Speed. She nodded and faid, I.

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

Speed. You miftook, Sir, I faid fhe did nod: And you ask me if she did nod, and I said ay. Pro. And that fet together, is noddy.

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to fet it toge ther, take it for your pains.

you.

Pro. No, no, you fhall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with 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. Befhrew me but you have a quick wit.

Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purfe. Fro. Come, come, open the matter in brief; what faid fhe?

Speed. Open your purfe, that the mony and the matter may be both deliver'd.

Pro. Well Sir, here is for your pains; what faid fhe? Speed. Truly, Sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why could'ft thou perceive fo much from her? Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her, No not fo much as a ducket for delivering your letter. And being fo hard to me that brought your mind, I fear fhe'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones, for fhe's as hard as steel. Pro. What, faid fhe nothing?

Speed. No, not so much as take this for thy pains: To teftifie your bounty, I thank you, you have teftern'd me:

In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letter your
felf: and fo, Sir, I'll commend you to my master.
Pro. Go, go, be gone, to fave your fhip from wrack,
Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,
Being deftin'd to a drier death on fhore.
I muft go fend fome better meffenger:
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from fuch a worthlefs poft. [Exeunt.

VOL. I.

K

SCENE

Enter Julia and Lucetta.

UT fay, Lucetta, now we are alone,

Wouldst thou then counfel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, Madam, fo you ftumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair refort of gentlemen

That ev'ry day with parle encounter me,
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll fhew my

mind,

According to my fhallow fimple 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 fhould be mine.

Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio! Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, fo, fo. Jul. What think'ft thou of the gentle Protheus? Luc. Lord, lord! to fee what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now? what means this paffion at his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a paffing shame That I, unworthy body as I am,

Should cenfure thus a lovely gentleman.

Jul. Why not on Protheus as of all the reft?
Luc. Then thus; of many good, I think him beft.
Jul. Your reafon ?

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reafon;
I think him fo because I think him fo.

Jul. And would'ft thou have me caft my love on him? Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not caft away. Jul. Why he of all the reft hath never mov'd me. Luc. Yet he of all the reft I think beft loves ye. Jul. His little fpeaking fhews his love but fmall [Luc. Luc. The fire that's closest kept burns most of all

Ful

Jul. They do not love that do not fhew their love.
Luc. Oh, they love least that let men know their love
Jul. I would I knew his mind,

Luc. Perufe this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia; say from whom?
Luc. That the contents will fhew.
Jul. Say, fay; who gave it thee?

Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and fent, I think, from
Protheus.

He would have giv'n it you, but I being by
Did in your name receive it; pardon me.

Jul. Now by my modefty a goodly broker!
Dare you prefume to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper and confpire against my youth?
Now trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place.

There take the paper; fee it be return'd,
Or else return no more into my fight.

Luc. To plead for love deferves more fee than hate.
Jul. Will ye be gone?

Luc. That you may ruminate.

[Exit.

Ful. And yet I would I had o'er-look'd the letter.

It were a fhame to call her back again,

And pray her to a fault, for which I chid her.
What fool is fhe that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since maids in modesty fay no to that
Which they would have the proff 'rer conftrue y
Fie, fie; how way-ward is this foolish love,
That like a tefty babe will fcratch the nurse,
And prefently all humbled kifs the rod ?
How churlifhly 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 fmile?
My penance is to call Lucetta back,

And ask remiffion for my folly past,
What ho Lucetta!

Re-enter Lucetta.

Luc. What would your ladyfhip?

Jul. Is't near dinner-time?

Luc. I would it were,

That you might kill your ftomach on your meat,
And not upon your maid.

Jul. What is't that you

Took up fo gingerly?

Luc. Nothing.

Jul. Why didft thou stoop then?

Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.
Jul. And is that paper nothing?

Luc. Nothing concerning me.

Jul. Then let it lye for thofe that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lye where it concerns, Unless it have a falfe interpreter.

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhime. Luc. That I might fing it, madam, to a tune; Give me a note; your ladyfhip can set.

Jul. As little by fuch toys as may be poffible;
Beft fing it to the tune of Light O love.
Luc. It is too heavy for fo light a tune.

Jul. Heavy? belike it hath fome burthen then.
Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you fing it.
Jul. And why not you?

Ic. I cannot reach so high.

Jul. Let's fee your fong: How now minion?

Luc. Keep tune there ftill, fo you will fing it out! And yet methinks I do not like the tune.

Jul. You do not?

Luc. No, madam, 'tis too fharp.

Jul. You, minion, are too fawcy.

Luc. Nay, now you are too flat,

And mar the concord with too harfh a defcant:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your fong.

Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly bafe.
Luc. Indeed I bid the bafe for Protheus.

Ful.

Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with proteftation!

Go, get you gone; and let the papers lye
You would be fingring them to anger me.

[Tears it.

Luc. She makes it ftrange, but he would be best pleas'd

To be fo anger'd with another letter.

[Exit.
Jul. Nay, would I were fo anger'd with the fame!
Oh hateful hands to tear fuch loving words;
Injurious wafps, to feed on fuch fweet honey,
And kill the bees that yield it with your ftings!
I'll kiss each feveral paper for amends:
Look, here is writ kind Julia; unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

I throw thy name against the bruifing ftones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy difdain.
Look here is writ, Love-wounded Protheus.
Poor wounded name! my bofom, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee 'till thy wound be throughly heal'd';
And thus I fearch it with a fov'raign kifs.

But twice or thrice was Protheus written down:
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
"Till I have found each letter in the letter,*
Except mine own name: That fome whirl-wind bear
Unto a ragged, fearful, 'hanging rock,

And throw it thence into the raging sea.
Lo here in one line is his name twice writ:
Poor forlorn Protheus, paffionate Protheus,
To the fweet Julia: that I'll tear away;
And yet I will not, fith fo prettily
He couples it to his complaining names:
Thus will I fold them one upon another;
Now kifs, embrace, contend, do what you will

Enter Lucetta.

Luc. Madam, dinner is ready, and your father ftays. Jul. Well let us go.

Luc. What, fhall thefe papers lye like tell-tales here? Jul. If thou refpect them, beft to take them up.

K 3

Luc.