Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of

muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her.

Pro. Nay, in that you are astray;3 '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? did she nod?* [SPEED nods. Speed. I.

Pro. Nod, I? why, that's noddy.5

Again, in Whetstone's Promos and Cassandra, 1578: "And I smelt he lov'd lac'd mutton well."

Again, Heywood, in his Love's Mistress, 1636, speaking of Cupid, says, he is the "Hero of hie-hoes, admiral of ay-mes, and monsieur of mutton lac'd." Steevens.

A laced mutton was, in our author's time, so established a term for a courtezan, that a street in Clerkenwell, which was much frequented by women of the town, was then called Mutton Lane. It seems to have been a phrase of the same kind as the French expression-caille coifée, and might be rendered in that language mouton en corset. This appellation appears to have been as old as the time of King Henry III. "Item sequitur gravis pœna corporalis, sed sine amissione vitæ, vel membrorum, si raptus fit de concubina legitimâ, vel aliâ quæstum faciente, sine delectu per sonarum: has quidem oves debet rex tueri pro pace suâ." Bracton, de Legibus, lib. ii. Malone.

3 Nav, in that you are astray;] For the reason Proteus gives, Dr. Thirlby advises that we should read, a stray, i.e. a stray sheep; which continues Proteus's banter upon Speed. Theobald.

From the word astray here, and lost mutton above, it is obvious that the double reference was to the first sentence of the General Confession in the Prayer-book. Henley.

- did she nod?] These words were supplied by Theobald, to introduce what follows. Steevens.

In Speed's answer, the old spelling of the affirmative particle has been retained; otherwise the conceit of Proteus (such as it is) would be unintelligible. Malone.

5

why, that's noddy.] Noddy was a game at cards. So, in The Inner Temple Mask, by Middleton, 1619: “I leave them wholly (says Christmas) to my eldest son Noddy, whom, during his minority, I commit to the custody of a pair of knaves, and one and thirty."

Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod; and I say, I.

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. Well, I perceive, I must be fain to bear with

you.

Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me?

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: What said she? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Could'st 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 her mind. Give her no token, but stones; for she 's as hard as steel.

Again, in Quarles's Virgin Widow, 1649:

"Let her forbear chess and noddy, as games too serious."

Steevens. This play upon syllables is hardly worth explaining. The speakers intend to fix the name of noddy, that is, fool, on each other. So, in The Second Part of Pasquil's Mad Cappe, 1600, sig. E: "If such a Noddy be not thought a fool."

Again, E. 1:

"If such an asse be noddied for the nounce."

Again, in Wits Private Wealth, 1612: “If you see a trull scarce, give her a nod, but follow her not, lest you prove a noddy.” Again, in Cobbes Prophecies, 1614:

6

"When fashions make mens bodies

"And wits are rul'd by noddies." Reed.

in telling your

in telling her mind.] The old copy has "mind." But, as this reading is to me unintelligible, I have adopted the emendation of the second folio. Steevens.

The old copy is certainly right. The meaning is-She being so hard to me, who was the bearer of your mind, I fear she will prove

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 testern'd me:7 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,

8

Being destined to a drier death on shore:-
I must go send some better messenger;
I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same.

Garden of Julia's house.

Enter JULIA and LUCETTA.

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love?
Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully.
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?9

no less so to you, when you address her in person. The opposition is between brought and telling. Malone.

7

you have testern'd me;] You have gratified me with a tester, testern, or testen, that is, with a sixpence. Johnson.

By the succeeding quotation from the Fruitful Sermons, preached by Hugh Latimer, 1584, fol. 94, it appears, that a tester was of greater value, than our sixpence : "They brought him a denari, a piece of their current coyne, that was worth ten of our usual pence, such another piece as our testerne." Holt White.

The old reading is cestern'd. This typographical error was corrected, by the editor of the second folio. Malone.

8 Which cannot perish, &c.] The same proverb has already been alluded to, in the first and last scenes of The Tempest. Reed. 9 What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?] This Sir Eglamour must not be confounded with the persona dramatis of the same name. The latter lived at Milan, and had vowed "pure chastity" upon the death of his "true love." Ritson.

Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; But, were I you, he never should be mine.1

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 censure thus on lovely gentlemen.2

Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?
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 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 shews 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.
Jul. I would, I knew his mind.

Luc.

Peruse this paper, madam.

Jul. To Julia,-Say, from whom?
Luc.

1

That the contents will shew.

Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee?
Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from
Proteus:

he [Sir Eglamour] never should be mine.] Perhaps Sir Eglamour was once the common cant term for an insignificant inamorato. So, in Decker's Satiromastix:

"Adieu, sir Eglamour; adieu lute-string, curtain-rod, goosequill," &c. Sir Eglamour of Artoys, indeed, is the hero of an ancient metrical romance, " Imprinted at London, in Foster Lane, at the sygne of the Harteshorne, by John Walley," bl. 1. no date.

Steevens.

2 Should censure thus, &c.] To censure means, in this place, to pass sentence. So, in Hinde's Eliosto Libidinoso, 1606: "Eliosto and Cleodora were astonished at such a hard censure, and went to limbo most willingly." Steevens.

To censure, in our author's time, generally signified to give one's judgment, or opinion.

Malone.

He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray.
Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!3
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.
What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that
Which they would have the profferer construe, Ay.
Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!

How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,

And ask remission for my folly past:-
What ho! Lucetta!

That you might kill your stomach on your meat,5

3

a goodly broker!] A broker was used for matchmaker, sometimes for a procuress. Johnson.

So, in Daniel's Complaint of Rosamond, 1599:

"And flie (o flie) these bed-brokers unclean,
"The monsters of our sex," &c. Steevens.

4say No, to that, &c.] A paraphrase on the old proverb, "Maids say nay, and take it." Steevens.

5- stomach on your meat,] Stomach was used for passion, or obstinacy. Johnson.