The Two Gentlemen of Verona is a comedy play by William Shakespeare. It is often considered one of Shakespeare's weakest plays. It is believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. It is considered his first play, and shows some of his preliminary themes and motifs that he would later develop more fully. One example of this is a heroine who is dressed as a boy. Other notable themes are friendship, infidelity, the conflict between friendship and love, and the foolish actions of people who are in love. Some of the most popular characters are Launce, the Fool of Proteus, and his dog Crab.The play begins with Valentine, a young man who lives in Verona, who is about to leave for Milan to broaden his horizons. He pleads with his best friend, Proteus, to accompany him. Proteus, however, is in love with Julia, and so will not leave. Valentine is disappointed, but bids his friend farewell and goes alone.