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

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

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
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. 5 She gives him a ring. PROTEUS, giving her a ring 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, 10 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. 15 Julia, farewell. Julia exits. 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 Pantino. PANTINO Sir Proteus, you are stayed for. 20 PROTEUS Go. I come, I come. Aside. Alas, this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. They exit.	Back in Verona, Julia and Proteus say a teary goodbye before Proteus departs on his trip. After Julia begs Proteus to be faithful to her, the couple exchange rings and kiss to seal the deal. Proteus says he'll be true to Julia, and if a time should come when he isn't pining for her, he hopes that he'll be immediately punished—like, within the hour. (It's kind of a "cross my heart and hope to die" sort of pledge.) Julia runs off without saying another word. Pantino arrives to fetch Proteus—it's time to ship out.

Original Text

Translated Text

Source: Folger Shakespeare Library

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. 5

She gives him a ring.

PROTEUS, giving her a ring
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, 10
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. 15
Julia, farewell.

Julia exits.

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 Pantino.

PANTINO Sir Proteus, you are stayed for. 20

PROTEUS Go. I come, I come.
Aside. Alas, this parting strikes poor lovers dumb.

They exit.

Back in Verona, Julia and Proteus say a teary goodbye before Proteus departs on his trip.

After Julia begs Proteus to be faithful to her, the couple exchange rings and kiss to seal the deal.

Proteus says he'll be true to Julia, and if a time should come when he isn't pining for her, he hopes that he'll be immediately punished—like, within the hour. (It's kind of a "cross my heart and hope to die" sort of pledge.)

Julia runs off without saying another word.

Pantino arrives to fetch Proteus—it's time to ship out.

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

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

Original Text

Translated Text

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