I must go fend some better messenger; I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines, [hate. Luc. To plead for love deferves more fee than Or else return no more into my fight. Jul. Will ye be gone? [Excunt feverally. Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. SCENE 5 II. Changes to Julia's chamber. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, In thy opinion which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew my mind According to my shallow simple skill. Jal. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? But, were I you, he never should be mine. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the letter. Jul. What think'ft thou of the rich Mercatio? 20 And ask remiffion for my folly paft: Lac. Well, of his wealth; but of himself, so, so. Jal. What think'st thou of the gentle Protheus? Jalia. How now? what means this passion at Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing shame, That I, unworthy body as I am, Should cenfure1 thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Protheus, as of all the rest? What ho! Lucetta! Re-enter Lucetta. Luc. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time ? 25 Luc. I would, it were; 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. Then thus, of many good, I think him best. 30 Luc. Nothing. Jul. Why didst thou stoop then? Luc. To take a paper up, that I let fall. Jul. And is that paper nothing? Luc. Nothing concerning me. 35 Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lye where it concerns, Unless it have a false interpreter. Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhime. Luc. That I might fing it, madam, to a tune : Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible: Jul. His little speaking shews his love but small. ! : : Best fing it to the tune of Lights' love. Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune. Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burden then. 45 Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you fing it. Jul. And why not you? 50 And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune. Luc. No, madam, it is too sharp. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, 55 And mar the concord with too harsh a defcant4: • To cenfure means, in this place, to pass sentence. 2 A broker was used for matchmaker, sometimes for procuress. 3 Stomach was used for passion or obftinacy. 4 Defcant is a term in music. 5 The mean is the tenor in music. 6 The speaker here turns the allusion (which her mistress emplayed) from the base in music to a country exercise, Bid the base: in which some pursue, and others are made prifoners. Juh Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with protestation! [Tears it. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Put forth their sons to seek preferment out : Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be 5 For any, or for all these exercises, best pleas'd Oh hateful hands, to tear such loving words! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, He said, that Protheus, your fon, was meet; 10 In having known no travel in his youth. [that Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be thoroughly 20 How his companion, youthful Valentine, And thus I search it with a fovereign kiss. 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, [bear Attends the emperor in his royal court. [him thither: Pant. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, And be in eye of every exercise, Worthy his youth, and nobleness of birth. Except mine own name; that some whirlwind 25 Hear fweet discourse, converse with noblemen; Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock, And throw it thence into the raging sea! Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ, Puor forlorn Protheus, paffionate Protheus, To the frweet Julia;-that I'll tear away; And yet I will not, fith so prettily He couples it to his complaining names; Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will. Re-enter Lucetta. Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here? Ant. I like thy counsel; well haft thou advis'd: 30 The execution of it shall make known; I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. [phonfo, With other gentlemen of good esteem, 35 Are journeying to falute the emperor, Jul. If thou respect them, best to take them up. 40 down: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. Jul. I fee, you have a month's mind to them1. And to commend their service to his will. Ant. Good company; with them shall Protheus And, in good time 4,-now will we break with him. Enter Protheus. Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what fights you 45 Oh heavenly Julia ! * A month's mind was an anniversary in times of popery; or, as Mr. Ray calls it, a less folemnity directed by the will of the deceased. There was alfo a year's mind, and a weck's mind. See Proverbial Pbrafes. 2 Sad is the fame as grave or ferious. 3 Impeachment is bindrance. 4 The old expreffion when fomething happened which fuited the thing in hand, fimilar to the French à propos. For Speed. Why then this may be yours; for this is 30 you are so without these follies, that these follies Speed. She that your worship loves? Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? 45 Speed. That the is not so fair, as (of you) well Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learn'd, like fir Protheus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a love-fong, Like a Robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one favour'd. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquifite, but her favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and that had the peftilence; to figh, like a school-boy 50 the other out of all count. that had lost his A. B. C; to weep, like a young Val. How painted? and how out of count? Speed. Marry, fir, so painted, to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty. Val. How esteem'ft thou me? I account of her wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like Speed. You never faw her fince she was deform'd. Vat. How long hath the been deform'd? 3 That is, That is, allowance. 