The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act III, Scene 1

The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act III, Scene 1

VALENTINE:

And why not death, rather than living torment?

To die is to be banished from myself,

And Silvia is my self. Banished from her

Is self from self, a deadly banishment.

What light is light if Silvia be not seen?

What joy is joy if Silvia be not by?

Unless it be to think that she is by,

And feed upon the shadow of perfection.

Except I be by Silvia in the night

There is no music in the nightingale.

Unless I look on Silvia in the day

There is no day for me to look upon.

She is my essence, and I leave to be

If I be not by her fair influence

Fostered, illumined, cherished, kept alive.

I fly not death to fly his deadly doom,

Tarry I here I but attend on death,

But fly I hence, I fly away from life.