No Fear Shakespeare: The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act 1 Scene 1

Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial

Already have an account? Log in

Enjoy a FREE sample of our No Fear Translations below.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS	VALENTINE St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers. VALENTINE and PROTEUS In Greek myth, Proteus was a sea god who could change shape. The name suggests that Shakespeare’s Proteus frequently changes his mind. PROTEUS enter.
VALENTINE Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus; Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. Were ’t not affection chains thy tender days To the sweet glances of thy honored love, 5 I rather would entreat thy company To see the wonders of the world abroad Than, living dully sluggardized at home, Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. But since thou lov’st, love still and thrive therein, 10 Even as I would when I to love begin.	VALENTINE Stop trying to persuade me, Proteus. Young homebodies have dull minds. If you weren’t so tied to the girl you love, I’d ask you to come with me to see the distant wonders of the world rather than waste your youth living aimlessly as a sluggard at home. But, since you’re in love, love constantly and thrive in your love. I would do the same were I in love.
PROTEUS Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus when thou haply seest Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel. Wish me partaker in thy happiness 15 When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.	PROTEUS Are you going now? Goodbye, Valentine, my dear friend! Think of me when you happen to see some rare and noteworthy object in your travels. Wish me happiness, too, when you have good fortune. And if you’re ever in danger, trust that my prayers will protect you, for I will pray for you, Valentine.
VALENTINE And on a love book pray for my success?	VALENTINE And you’ll be praying for me on a book about love As opposed to the Bible. Valentine implies that Proteus makes love his religion. a book about love, I suspect?
PROTEUS 20 Upon some book I love I’ll pray for thee.	PROTEUS I’ll pray for you on a book I love.
VALENTINE That’s on some shallow story of deep love, How young Leander crossed the Hellespont.	VALENTINE No doubt on some shallow story of “true” love, like the one about young Leander crossing the Hellespont In classical myth, Leander swam across the Hellespont each night to see his love, Hero. But he drowned in a storm during his crossing one night. Leander crossing the Hellespont.
PROTEUS That’s a deep story of a deeper love, For he was more than over shoes in love.	PROTEUS That’s a deep story of a deeper love—the love was so deep it covered his shoes.
VALENTINE 25 ’Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swam the Hellespont.	VALENTINE It’s true. And your love is so deep it covers your boots, and yet you never swam across the Hellespont.
PROTEUS Over the boots? Nay, give me not the boots.	PROTEUS Covers my boots? Don’t make fun of me.
VALENTINE No, I will not, for it boots thee not.	VALENTINE No, I won’t, for it doesn’t profit you any.
PROTEUS What?	PROTEUS What?
VALENTINE 30 To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans, Coy looks with heartsore sighs, one fading moment’s mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights. If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; 35 However, but a folly bought with wit, Or else a wit by folly vanquishèd.	VALENTINE When you’re in love, your love-sick groans only earn her scorn, your brokenhearted sighs just get you flirtatious glances, and twenty tedious, sleepless nights spent pining for your sweetheart only yield you a brief moment of happiness. If by chance you succeed, it may turn out to be an unlucky win. And if you don’t, then you’ve only managed to waste your time. Either way, you win foolishness by being clever, or your cleverness is killed by foolishness.
PROTEUS So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.	PROTEUS So, by your logic, I’m a fool.
VALENTINE So, by your circumstance, I fear you’ll prove.	VALENTINE Because of your logic, I fear you’ll become a fool.
PROTEUS ’Tis love you cavil at. I am not Love.	PROTEUS It’s love you have a problem with. But don’t blame me—I’m not Love.
VALENTINE 40 Love is your master, for he masters you; And he that is so yokèd by a fool Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise.	VALENTINE Love is your master, because he’s got the better of you. And in my opinion, anyone who’s been taken in by a fool shouldn’t be considered very wise himself.
PROTEUS Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love 45 Inhabits in the finest wits of all.	PROTEUS Yet writers say that just as the destructive caterpillar dwells within the sweetest flower buds, love inhabits the cleverest minds.
