TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, THE

an early play in five acts by William Shakespeare, performed 159495 and published in the First Folio of 1623 from a transcript of a promptbook, probably of a shortened version. It is a pastoral story about two young friends who travel to Milan and are educated in courtly behaviour. The main source of the play's plot is a translation of a long Spanish prose romance entitled Los siete libros de la Diana (1559?; The Seven Books of the Diana) by Jorge de Montemayor. Shakespeare is thought to have adapted the relationship of the two gentlemen of the title and the ending of the play for Thomas Elyot's The Boke Named the Governour (1531). Valentine, one of the two gentlemen of the title, opens the play by chiding his closest friend Proteus (the other gentleman) for remaining idly at home with his beloved Julia rather than venturing to Milan with him. Shortly thereafter, Proteus' plans change, and he, too, heads for Milan after proclaiming his undying love and fidelity to Julia. Mayhem erupts in the third act after the fickle Proteus arrives in Milan and abruptly becomes enamoured with Silvia, the fair daughter of the Duke with whom Valentine plans to secretly elope. Proteus, now treacherous, betrays Valentine's plan to the Duke, who promptly banishes Valentine, after discovering his attempts to woo Silvia from Thurio, a wealthier suitor. Concurrently, Julia disguises herself as a boy and travels to Milan to reunite with Proteus, only to discover him wooing Silvia for himself. As the love entanglements ensue, the setting shifts from the civilized city to the forest, paralleling the characters' change in behaviour. Silvia sets out to find Valentine, who is now a leader of bandits. While crossing the forest, Silvia is accosted by the outlaws but is rescued by Proteus, who has been relentlessly following her with his page, the still-disguised Julia. Proteus then attempts to rape Silvia but is prevented by Valentine. The latter shames Proteus into penitence for his ruthless actions and inconstancy. In an extreme show of forgiveness, Valentine offers to give up Silvia for Proteus, which causes Julia to faint and her identity to be revealed. In the end, the men resolve to marry their original loves and live in mutual happiness. The Two Gentlemen of Verona is a complex and not entirely successful play that shows Shakespeare in the process of developing a new type of high comedy that he would come to master in his middle comedies, especially As You Like It and Twelfth Night.