New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-26
THE DRAMA-MUSlC.
,,,r TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

of
dies and one that has usually been neglecteu' was
n,ved In a most admirable manner. and was
acted with remarkable vivacty ana sharp erect
tn the student of Shakespeare that comedy i
particularly attractive and Significant because II
Contains the germs of several OF the more sun
s,an,jal and more completely formed OF the poet ;
r,,s,,c creations Julia and Lucetta pretgure Por-
A. ,d Nerissa Julia disguised as the page and
t"ro.,ing her adored Proteus. foreshadows Viola
T., bnr hov's vesture following Orsino Valentine
rd his forest outlaws seem TO prelude the banisheu
I,,,Lo and his henchmen. in the wood OF Arden
: 80 is the ancestor of Touchstone. BanishInent
a ardured by Valentine glances remotely at ban
-, ga suffered by Romeo The portrayal OF
,,o,s character and experience seems a study for
h larger and ripper exposition of womans heart
T., portia Viola Rosalind. and Imogen. But the
niece Is delightful for its sake, Also because
II tells 50 sweetly,-with so much refinement and
melody Of language. and with such keen know-
edge of human nature,-a representative story OF
young hearts and old heads
The scene is Verona. Valentine and Proteus,
ardent friends In the flush of romantic YOUTH nave
reached the point where, it appears. their lives
have separate ends Valentine is to depart from
Verona and to join the Court, at Milan. Proteus'
who Is enamoured Of Julia, is to remain in Verona
and urge his amatory suit The action begins with
the parting OF those friends. Speed the comic ser
want to Valentine, has conveyed letter from Pro-
teus TO Julia. and he tells Proteus that 1t was re-
ceved with Indifference and thereupon Proteus soe"
one way and Speed another.-the latter foiio""s
his master. Antonio the father OF froteuS' ''e
enters in conversation with his friend iai'n,'V
md presently he declares that Proteus also sha
proceed TO Milan and reside in the court OIL '"e '
peror The then discloses Juiia i,
wherein Julia and Lucetta discuss Iuia $40
and Iucetta delivers TO Julia the letter OF froeus'
which she has received from Speed 'ui'a' WV ~,
secretly loves Proteus but is wishfui 10 seem ooiu
81 oaro,ass affects TO scorn that letter, ana pres
emily she tears 1t and throws It's fragments upon
the ground but being left aiohe' s"e i 49,,
scrops Of pager and confesses her passio' "'
,h.t scene the first act closes; the friendship OF
valentine and Proteus and the love OF froteus
"a Ir,a having been exhibited, and the SUBJECT
~ the comedy-love and friendship In youth'-haV-
ing been ingeniouSly declared IN language oI slisu
lar simplicity and beauty.
The second act begins in Jua's garden. Proteus
has received an answer from Julia, and he is her
accon,ad and happy lover His happiness. however,
is rudely interrupted by his father Antonio. an
imperous parent declares his purpose in peremptory
terms Proteus must quit Verona ana must see the
world at Milan. Julia and Proteus then meet en-
change rings, and hastily say farewell Ihe secret
their betrothal is unsupported Launce the comic
servant TO Proteus accompanied by his dog CRAB,
meets Panthno in street of Verona, and humor-
ous,v hewails his lot-that he has been obliged 10
part from his family, and that his dog has viewed
that domestic catastrophe with callous Indifference
Iaunce and Crab 10 go TO Milan following
Proteus The scene shifts to that city, and, in
hall of the Dukes palace, Valentine ana MS ser
want Speed are heard talk of Silvia and OF Nalen-
tines love for that rare beautythe daughter OF the
Duke Silvia enters, attended by Thurio one OF her
sutors. and Valentine offers to her letter winch
che has asked him 10 write for her as II IL were u
be sent TO stranger. That letter breathes OF love-
and Silvia who secretly loves Valentine ana Is
willing to intimate her affection, gives 1t back to
him as II in a mood Of caprcious levity and banter
The Duke of Milan apprises his daughter and Val
entine that Proteus is coming. and Proeus present
" arriving Is introduced TO Silvia,-at sight OF
whom that tickle lover is instantly bewitched' Oil
via Is summoned to her father. and Valentine ana
Proteus being left alone. converse upon their re-
snec,ive fortunes Valentine tells Proteus of his
love for Silvia, and reveals to him their purpose 10
elope-a purpose in which Proteus promises MS as
sistance The friends then part, and Proteus, In
solouuy avouches his instantaneous love Tor SILVIA
and his purpose suddenly and basey conceived, 10
discard Julia and to beiray Valentine. The scene
changes to Julia's garden. The fond and faithful
yirf rs mourning for her absent lover and she an
nounces to Lucetta that she will dress herself IN
boys apparel. and will follow Proteus 20 the En-
peror's Court
The third act opens in street OF Milan ana
the comic serving-men. Launce and Speed. talk Of
their masters A view is then disclosed Of
sumptuous court in the Dukes palace, including
Svia's easement and distant prospect OF
lake In that lovely scene Proteus, fuhliing MS
purpose of treason. reveals TO the Duke the plan OF
Valentine scale Slvias easement and to carry her
away The Duke. Diminishing Proteus. meets Valentine
and acting upon the Information that ne mas re-
ceiyed entraps him into accidental exposure OF
his plan: denounces him; and DEGREES MS pahlsh-
ment Proteus and Launce re-enter, and Proteus
pretends to grieve with Valentine, urges him TO
depart. for Mantua, and undertakes to deliver TO
Silvia whatever letters Valentine may send An
hpfxX
Sneed ensues and then the scene is occupied for a
while by Silvia and her fend Egamont. of whom
she begs the kindness that he VIII escort her 10
Mantua 10 the banished Valentine. Night mas
now fallen. Thurio. whose suit for SILVIA mana
is favored by her father and is specousy seconded
by the treacherous Proteus, brings musicians be-
meath silva's easement. and a serenade Is per
formed making one of the loveliest effects That
have been achieved upon any stage WITHIN the
memory OF the present generation. Olr DaIy was
three times called before the curtain at this point
and all the chief actors likewise summoned by
the public applause) Julia. disguised as a page. Is
among the listeners. accompanied by the Host OF the
Milan tavern at which she has lodged. Silvia appears
at her window. Proteus,-as false TO Thurio as
he has been Valentine. and mindless of his
troth 10 Julia-avows his love to Silvia and is by
her rejected yet. with capricious Inconsistency
not uncharacteristic however. OF the vanity OF
woman who thinks herself admred,-she accedes
20 his request for her portrait. and bids him send
for IT, on the morrow. All this is overheard by
Julia who almost swoons with grief. at the per-
jury OF her lover.
At the beginning OF act fourth, Valentine and
Speed, making their way through forest
Milan. are captured by bandits. and Valentine de-
cdes 10 become their chief. street OF Milan is
shown. wherein Launce delivers condensed YER
zion OF his humorous apostrophe TO the dog-so
we'll and so pleasurably remembered by all readers
OF Shakespeare. Then the courtyard Of the palace
ta Itt1ia in har 1iQQD iGa nd
under the OF Sebastian. has become a page
TO Proteus and Proteus sends his page to Silvia.
10 obtain the promised portrait There is a talk
between Silva and Julia, and, although Silvia
rejects the lift of Julia's ring, sent by Proteus
ana destroys unread its accompanying letter, she
nevertheless delivers her portrait to the messenger
ann then follows one OF the most touching passages
III Shakespeare-JulIas so,ilonuY on her unwilling