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. 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 store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharg'd, 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, the pinfold. 5 A LACED MUTTON;] Many authorities prove that mutton and courtezan were synonymous terms in the time of Shakespeare and long afterwards; and hence (as Malone tells us) the place called Mutton-lane in Clerkenwell. The question is, what was meant by a "laced mutton," for the participle and substantive are often found together. Laced probably meant dressed or adorned; and in Deloney's "Thomas of Reading," chap. ii., we read this passage: "No meat pleased him so well as mutton, such as was laced in a red petticoat." Speed's jest, such as it is, may have reconciled Proteus to the ill compliment to his mistress. 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? did she nod"? Speed. I. Pro. Nod, I? why that's noddy'. [SPEED nods. 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. 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. 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 deliver❜d. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains. 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; did she nod ] These words were supplied by Theobald, and seem to be necessary. They are not in the old copies; but it is clear from what Speed afterwards says that Proteus had asked the question. In Speed's answers the old spelling of the affirmative particle has been retained; otherwise the conceit of Proteus would be less intelligible. 7 — that's NODDY.] Noddy was a game at cards, and to call a person a Noddy was the same as to call him a fool. Noddy was the Knave or Fool in a pack of cards. The practice of calling the knave Nod, or Noddy, is not yet entirely discontinued. 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 testern'd me'; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself. And so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck, Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Being destin'd 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The Same. Julia's Garden. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, That every day with parle encounter me, 8 in telling YOUR mind.] The meaning (says Malone) is,—She being so hard to me who was the bearer of your mind, I fear she will prove no less so to you in the act of telling your mind. 9 you have TESTERN'D me;] You have given me a testern, that is, sixpence. In the time of Henry VIII. a tester, testern, or teston, was of the value of a shilling it was so called from having a teste, i. e. head, upon it. In the folio, 1623, "testern'd" is misprinted cestern'd. 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? 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. Pardon, dear madam: 'tis a passing shame, Should censure thus' on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 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? Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. Jul. I would I knew his mind. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. That the contents will show. Jul. "To Julia." Say, from whom? Luc. 10 AS OF A knight-] In Malone's Shakespeare, by Boswell, it is misprinted "As our knight," &c. 1 CENSURE thus on-] Pass my opinion upon. See Vol. v. pp. 125. 397. VOL. I. H 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, Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. 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. And ask remission for my folly past.- Luc. Re-enter LUCETTA. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? |