Laun. Clofe at the heels of her virtues. Speed. Item, fhe is not to be kist fafting, in respect of her breath. Laun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast; read on. Speed. Item, fhe hath a fweet mouth. Laun. That makes amends for her four breath. Laun. It's no matter for that, fo fhe sleep not in her talk. Speed. Item, he is flow in words. Laun. O villain! that fet down among her vices! to be flow in words is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with't, and place it for her chief virtue. Specd. Item, fhe is proud. Laun. Out with that too: it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her. Specd. Item, he hath no teeth. Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love crufts. Speed. Item, fhe is curft. * Laun. Well; the beft is, fhe hath no teeth to bite. Speed. Item, fhe will often praise her liquor. Laun. If her liquor be good, fhe fhall; if fhe will not, I will; for good things fhould be praised. Speed. Item, he is too liberal. 9 Laun. Of her tongue fhe cannot, for that's writ down, she is flow of; of her purfe fhe fhall not, for that I'll keep fhut; now of another thing fhe may, and that I cannot help. Well, proceed. Speed. Item, fhe hath more hairs than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults. -fweet mouth.] This I take to be the fame with what is now vulgarly called a feet tooth, a luxurious defire of danties and fweetmeats. -praife her liquor.] That is, fhew how well the likes it by drinking often. 9-fhe is too liberal.] Liberal, is licentious and grof in language. So in Othello, Is he not a profane and very liberal counfellor. I Laun. Laun. Stop here; I'll have her; fhe was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that article. Rehearse that once more. Speed. Item, fhe hath more hair than wit. Laun. More hair than wit, it may be; I'll prove it: the cover of the falt hides the falt, and therefore it is more than the falt; the hair, that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the less. What's next? Speed. And more faults than hairs. Laun. That's monstrous: oh, that that were out! Speed. And more wealth than faults. Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious: well, I'll have her; and if it be a match, as nothing is impoffible. Speed. What then? Laun. Why then will I tell thee, that thy mafter ftays for thee at the north-gate. Speed. For me? Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath staid for a better man than thee. Speed. And muft I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou haft ftaid fo long, that going will scarce ferve the turn. Speed. Why didft not tell me fooner? pox on your love-letters! Laun. Now will he be fwing'd for reading my let-. ter: an unmannerly flave, that will thruft himself into fecrets. I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. [Exeunt. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love you, Now Valentine is banish'd from her fight. Thu. Since his exile fhe hath defpis'd me most, Forfworn my company, and rail'd at me, Q3 That That I am defperate of obtaining her. Duke. This weak imprefs of love is as a figure Enter Protheus. How now, Sir Protheus? Is your countryman, According to our proclamation, gone Duke. My daughter takes his going heavily. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your Grace, Duke. Thou know'ft, how willingly I would effect The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord. Duke. And alfo, I do think, thou art not ignorant How the oppofes her against my will. Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Duke. Ay, and perverfely fhe perfeveres fo. What might we do to make the girl forget The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio? Pro. The best way is to flander Valentine With falfhood, cowardice, and poor defcent: Three things, that women highly hold in hate. Duke. Ay, but fhe'll think, that it is spoke in hate. Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it: 2 Therefore it muft, with circumftance, * be spoken 1 Trenched in ice.] Cut, carved in ice. Trencher to cut, French. 2with circumftance.] With the addition of fuch incidental particulars as may induce belief. By By one, whom fhe efteemeth as his friend. Duke. Then you must undertake to flander him. Pro. And that, my lord, I fhall be loth to do; 'Tis an ill office for a gentleman; Especially against his very friend. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him, Your flander never can endamage him; Therefore the office is indifferent, Being intreated to it by your friend. Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord. If I can do it, By aught that I can speak in his difpraife, She fhall not long continue love to him. But fay, this weed her love from Valentine, It follows not, that fhe will love Sir Thurio. Thu. Therefore as you unwind her love 3 from him, Left it should ravel and be good to none, You must provide to bottom it on me : Which must be done, by praifing me as much Duke. And, Protheus, we dare truft you in this kind, Because we know, on Valentine's report, You are already love's firm votary; And cannot foon revolt and change your mind. 3 -as you unwind her love.] As you wind off her love from him, make me the bottom on which you wind it. The houfe Q4 wife's term for a ball of thread Duke.. Duke. Much is the force of heav'n-bred poefy. For Orpheus' lute was ftrung with poet's finews; Vifit by night your lady's chamber-window Duke. This difcipline fhews, thou hast been in love. To fort fome gentlemen well skill'd in musick; To give the onset to thy good advice. Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. We'll wait upon your Grace, 'till after fupper; And afterwards determine our proceedings. Duke. Ev'n now about it. I will pardon you. 4 For Orpheus' lute was ftrung with poet's finews.] This fhews Stakespeare's knowledge of antiguny. He here affigns Orpheus his re character of legislator. For under that of a poet only, or lover, the quality given to his lute is unintelligible. But, confidered as a law giver, the thought is noble, and the imag'ry ex [Exeunt. quifitely beautiful. For by his lute is to be understood his fyftem of laws and by the poet's finers, the power of numbers, which Orpheus actually employed in thofe laws to make them received by a fierce and barbarous people. WARBURTON. s- I will pardon you] I will excufe you from waiting. ACT |