Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from He would have given it you, but I, being in the way, There, take the paper, see it be return'd; Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. And ask remission for my folly past:- a Luc. Re-enter LUCETTA. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is 't near dinner-time? Luc. time. I would it were ; Angerly, not angrily, was the adverb used in Shakspere's VOL. I. C That you might kill your stomach on your meat, And not upon your maid. Jul. What is 't that you Took up so gingerly? Luc. Nothing. Jul. Why didst thou stoop then? Nothing concerning me. Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall. Jul. And is that paper nothing? 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 yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune: Give me a note: your ladyship can set.b Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Jul. Heavy? belike it hath some burthen then. 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; 't is too sharp. Jul. You, minion, are too saucy. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:d Stomach is here used in the double sense of appetite, and obstinacy, or ill-temper. Set-compose. Julia plays upon the word in the next line, in a different sense,-to" set by" being to make account of. Light o' love-the name of a dance tune. с d Descant. The simple air, in music, was called the " plain song," or ground. The "descant was what we now call a "variation.' • Mean-the tenor. Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. Luc. Indeed, I bid the basea 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 anger'd with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! Look, here is writ-" kind Julia ;"-unkind Julia! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Re-enter LUCETTA. Luc. Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. • Lucetta here turns the allusion to the country game of base, or prison-base. 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.a Jul. I see you have a month's mind b to them. Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. Jul. Come, come, will 't please you go? [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A Room in Antonio's House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? Pan. "T was of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him? Pan. He wonder'd that your lordship Would suffer him to spend his youth at home; While other men, of slender reputation, Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: He said that Proteus, your son, was meet: Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that Whereon this month I have been hammering. I have consider'd well his loss of time; a For catching cold-lest they should catch cold. b Month's mind-desire for something. e Sad serious. And perfected by the swift course of time: Pan. "T were good, I think, your lordship sent him thither : There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: And, that thou mayst perceive how well I like it, The execution of it shall make known: Even with the speediest expedition, I will despatch him to the emperor's court. Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, don Alphonso, With other gentlemen of good esteem, Are journeying to salute the emperor, And to commend their service to his will. Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go: And,-in good time.-Now will we break with him.a Enter PROTEUS. Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Ant. How now? what letter are you reading there? Pro. May't please your lordship, 't is a word or two Of commendation sent from Valentine, Deliver'd by a friend that came from him. Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes a Break with him-break the matter to him. |