Antonio speaks in the crisp, decisive register of a man accustomed to being obeyed. His sentences end in resolution, not discussion: 'I will dispatch him.' Watch for how he never once asks Proteus what he wants.
Tell me, Pantino, what sad talk was that
Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
Tell me, Pantino, what sad talk was that Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
tell me, pantino, what sad talk was that wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
tell me, pantino, what sad talk was that wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
Pantino is the play's messenger-adviser — he reports, suggests, and facilitates. He speaks in measured, deferential prose and disappears once his function is done. Watch for how he shapes events without being driven by any motive of his own.
’Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.
’Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.
’twas of his nephew proteus, your son.
’twas of his nephew proteus, your son.
Why, what of him?
Why, what of him?
why, what of him?
why, what of him?
He wondered 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.
He wondered 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.
he wondered 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.
he wondered 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.
Nor need’st thou much importune me to that
Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have considered well his loss of time,
And how he cannot be a perfect man,
Not being tried and tutored 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?
Nor need’st you much importune me to that Whereon this month I have been hammering. I have considered well his loss of time, And how he cannot be a perfect man, Not being tried and tutored 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?
nor need’st you much importune me to that whereon this month i have been hammering. i have considered well his loss of time, and how he cannot be a perfect man, not being tried and tutored 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?
nor need’st thou much importune me to that whereon this month i have been hammering. i have considered well his loss of time, and how he cannot be a perfect man, not being tried and tutored 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?
I think your lordship is not ignorant
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the Emperor in his royal court.
I think your lordship is not ignorant How his companion, youthful Valentine, Attends the Emperor in his royal court.
i think your lordship is not ignorant how his companion, youthful valentine, attends the emperor in his royal court.
i think your lordship is not ignorant how his companion, youthful valentine, attends the emperor in his royal court.
I know it well.
I know it well.
i know it well.
i know it well.
’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.
’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.
’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.
’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.
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.
I like your counsel; well hast you advised, And that you 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.
i like your counsel; well hast you advised, and that you 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.
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.
Antonio's decision is not villainous by the standards of 1590 — it's ordinary. A father's authority over his son's choices, movements, and even marriage was nearly absolute until the son reached legal adulthood and full financial independence. Proteus has no grounds to argue except 'I would prefer not to.' Antonio doesn't even need to give reasons. The speed of the decision ('tomorrow') and the refusal of debate ('excuse it not, for I am peremptory') aren't cruelty — they're just the exercise of ordinary paternal power. This makes Proteus's situation worse, not better: he has no villain to blame. His love will be destroyed by the well-intentioned machinery of his own family. Shakespeare is interested in how ordinary authority produces tragic consequences.
Tomorrow, 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.
Tomorrow, 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.
tomorrow, 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.
tomorrow, 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.
Good company. With them shall Proteus go.
Good company. With them shall Proteus go.
good company. with them shall proteus go.
good company. with them shall proteus go.
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!
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!
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!
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!
How now? What letter are you reading there?
How now? What letter are you reading there?
how now? what letter are you reading there?
how now? what letter are you reading there?
May’t please your lordship, ’tis a word or two
Of commendations sent from Valentine,
Delivered by a friend that came from him.
May’t please your lordship, ’tis a word or two Of commendations sent from Valentine, Delivered by a friend that came from him.
may’t please your lordship, ’tis a word or two of commendations sent from valentine, delivered by a friend that came from him.
may’t please your lordship, ’tis a word or two of commendations sent from valentine, delivered by a friend that came from him.
Lend me the letter. Let me see what news.
Lend me the letter. Let me see what news.
lend me the letter. let me see what news.
lend me the letter. let me see what news.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And how stand you affected to his wish?
And how stand you affected to his wish?
and how stand you affected to his wish?
and how stand you affected to his wish?
