The Two Gentlemen of Verona Act II, Scene iv
The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Act 2, Scene 4. Proteus
(This text is featured in our interview with Jeffrey Hawkins)
(Click here to see a fully scanned version of the speech or here to see the First Folio version)
188 Even as one heat another heat expels,
189 Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
190 So the remembrance of my former love
191 Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
192 Is it mine, or Valentine’s praise,
193 Her true perfection, or my false transgression,
194 That makes me reasonless to reason thus?
195 She is fair; and so is Julia, that I love.—
196 That I did love, for now my love is thaw’d;
197 Which, like a waxen image ’gainst a fire,
198 Bears no impression of the thing it was.
199 Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
200 And that I love him not as I was wont.
201 O, but I love his lady too too much!
202 And that’s the reason I love him so little.
203 How shall I dote on her with more advice,
204 That thus without advice begin to love her!
205 ’Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,
206 And that hath dazzled my reason’s light;
207 But when I look on her perfections,
208 There is no reason but I shall be blind.
209 If I can check my erring love, I will;
210 If not, to compass her I’ll use my skill.