2 To take diet was the phrafe for being under a regimen. about the feast of All-Saints, when the poor people in Staffordshire, and probably in Warwickshire, go from parish to parish a fouling as they call it; i. e. begging and puling (or finging small) for foul-cakes, or any good thing to make them merry. This custom seems a remnant of Popish superftition to pray for departed fouls, particularly those of friends Val. Val. I have lov'd her, ever since I saw her; and till I see her beautiful. Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her. Val. Why? But since unwillingly, take them again; Nay, take them. Val. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, fir, at my request; Speed. Because love is blind. O, that you had 5 But I will none of them; they are for you: mine eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at fir Protheus for going ungarter'd! Val. What should I see then? I would have had them writ more movingly. Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another. Sil. And, when it's writ, for my fake read it over: Speed. Your own present folly, and her paffing 10 And, if it please you, fo; if not, why, fo. deformity for he, being in love, could not fee to garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot fee to put on your hose. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, fir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swing'd me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Val. In conclusion, I stand affected to her. Val. If it please me, madam? what then? Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour; [Exit. And fo good-morrow, servant. 15 Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on [suitor, My master sues to her; and she hath taught her He being her pupal, to become her tutor. a steeple! Speed. I would you were set, so your affection 20 O excellent device! was there ever heard a better? would ceafe. Oh, exceeding 30 Speed. To yourself; why, she wooes you by a puppet! now will he interpret to her. Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good morrows. Speed. Oh! 'give ye good even! here's a million of manners. Sil. Sir Valentine and fervant, to you two thousand. Speed. He should give her interest; and she gives it him. Val. What figure? Speed. By a letter, I should fay. Speed. What need she, when the made you 35 write to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jeft? Val. No, believe me. Speed. No believing you indeed, fir: But did you perceive her earnest? Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter 4c Val. She gave me none, except an angry word. Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet. [Afide Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it? Sil. Yes, yes! the lines are very quaintly writ: Speed. Ay, but hearken, fir: though the cameleon love can feed on the air, I am one that arm nourish'd by my victuals, and would fain have meat: Oh be not like your mistress; be moved, 60 be moved, [Exeunt. si.c. • Motion, in Shakspeare's time, signified puppet, or a puppet-fhero. 2 This was the language of ladies so their lovers in Shakspeare's time. 3 That is, like a scholar. + That is, difcourfing, talking, there's the conclusion of the matter. • In print means with exactness. SCENE Enter Protbeus and Julia. Pre. Have patience, gentle Julia. Jul. I must, where is no remedy. Pre. When possibly I can, I will return. Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's fake. Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, take you this. Pan. Lance, away, away, aboard; thy master [Giving a ring. 10 is shipp'd, and thou art to poft after with oars. What's the matter? why weep'st thou, man? Away, afs; you will lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. Laun. It is no matter if the tide were loft; for it is the unkindest ty'd that ever any man ty'd. 15 Pan. What's the unkindest tide? Jul. And feal the bargain with a holy kiss. Julia, farewell-What! gone without a word? Pas. Sir Protheus, you are staid for. Prs. Go; I come, I come :ï Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [Exeunt. Laun. Why, he that's ty'd here; Crab, my dog. Pan. Tut, man, I mean thou'lt lose the flood; and, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in lofing thy voyage, lose thy master; and, in lofing 20 thy master, lose thy service; and, in losing thy fer. vice, Why dost thou stop my mouth? 25 Laun. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue. Pan. In thy tail? Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service, and the tide? Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the 30 boat with my fighs. Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee. Laun. Sir, call me what thou dar'st. SCENE IV. An apartment in the duke's palace. [Exeum. Lens. Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done Enter Valentine, Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Speed. Master, fir Thurio frowns on you. Val. Of my mistress then. Val. Indeed, madam, I seem so. Thu. So do counterfeits. Thu. What feem I, that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote you my folly? : shoe speak a word for weeping; now should I kiss 60 Thu. My jerkin is a doublet. my father; well, he weeps on : now come I to Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. * That is crazy, frantic with grief; or distracted, from any other cause. The word is very frequently used in Chaucer; and sometimes writ qwood, sometimes wode. Wood, or crazy women, were anciently supposed to be able to tell fortunes. 2 To quote is to obferves Thu. |