With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Val. And writers say, As the most forward bud Even so by love the young and tender wit 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. At Milan let me hear from thee by letters [Exit VALENTINE. Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love: Enter SPEED. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you. Saw you my master? Pro. But now he parted hence, to 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 sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why, then, my horns are his horns whether I Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well 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? gav'st 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 a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged you were best stick her? Pro. Nay; in that you are astray; '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. Pro. Nod, I; why, that's noddy. 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. 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. Pro. What! said she nothing? Το Speed. No, not so much as- Take this for thy pains. testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro. Go, go; begone, to save your ship from wreck, [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Garden of JULIA's House. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest love? 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? But, were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? 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. 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. Peruse this paper, madam. [Gives a letter. Jul. [reads] To Julia,'-Say, from whom? Luc. That the contents will show. Jul. Say, say; who gave it thee? 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. It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. And would not force the letter to my view? Which they would have the profferer construe Ay. [Exit. And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! And ask remission for my folly past :- Luc. Re-enter LUCETTA. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner time? I would it were; That you might kill your stomach on your meat, And not upon your maid. Jul. What is't you took up Why did'st 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. Unless it have a false interpreter. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Give me a note: your ladyship can set. Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible; Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love. Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. Heavy! belike it hath some burden, 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; it is too sharp. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. |