Proteus's closing simile — love like an April day, all sunshine then covered by cloud — is simple and perfectly observed. It's also early Shakespeare finding a register he'll use throughout his career: the natural image that captures an emotional state without explaining it. He doesn't tell us Proteus is heartbroken; he gives us weather. What's interesting is that this image comes just after Proteus's most dishonest moment in the scene — the lie about the letter. The beautiful simile feels earned because it's immediately preceded by something small and shameful. Shakespeare is already learning that the most affecting poetry arrives when the speaker has just shown they're very human.
As one relying on your lordship’s will,
And not depending on his friendly wish.
As one relying on your lordship’s will, And not depending on his friendly wish.
as one relying on your lordship’s will, and not depending on his friendly wish.
as one relying on your lordship’s will, and not depending on his friendly wish.
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.
Tomorrow be in readiness to go.
Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
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 you shalt spend some time With Valentinus in the Emperor’s court. What maintenance he from his friends receives, Like exhibition you shalt have from me. Tomorrow be in readiness to go. Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
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 you shalt spend some time with valentinus in the emperor’s court. what maintenance he from his friends receives, like exhibition you shalt have from me. tomorrow be in readiness to go. excuse it not, for i am peremptory.
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. tomorrow be in readiness to go. excuse it not, for i am peremptory.
My lord, I cannot be so soon provided;
Please you deliberate a day or two.
My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; Please you deliberate a day or two.
my lord, i cannot be so soon provided; hey you deliberate a day or two.
my lord, i cannot be so soon provided; please you deliberate a day or two.
Look what thou want’st shall be sent after thee.
No more of stay. Tomorrow thou must go.
Come on, Pantino, you shall be employed
To hasten on his expedition.
Look what you want’st shall be sent after you. No more of stay. Tomorrow you must go. Come on, Pantino, you shall be employed To hasten on his expedition.
look what you want’st shall be sent after you. no more of stay. tomorrow you must go. come on, pantino, you shall be employed to hasten on his expedition.
look what thou want’st shall be sent after thee. no more of stay. tomorrow thou must go. come on, pantino, you shall be employed to hasten on his expedition.
Thus have I shunned the fire for fear of burning
And drenched me in the sea, where I am drowned.
I feared 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 an by a cloud takes all away.
Thus have I shunned the fire for fear of burning And drenched me in the sea, where I am drowned. I feared to show my father Julia’s letter Lest he should take exceptions to my love, And with the vantage of mine own excuse has 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 an by a cloud takes all away.
thus have i shunned the fire for fear of burning and drenched me in the sea, where i am drowned. i feared to show my father julia’s letter lest he should take exceptions to my love, and with the vantage of mine own excuse has 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 an by a cloud takes all away.
thus have i shunned the fire for fear of burning and drenched me in the sea, where i am drowned. i feared 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 an by a cloud takes all away.
Sir Proteus, your father calls for you.
He is in haste. Therefore, I pray you, go.
Sir Proteus, your father calls for you. He is in haste. Therefore, I pray you, go.
sir proteus, your father calls for you. he is in haste. therefore, i beg you, go.
sir proteus, your father calls for you. he is in haste. therefore, i pray you, go.
Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto,
And yet a thousand times it answers “No”.
Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto, And yet a thousand times it answers “No”.
why, this it is: my heart accords thereto, and yet a thousand times it answers “no”.
why, this it is: my heart accords thereto, and yet a thousand times it answers “no”.
The Reckoning
The trap closes in one scene. Antonio has already decided; Proteus's attempt to hide Julia's letter only provides the pretext. The dramatic irony is surgical: Proteus describes a letter about Valentine's happiness and gets sent to court to share it — when the letter he's holding describes his own love, which is about to be destroyed. His final soliloquy compares love to an April day — beautiful until a cloud takes everything away. The audience is left with a young man whose happiness just got cancelled by a parent's good intentions.
If this happened today…
Your parents have been reading about how young people need real-world experience, not just staying home. They've decided you're going to take an internship in another city — starting next week. You're mid-text with the person you've been falling for. You try to say the text is from someone else. They want to read it. You summarize it in the least revealing way possible. They book the flight. You stand in the hallway wondering what just happened.