Speed. Item, She hath a sweet mouth." Laun. That makes amends for her sour breath. Laun. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her talk. Speed. Item, She is slow in words. Laun. O villain, that set this down among her vices! To be slow in words, is a woman's only virtue : pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue. Speed. Item, She is proud. Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her. Speed. Item, She hath no teeth. Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love crusts, Laun. Well; the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. Laun. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praised. Speed. Item, She is too liberal. Laun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ down she is slow of: of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep shut now, of another thing she may; and that I cannot help. Well, proceed. Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit,' and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults. Laun. Stop there; I'll have her she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article: Rehearse that once more. Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit,— Laun. More hair than wit,-it may be ; I'll prove it: The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt; 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: O, that that were out! Speed. And more wealth than faults. Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious: [7] This I take to be the same with what is now vulgarly called a sweet tooth, a luxurious desire of dainties and sweet meats. JOHNSON. [8] That is, shew how well she likes it by drinking often. JOHNSON. 9 Liberal, is licentious and gross in language. [An old English proverb. See Ray's Collection: "Bush natural, more hair than wit." JOHNSON STEEV. Well, I'll have her: And if it be a match, as nothing is impossible, Speed. What then? Laun Why, then I will tell thee,-that thy master stays 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 must I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? 'pox of your love-letters! [Exit. Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my letter: An unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into secrets! -I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. SCENE II. [Exit. The same. A room in the Duke's palace. Enter Duke and THURIO; PROTEUS behind. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love you, Now Valentine' is banish'd from her sight. Thu. Since his exíle she hath despis'd me most, Forsworn my company, and rail'd at me, That I am desperate of obtaining her. Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace, 19 JOHNSON The match between sir Thurio and my daughter. Pro. I do, my lord. Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Therefore it must, with circumstance, be spoken Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him. Especially, against his very friend. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him, Your slander never can endamage him; Therefore the office is indifferent, Being entreated 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 dispraise, She shall not long continue love to him. But say, this weed her love from Valentine, It follows not that she will love sir Thurio. Thu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him, Lest it should ravel, and be good to none, You must provide to bottom it on me :3 Which must be done, by praising me as much Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind And cannot soon revolt and change your mind. And, for your friend's sake, will be glad of you; ; [3] As you wind off her love from him, make me the bottom on which you wind it. The housewife's term for a ball of thread wound upon a central body, is a bottom of thread. JOHNSON. Where you may temper her, by your persuasion, For Orpheus' lute was strung with poet's sinews ;* Visit by night your lady's chamber-window, Duke. This discipline shows thou hast been in love. To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music : To give the onset to thy good advice. Duke. About it, gentlemen. Pro. We'll wait upon your grace till after supper : [4] That is, birdlime. JOHNSON. 18 This shews Shakespeare's knowledge of antiquity. He here assigns Orpheus his true character of legislator. For under that of a poet only, or lover, the quality given to his lute is unintelligible. But, considered as a lawgiver, the thought is noble, and the imagery exquisitely beautiful. For by his lute is to be understood his system of laws; and by the poet's sinews, the power of numbers, which Orpheus actually employed in those laws to make them received by a fierce and barbarous people. WARBURTON. Proteus is describing to Thurio the powers of poetry; and gives no quality to the lute of Orpheus, but those usually and vulgarly ascribed to it. It would be strange indeed if, in order to prevail upon the ignorant and stupid Thurio to write a sonnet to his mistress, he should enlarge upon the legislative powers of Orpheus, which were nothing to the purpose. Warburton's observations frequently tend to prove Shakespeare more profound and learned than the occasion required, and to make the Poet of Nature the most unnatural that ever wrote. M. MASON. [6] A dump was the ancient term for a mournful elegy. STEEVENS. And afterward determine our proceedings. [Exe. ACT IV. SCENE I-A Forest near Mantua. Enter certain Outlaws. 1 Outlaw. FELLOWS, stand fast; I see a passenger. .2 Out. If there be ten, shrink not, but down with 'em. Enter VALENTINE and Speed. 3 Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about you; If not, we'll make you sit, and rifle you. Speed. Sir, we are undone! these are the villains That all the travellers do fear so much. Val. My friends, 1 Out. That's not so, sir; we are your enemies. 2 Out. Peace; we'll hear him. 3 Out. Ay, by my beard, will we; For he's a proper man. Val. Then know, that I have little wealth to lose ; A man I am, cross'd with adversity : My riches are these poor habiliments, Of which if you should here disfurnish me, You take the sum and substance that I have. 2 Out. Whither travel you? Val. To Verona. 1 Out. Whence came you? Val. From Milan. 3 Out. Have you long sojourn'd there? Val. Some sixteen months; and longer might have staid, If crooked fortune had not thwarted me. 1 Out. What, were you banish'd thence ? Val. I was. 2 Out. For what offence? Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse : I kill'd a man, whose death I much repent ;; But yet I slew him manfully in fight, |