VALENTINE And writers say, as the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turned to folly, blasting in the bud, 50 Losing his verdure even in the prime, And all the fair effects of future hopes. But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee That art a votary to fond desire? Once more adieu! My father at the road 55 Expects my coming, there to see me shipped.	VALENTINE And writers also say that just as the caterpillar eats the greatest flower bud before it blooms, so too does love make young and fragile minds foolish. It destroys the young lover, who loses his youth while still in his prime, and takes away all his future hopes. But why am I wasting my time giving advice to you, a man who is devoted to foolish love? So, once again, farewell! My father expects to meet me at the harbor to see my ship off.
PROTEUS And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.	PROTEUS I’ll go with you, Valentine.
VALENTINE Sweet Proteus, no. Now let us take our leave. To Milan let me hear from thee by letters Of thy success in love, and what news else 60 Betideth here in absence of thy friend; And I likewise will visit thee with mine.	VALENTINE My dear Proteus, no. We should say goodbye to each other now. Write to me in Milan, and tell me of your luck with love and whatever other news happens while I’m away. I’ll likewise write to you.
PROTEUS All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!	PROTEUS May you find happiness in Milan!
VALENTINE As much to you at home! And so, farewell!	VALENTINE And the same to you here at home! Farewell!
Exit VALENTINE	VALENTINE exits.
PROTEUS He after honor hunts, I after love. 65 He leaves his friends to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all, for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me, Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at naught; 70 Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.	PROTEUS He hunts for honor, while I hunt for love. He leaves his friends to bring them more honor, but I neglect myself, my friends, and everything else for love. Oh, Julia, you’ve transformed me. You’ve made me neglect my studies, waste my time, argue against all reasonable advice, and set myself against the world. You’ve made my brain weak from thinking about you so much, and my heart sick with melancholy.
Enter SPEED	SPEED enters.
SPEED Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master?	SPEED God save you, Sir Proteus! Have you seen my master?
PROTEUS But now he parted hence, to embark for Milan.	PROTEUS He just left here a minute ago on his way to Milan.
SPEED Twenty to one, then, he is shipped already, And I have played the sheep in losing him.	SPEED I’d wager twenty to one, then, that his ship has already left. I’m foolish for having lost him.
PROTEUS 75 Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be a while away.	PROTEUS Indeed, sheep often go astray when the shepherd has gone away.
SPEED You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep?	SPEED You’re saying that my master is a shepherd, then, and I’m a sheep?
PROTEUS I do.	PROTEUS Yes.
SPEED Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.	SPEED Well then, my horns are his horns, whether I’m awake or asleep.
PROTEUS 80 A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.	PROTEUS What a silly answer—very fitting for a sheep.
SPEED This proves me still a sheep.	SPEED This means you think I’m still a sheep.
PROTEUS True; and thy master a shepherd.	PROTEUS Yes, and your master a shepherd.
SPEED Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.	SPEED No, I can disprove that with an example.
PROTEUS It shall go hard but I’ll prove it by another.	PROTEUS It’ll be a challenge, but I’ll prove it with another example.
SPEED 85 The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me. Therefore I am no sheep.	SPEED The shepherd looks for the sheep, but the sheep doesn’t look for the shepherd. I’m looking for my master, but my master isn’t looking for me. Therefore, I’m not a sheep.
PROTEUS The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the shepherd for food follows not the sheep. Thou for wages followest thy master; thy master for wages follows not thee. Therefore thou art a sheep.	PROTEUS The sheep follows the shepherd because it wants food, but the shepherd doesn’t follow the sheep for food. You follow your master for your pay, but your master doesn’t follow you for pay. Therefore, you’re a sheep.
SPEED Such another proof will make me cry “Baa.”	SPEED Another bad example like that and I’ll say, “Baa.”
PROTEUS But dost thou hear? Gav’st thou my letter to Julia?	PROTEUS But anyway, what happened? Did you give my letter to Julia?
SPEED Ay, sir. I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labor.	SPEED Yes, sir. I, a lost sheep, gave your letter to her, a prostitute The term “mutton” used in Shakespeare’s original was slang for “prostitute.” prostitute. And she, the prostitute, gave me, a lost sheep, nothing for all my hard work.
