Which pierces so, that it affaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,

Let your indulgence set me free!

invention, and preserved with profound skill in nature, extenfive knowledge of opinions, and accurate observation of life. In a fingle drama are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and failors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy spirits, and of an earthly goblin. The operations of magick, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a desart ifland, the native effusion of untaught affection, the punishment of guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom our paffions and reason are equally interested. JOHNSON.

1

THE

TWO GENTLEMEN

OF

VERONA.

1

Persons Represented,

DUKE of Milan, father to Silvia,

Valentine,

Protheus, }

the two gentlemen.

Anthonio, father to Protheus.

Thurio, a foolish rival to Valentine.
Eglamore, agent for Silvia in her escape.
Host, where Julia lodges in Milan.

Out-laws.

Speed, a clownish servant to Valentine.
Launce, the like to Protheus.

Panthino *, fervant to Anthonio.

Julia, a lady of Verona, beloved of Protheus.

Silvia, the duke of Milan's daughter, beloved of Va

lentine.

Lucetta, waiting-woman to Julia.

Servants, musicians.

SCENE, sometimes in Verona, sometimes in Milan; and on the frontiers of Mantua,

*

Panthino.] In the enumeration of characters in the old copy, this attendant on Anthonio is called Panthion, but in the play always Panthino. STEEVENS.

C

An open place in Verona.

Enter Valentine and Protheus.

VALENTINE.

EASE to perfuade, my loving Protheus;
3 Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits:
Wer't not, affection chains thy tender days

To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love,

I rather

Some of the incidents in this play may be supposed to have been taken from The Arcadia, book 1. chap. 6. where Pyrocles consents to head the Helots. The love-adventure of Julia resembles that of Viola in Twelfth Night, and is indeed common to many of the ancient novels. STEEVENS.

2 It is obfervable (I know not for what cause) that the stile of this comedy is less figurative, and more natural and unaffected than the greater part of this author's, though supposed to be one of the first he wrote. POPE.

It may very well be doubted, whether Shakespeare had any other hand in this play than the enlivening it with fome speeches and lines thrown in here and there, which are easily diftinguished, as being of a different stamp from the reft.

HANMER,

To