Luc. Ay, Madam; so you stumble not unheed fully. Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew my mind According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; But, were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so, so. Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus? Luc. Lord, lord! to see what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now! what means this passion at his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing shame, That I, unworthy body as I am, Should censure4 thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? best. Jul. Your reason? of many good I think him Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love on him? Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. Jul. Why, he of all the rest hath never mov'd me. Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, best loves ye. Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small. Luc. Fire that is closest kept, burns most of all. Jul. They do not love, that do not shew their love. Luc. O, they love least, that let men know their love. 4 Pass sentence. Jul. I would I knew his mind. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. Jul. To Julia,- Say, from whom? Luc. That the contents will shew. Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee? Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus: He would have given it you, but 1, being in the way, Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray. Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker !5 Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? To whisper and conspire against my youth? Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth, And you an officer fit for the place. There, take the paper, see it be return'd; Or else return no more into my sight. Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Jul. Will you be gone? Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the letter: It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. 5 Matchmaker. And ask remission for my folly past: What ho! Lucetta ! Luc. Re-enter LUCETTA. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? Luc. I would it were ; That you might kill your stomach on your meat, And not upon your maid. Jul. So gingerly? Luc. Jul. What is't you took up Nothing. Why dids't thou stoop then? Nothing concerning me. Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall. Luc. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns, Unless it have a false interpreter. Jul. Some love of your's hath writ to you in rhyme. Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune : Give me a note: your ladyship can set. Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love. Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. Heavy? belike it hath some burden, then. Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing it. Jul. And why not you? Luc. I cannot reach so high. Jul. Let's see your song:- - How now, minion? Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out : And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune. Jul. You do not? Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. 6 Passion or obstinacy. And mar the concord with too harsh a descant7: There wanteth but a means to fill your song. Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. Luc. Indeed, I did the base for Proteus. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me Here is a coil with protestation ! [Tears the letter. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so angered with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey, And kill the bees, that yield it, with your stings! I'll kiss each several paper for amends. And here is writ-kind Julia; — unkind Julia! As in revenge of thy ingratitude, I throw thy name against the bruising stones, And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. And throw it thence into the raging sea! 7 A term in musick. • A challenge. 8 The tenor in musick. 1 Bustle, stir. He couples it to his complaining names: Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father stays. Jul. Well, let us go. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here? Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up. Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them. Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. SCENE III. The same. A Room in Antonio's House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad2 talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pant. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him? Pant. He wonder'd that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home; While other men of slender reputation,3 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. 2 Serious. 3 Little consequence. |