PROTEUS 90 Here’s too small a pasture for such store of muttons.	PROTEUS The world isn’t big enough for all these darn sheep.
SPEED If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.	SPEED If it’s too crowded for you, then you should stick her.
PROTEUS Nay, in that you are astray: ’twere best pound you.	PROTEUS No, now you’ve really gone astray. I ought to pound you.
SPEED Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter.	SPEED No, sir, less than a pound will suffice for delivering your letter.
PROTEUS You mistake. I mean the pound—a pinfold.	PROTEUS You misunderstood. I meant give you a pounding, pinhead.
SPEED 95 From a pound to a pin? Fold it over and over, ’Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover.	SPEED You’ve gone from a pound down to a pinhead? No, I want more than that—that’s far too little payment for delivering a letter to your lover.
PROTEUS But what said she?	PROTEUS So what did she say?
SPEED [Nodding] Ay.	SPEED (nodding) Ay.
PROTEUS Nod-ay—why, that’s “noddy.”	PROTEUS Nod-ay? Well, that’s “naughty.”
SPEED 100 You mistook, sir. I say she did nod, and you ask me if she did nod, and I say, “Ay.”	SPEED You misunderstood, sir. I said she nodded, and you asked me if she nodded, and I said, “Ay.”
PROTEUS And that set together is “noddy.”	PROTEUS And all that put together is “naughty.”
SPEED Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.	SPEED Now that you’ve taken the trouble to figure it out, take that for your trouble and consider it your answer.
PROTEUS No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter.	PROTEUS No, no, you shall have it for delivering the letter.
SPEED Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.	SPEED Well, I guess I must be willing to put up with you.
PROTEUS 105 Why, sir, how do you bear with me?	PROTEUS Why, sir, what do you mean, “put up with me”?
SPEED Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly, having nothing but the word “noddy” for my pains.	SPEED Geez, sir, I mean getting nothing but the word “naughty” as payment for my delivery.
PROTEUS Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.	PROTEUS Damn, you have a quick wit.
SPEED And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.	SPEED And yet I can’t speed past your slowness in paying me.
PROTEUS Come, come, open the matter in brief. What said she?	PROTEUS Come on, come on, tell me briefly. What did she say?
SPEED 110 Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered.	SPEED Open your wallet, and the money and her response will both be delivered.
PROTEUS [Giving him money] Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?	PROTEUS (giving him money) Well, sir, here’s something for your trouble. What did she say?
SPEED Truly, sir, I think you’ll hardly win her.	SPEED Honestly, sir, I think you’ll have a hard time winning her.
PROTEUS Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?	PROTEUS Why? Did you get that from speaking with her?
SPEED Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her, no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter. And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she’ll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but stones, for she’s as hard as steel.	SPEED Sir, I couldn’t get anything at all out of her, not even so much as a tip for delivering your letter. And since she was so stingy to me for having delivered your thoughts, I fear she’ll prove just as stingy with you. Don’t give her any little gifts except stones, because she’s as hard as steel.
PROTEUS 115 What said she? Nothing?	PROTEUS What did she say? Nothing?
SPEED No, not so much as “Take this for thy pains.” To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself. And so, sir, I’ll commend you to my master.	SPEED No, not even so much as “Take this for your trouble.” I can attest to your generosity since you’ve given me a small tip. In return, you can deliver your own letters from now on. And so, sir, I’ll say hello to my master for you.
PROTEUS Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wreck, Which cannot perish having thee aboard, Being destined to a drier death on shore.	PROTEUS Go on, get out of here. You’ll save your ship from sinking since you’re destined to die on dry land Refers to the saying “He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.” you’re destined to die on dry land.
Exit SPEED	SPEED exits.
120 I must go send some better messenger. I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post.	I must send a letter with a better messenger. I’m afraid my Julia wouldn’t accept my letter because she received it from such a worthless postman.
Exit	PROTEUS exits.

Your FREE sample of our No Fear Translations ended above.

