Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love; For he was more than over shoes in love. Val. 'Tis true; for you are over boots in love, Pro. Over the boots! nay, give me not the boots. Pro. What? Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading(2) moment's mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won ; Or else a wit by folly vanquished. Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud Even so by love the young and tender wit Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud, Once more adieu ! my father at the road Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd. Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. To Milan(3) let me hear from thee by letters Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell. Enter SPEED. [Exit. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master? Pro. But now he parted hence, t' embark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one, then, he is shipp'd already, And I have play'd the sheep in losing him. Pro. Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be awhile away. Speed. You conclude that my master is a shepherd, then, and I a(5) sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why, then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Speed. This proves me still a sheep. Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Pro. It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me therefore I am no sheep. Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry "baa." Pro. But, dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to Julia? Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons. Pro. Nay, in that you are a stray, 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound,—a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. Pro. But what said she? Speed [nodding]. Ay. Pro. Nod, Ay?—why, that's noddy.(6) Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me if she did nod; and I say, Ay. Pro. And that set together is-noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains. Pro. No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Marry, sir, the letter very orderly; having nothing but the word "noddy" for my pains. Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief; what said she? Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains [Giving him money]. What said she? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her? Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: and being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind. (7) Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? Speed. No, not so much as "Take this for thy pains." To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned (8) me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, Which cannot perish having thee aboard, Being destin'd to a drier death on shore. [Exit Speed. [Exit. SCENE II. The same. The garden of JULIA's house. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. That every day with parle encounter me, Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind According to my shallow-simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? That I, unworthy body as I am, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest ?(9) Luc. Then thus,—of many good I think him best. Jul. Your reason? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? Luc. Fire that's(10) closest kept burns most of all. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. [Gives a letter Jul. [reads] "To Julia."-Say, from whom? Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee? Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Pro teus. He would have given it you; but I, being in the way, my sight. Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Luc. That you may ruminate. 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. And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, [Exit |