Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud, 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. Of thy success in love, and what news else Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan! Enter SPEED. [Exit. Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master? Pro. But now he parted hence, t' 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 wake or sleep. Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. Shakespeare. VII, 10 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? gavest 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, mutton, nothing for my labour. a lost Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are a stray, '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. Pro. But what said she? Speed. [nodding] Ay. Pro. Nod, Ay? why, that's noddy. Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you me if she did nod; and I say, Ay. Pro. And that set together is noddy. ask 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. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Pro. 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 [Giving him money]. What said she? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. 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? 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 sir, I'll commend you to my master. 80, Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, [Exit Speed. [Exit. SCENE II. The same. The garden of JULIA's house. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. 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 According to my shallow-simple 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 should be mine. 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! 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? of many good I think him best. Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so. Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? [Gives a letter. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee? Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus. Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? 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. Luc. That you may ruminate. 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. And ask remission for my folly past. Luc. Re-enter Lucetta. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? 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. 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. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. [Exil. |