Enjoy a FREE sample of our No Fear Translations below.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter VALENTINE and PROTEUS	VALENTINE St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers. VALENTINE and PROTEUS In Greek myth, Proteus was a sea god who could change shape. The name suggests that Shakespeare’s Proteus frequently changes his mind. PROTEUS enter.
VALENTINE Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus; Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. Were ’t not affection chains thy tender days To the sweet glances of thy honored love, 5 I rather would entreat thy company To see the wonders of the world abroad Than, living dully sluggardized at home, Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness. But since thou lov’st, love still and thrive therein, 10 Even as I would when I to love begin.	VALENTINE Stop trying to persuade me, Proteus. Young homebodies have dull minds. If you weren’t so tied to the girl you love, I’d ask you to come with me to see the distant wonders of the world rather than waste your youth living aimlessly as a sluggard at home. But, since you’re in love, love constantly and thrive in your love. I would do the same were I in love.
PROTEUS Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu! Think on thy Proteus when thou haply seest Some rare noteworthy object in thy travel. Wish me partaker in thy happiness 15 When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.	PROTEUS Are you going now? Goodbye, Valentine, my dear friend! Think of me when you happen to see some rare and noteworthy object in your travels. Wish me happiness, too, when you have good fortune. And if you’re ever in danger, trust that my prayers will protect you, for I will pray for you, Valentine.
VALENTINE And on a love book pray for my success?	VALENTINE And you’ll be praying for me on a book about love As opposed to the Bible. Valentine implies that Proteus makes love his religion. a book about love, I suspect?
PROTEUS 20 Upon some book I love I’ll pray for thee.	PROTEUS I’ll pray for you on a book I love.
VALENTINE That’s on some shallow story of deep love, How young Leander crossed the Hellespont.	VALENTINE No doubt on some shallow story of “true” love, like the one about young Leander crossing the Hellespont In classical myth, Leander swam across the Hellespont each night to see his love, Hero. But he drowned in a storm during his crossing one night. Leander crossing the Hellespont.
PROTEUS That’s a deep story of a deeper love, For he was more than over shoes in love.	PROTEUS That’s a deep story of a deeper love—the love was so deep it covered his shoes.
VALENTINE 25 ’Tis true; for you are over boots in love, And yet you never swam the Hellespont.	VALENTINE It’s true. And your love is so deep it covers your boots, and yet you never swam across the Hellespont.
PROTEUS Over the boots? Nay, give me not the boots.	PROTEUS Covers my boots? Don’t make fun of me.
VALENTINE No, I will not, for it boots thee not.	VALENTINE No, I won’t, for it doesn’t profit you any.
PROTEUS What?	PROTEUS What?
VALENTINE 30 To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans, Coy looks with heartsore sighs, one fading moment’s mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights. If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; 35 However, but a folly bought with wit, Or else a wit by folly vanquishèd.	VALENTINE When you’re in love, your love-sick groans only earn her scorn, your brokenhearted sighs just get you flirtatious glances, and twenty tedious, sleepless nights spent pining for your sweetheart only yield you a brief moment of happiness. If by chance you succeed, it may turn out to be an unlucky win. And if you don’t, then you’ve only managed to waste your time. Either way, you win foolishness by being clever, or your cleverness is killed by foolishness.
PROTEUS So, by your circumstance, you call me fool.	PROTEUS So, by your logic, I’m a fool.
VALENTINE So, by your circumstance, I fear you’ll prove.	VALENTINE Because of your logic, I fear you’ll become a fool.
PROTEUS ’Tis love you cavil at. I am not Love.	PROTEUS It’s love you have a problem with. But don’t blame me—I’m not Love.
VALENTINE 40 Love is your master, for he masters you; And he that is so yokèd by a fool Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise.	VALENTINE Love is your master, because he’s got the better of you. And in my opinion, anyone who’s been taken in by a fool shouldn’t be considered very wise himself.
PROTEUS Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love 45 Inhabits in the finest wits of all.	PROTEUS Yet writers say that just as the destructive caterpillar dwells within the sweetest flower buds, love inhabits the cleverest minds.
