seal our happiness with their consents!
O heavenly Julia!
Antonio ♂
How now! what letter are you reading there?
Proteus ♂
May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two
Of commendations sent from Valentine,
Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.
Of commendations sent from Valentine,
Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.
Antonio ♂
Lend me the letter; let me see what news.
Proteus ♂
There is no news, my lord, but that he writes
How happily he lives, how well beloved
And daily graced by the emperor;
Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
How happily he lives, how well beloved
And daily graced by the emperor;
Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
Antonio ♂
And how stand you affected to his wish?
Proteus ♂
As one relying on your lordship's will
And not depending on his friendly wish.
And not depending on his friendly wish.
Antonio ♂
My will is something sorted with his wish.
Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;
For what I will, I will, and there an end.
I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor's court:
What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
To-morrow be in readiness to go:
Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;
For what I will, I will, and there an end.
I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor's court:
What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
To-morrow be in readiness to go:
Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
Proteus ♂
My lord, I cannot be so soon provided:
Please you, deliberate a day or two.
Please you, deliberate a day or two.
Antonio ♂
Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee:
No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.
Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd
To hasten on his expedition.
No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go.
Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd
To hasten on his expedition.
Proteus ♂
Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning,
And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter,
Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excuse
Hath he excepted most against my love.
O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day,
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!
And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter,
Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excuse
Hath he excepted most against my love.
O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day,
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!
Panthino ♂
Sir Proteus, your father calls for you:
He is in haste; therefore, I pray you to go.
He is in haste; therefore, I pray you to go.
Proteus ♂
Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto,
And yet a thousand times it answers 'no.'
And yet a thousand times it answers 'no.'
92 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio | 35 | 38.0% |
| Proteus | 29 | 31.5% |
| Panthino | 28 | 30.4% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 35 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 31 lines.
Total speakers on stage
3 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 1
This is Scene 3 of 3 in Act 1 of Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Scene length vs. play average
At 92 lines, this scene is shorter than the Two Gentlemen of Verona average scene in Two Gentlemen of Verona (~112 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 1 Scene 2 · Next: Act 2 Scene 1
About Act 1 Scene 3 of Two Gentlemen of Verona
Who carries Act 1 Scene 3 of Two Gentlemen of Verona?
Antonio, with 35 lines — about 38% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 3 speakers and the lead holding 38% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.