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.

Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. 105 Pro. But what said she?

Speed. [First nodding] Ay.

Pro. Nod-Ay-why, that's noddy.

Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me if she did nod; and I say, 'Ay.'

Pro. And that set together is noddy.

110

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. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you. 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.

116

Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. 120 Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said she?

100 Nay:...astray,] Clark and Glover.
Nay,...astray: Ff.

astray] a stray Theobald (Thirlby
conj.).

103 a] the Delius (Capell conj.).
106, 107 Pro. But what said she?

Speed. [First nodding] Ay.] Clark
and Glover. Pro. But what said
she? Sp. I. Ff. Pro. But what
said she? Speed. She nodded and
said I. Pope. Pro. But what said
she; Did she nod? [Speed nods]
Speed. I. Theobald. Pro. But what

said she? [Speed nods.] Did she nod? Spe. I. Capell. Pro. But what said she? [Speed nods clumsily, and Proteus imitates it jeeringly and interrogatively.] Speed. Ay. Nicholson conj. 108 Nod-Ay-] Nod-I, Ff. 109, 110 say...say] F1. said...said F F3F4

117 orderly] motherly Staunton conj. elderly or elder-like Nicholson conj.

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.

126

Pro. Why, couldst 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 your mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel.

Pro. What said she? nothing?

master.

132

Speed. No, not so much as 'Take this for thy pains.' To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself and so, sir, I'll commend you to my Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, Which cannot perish having thee aboard, Being destined to a drier death on shore. I must go send some better messenger: I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post.

124 at once] F1. om. F2F3F4.

125 [Giving him money. Collier, ed. 2

(after Capell).

128-132 Printed as verse in Ff.
128 from her] from her better Collier
MS. to rhyme with letter in the
next line.

130 brought] brought to her Collier MS.
131 your] F. her FF3F4. you her
Jackson conj.

133 What said she? nothing?] What

[Exit Speed.

141

[Exit.

said she, nothing? Ff. What, said she nothing? Pope.

134, 135 as 'Take...I thank you] as ‘I thank you; take... Clark and Glover conj.

135 testerned] F2F3F4. cestern'd F1. 136 henceforth] F,F,F, hencefore F

letters] F letter F2F3F4. 140 [Exit Speed.] Dyce. Exit. Johnson (after line 139).

143 [Exit.] om. Ff. [Exeunt. Rowe.

SCENE II. The same.

Garden of JULIA's house.

Enter JULIA and LUCETTA.

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou, then, counsel me to fall in love?

Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully.
Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen

That every day with parle encounter me,
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show
According to my shallow simple skill.

my

mind

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 should be mine.

10

Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so. Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus ? Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us! 15 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.

20

18 am] can Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
19 censure...
...gentlemen] censure on a

lovely gentleman Jervis conj. censure
on this lovely gentleman Clark and
Glover conj.

thus] pass Hanmer.

on lovely gentlemen] a lovely gentleman Pope. a loving gentleman Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).

20 of] on Jervis conj.

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason;

I think him so, because I think him so.

30

Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
Jul. Why, he, of all the rest, hath never moved me.
Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.
Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all.
Jul. They do not love that do not show their love.
Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love.
Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc. Peruse this paper, madam.
Jul. 'To Julia.'-Say, from whom?
Luc. That the contents will show.
Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee?

35

Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Pro

teus.

pray. 40

He would have given it you; but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I
Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!
Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper and conspire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place.
There, take the paper: see it be return'd;
Or else return no more into my sight.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

28 loves] lov'd Keightley.

30 Fire] Ff. The fire Pope.

that's] that is Johnson.

34 [Gives a letter. Collier MS. [Giving a letter. Collier, ed. 2 (after Capell).

45

39 being in the way] being by Pope.
40 pardon the fault, I pray] pardon

me Pope.

46 [Gives it back. Collier MS. [Giving back the letter. Collier, ed. 2 (after Capell).

Jul. Will ye be gone?

Luc.

That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter: It were a shame to call her back again,

And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.

What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,

And would not force the letter to my view!
Since maids, in modesty, say 'no' to that

Which they would have the profferer construe 'ay.'
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,

When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,

And ask remission for my folly past.
What, ho! Lucetta!

50

55

60

65

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

Jul. What is't that you took up so gingerly?

49 ye] you Malone.

53 What fool] F4. What 'foole F1F2F3. What a fool Clark and Glover. See note (III).

66 Re-enter Lucetta.] Rowe. om. Ff. Enter Lucetta. Collier MS.

67 Is 't] Is it Capell (Anon. ap. Grey conj.).

near] om. Boswell.

70

69 [Dropping the letter, and taking it up again. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).

70 What...gingerly?] As in Collier. Two lines, the first ending you, in Ff. that] om. Steevens (1793), ending the line at up.