VALENTINE And writers say, as the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turned to folly, blasting in the bud, 50 Losing his verdure even in the prime, And all the fair effects of future hopes. But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee That art a votary to fond desire? Once more adieu! My father at the road 55 Expects my coming, there to see me shipped.	VALENTINE And writers also say that just as the caterpillar eats the greatest flower bud before it blooms, so too does love make young and fragile minds foolish. It destroys the young lover, who loses his youth while still in his prime, and takes away all his future hopes. But why am I wasting my time giving advice to you, a man who is devoted to foolish love? So, once again, farewell! My father expects to meet me at the harbor to see my ship off.
PROTEUS And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.	PROTEUS I’ll go with you, Valentine.
VALENTINE Sweet Proteus, no. Now let us take our leave. To Milan let me hear from thee by letters Of thy success in love, and what news else 60 Betideth here in absence of thy friend; And I likewise will visit thee with mine.	VALENTINE My dear Proteus, no. We should say goodbye to each other now. Write to me in Milan, and tell me of your luck with love and whatever other news happens while I’m away. I’ll likewise write to you.
PROTEUS All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!	PROTEUS May you find happiness in Milan!
VALENTINE As much to you at home! And so, farewell!	VALENTINE And the same to you here at home! Farewell!
Exit VALENTINE	VALENTINE exits.
PROTEUS He after honor hunts, I after love. 65 He leaves his friends to dignify them more; I leave myself, my friends, and all, for love. Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me, Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at naught; 70 Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.	PROTEUS He hunts for honor, while I hunt for love. He leaves his friends to bring them more honor, but I neglect myself, my friends, and everything else for love. Oh, Julia, you’ve transformed me. You’ve made me neglect my studies, waste my time, argue against all reasonable advice, and set myself against the world. You’ve made my brain weak from thinking about you so much, and my heart sick with melancholy.
Enter SPEED	SPEED enters.
SPEED Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master?	SPEED God save you, Sir Proteus! Have you seen my master?
PROTEUS But now he parted hence, to embark for Milan.	PROTEUS He just left here a minute ago on his way to Milan.
SPEED Twenty to one, then, he is shipped already, And I have played the sheep in losing him.	SPEED I’d wager twenty to one, then, that his ship has already left. I’m foolish for having lost him.
PROTEUS 75 Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be a while away.	PROTEUS Indeed, sheep often go astray when the shepherd has gone away.
SPEED You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a sheep?	SPEED You’re saying that my master is a shepherd, then, and I’m a sheep?
PROTEUS I do.	PROTEUS Yes.
SPEED Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.	SPEED Well then, my horns are his horns, whether I’m awake or asleep.
PROTEUS 80 A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.	PROTEUS What a silly answer—very fitting for a sheep.
SPEED This proves me still a sheep.	SPEED This means you think I’m still a sheep.
PROTEUS True; and thy master a shepherd.	PROTEUS Yes, and your master a shepherd.
SPEED Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.	SPEED No, I can disprove that with an example.
PROTEUS It shall go hard but I’ll prove it by another.	PROTEUS It’ll be a challenge, but I’ll prove it with another example.
SPEED 85 The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me. Therefore I am no sheep.	SPEED The shepherd looks for the sheep, but the sheep doesn’t look for the shepherd. I’m looking for my master, but my master isn’t looking for me. Therefore, I’m not a sheep.
PROTEUS The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the shepherd for food follows not the sheep. Thou for wages followest thy master; thy master for wages follows not thee. Therefore thou art a sheep.	PROTEUS The sheep follows the shepherd because it wants food, but the shepherd doesn’t follow the sheep for food. You follow your master for your pay, but your master doesn’t follow you for pay. Therefore, you’re a sheep.
SPEED Such another proof will make me cry “Baa.”	SPEED Another bad example like that and I’ll say, “Baa.”
PROTEUS But dost thou hear? Gav’st thou my letter to Julia?	PROTEUS But anyway, what happened? Did you give my letter to Julia?
SPEED Ay, sir. I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labor.	SPEED Yes, sir. I, a lost sheep, gave your letter to her, a prostitute The term “mutton” used in Shakespeare’s original was slang for “prostitute.” prostitute. And she, the prostitute, gave me, a lost sheep, nothing for all my hard work.
PROTEUS 90 Here’s too small a pasture for such store of muttons.	PROTEUS The world isn’t big enough for all these darn sheep.
SPEED If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.	SPEED If it’s too crowded for you, then you should stick her.
PROTEUS Nay, in that you are astray: ’twere best pound you.	PROTEUS No, now you’ve really gone astray. I ought to pound you.
SPEED Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter.	SPEED No, sir, less than a pound will suffice for delivering your letter.
PROTEUS You mistake. I mean the pound—a pinfold.	PROTEUS You misunderstood. I meant give you a pounding, pinhead.
SPEED 95 From a pound to a pin? Fold it over and over, ’Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover.	SPEED You’ve gone from a pound down to a pinhead? No, I want more than that—that’s far too little payment for delivering a letter to your lover.
PROTEUS But what said she?	PROTEUS So what did she say?
SPEED [Nodding] Ay.	SPEED (nodding) Ay.
PROTEUS Nod-ay—why, that’s “noddy.”	PROTEUS Nod-ay? Well, that’s “naughty.”
SPEED 100 You mistook, sir. I say she did nod, and you ask me if she did nod, and I say, “Ay.”	SPEED You misunderstood, sir. I said she nodded, and you asked me if she nodded, and I said, “Ay.”
PROTEUS And that set together is “noddy.”	PROTEUS And all that put together is “naughty.”
SPEED Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.	SPEED Now that you’ve taken the trouble to figure it out, take that for your trouble and consider it your answer.
PROTEUS No, no, you shall have it for bearing the letter.	PROTEUS No, no, you shall have it for delivering the letter.
SPEED Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.	SPEED Well, I guess I must be willing to put up with you.
PROTEUS 105 Why, sir, how do you bear with me?	PROTEUS Why, sir, what do you mean, “put up with me”?
SPEED Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly, having nothing but the word “noddy” for my pains.	SPEED Geez, sir, I mean getting nothing but the word “naughty” as payment for my delivery.
PROTEUS Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.	PROTEUS Damn, you have a quick wit.
SPEED And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.	SPEED And yet I can’t speed past your slowness in paying me.
PROTEUS Come, come, open the matter in brief. What said she?	PROTEUS Come on, come on, tell me briefly. What did she say?
SPEED 110 Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered.	SPEED Open your wallet, and the money and her response will both be delivered.
PROTEUS [Giving him money] Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?	PROTEUS (giving him money) Well, sir, here’s something for your trouble. What did she say?
SPEED Truly, sir, I think you’ll hardly win her.	SPEED Honestly, sir, I think you’ll have a hard time winning her.
PROTEUS Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?	PROTEUS Why? Did you get that from speaking with her?
SPEED Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her, no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter. And being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she’ll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but stones, for she’s as hard as steel.	SPEED Sir, I couldn’t get anything at all out of her, not even so much as a tip for delivering your letter. And since she was so stingy to me for having delivered your thoughts, I fear she’ll prove just as stingy with you. Don’t give her any little gifts except stones, because she’s as hard as steel.
PROTEUS 115 What said she? Nothing?	PROTEUS What did she say? Nothing?
SPEED No, not so much as “Take this for thy pains.” To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself. And so, sir, I’ll commend you to my master.	SPEED No, not even so much as “Take this for your trouble.” I can attest to your generosity since you’ve given me a small tip. In return, you can deliver your own letters from now on. And so, sir, I’ll say hello to my master for you.
PROTEUS Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wreck, Which cannot perish having thee aboard, Being destined to a drier death on shore.	PROTEUS Go on, get out of here. You’ll save your ship from sinking since you’re destined to die on dry land Refers to the saying “He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.” you’re destined to die on dry land.
Exit SPEED	SPEED exits.
120 I must go send some better messenger. I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post.	I must send a letter with a better messenger. I’m afraid my Julia wouldn’t accept my letter because she received it from such a worthless postman.
Exit	PROTEUS exits.