That art a votary to fond defire ?

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 Protheus, no: now let us take our leave.
At Milan, let me hear from thee by letters
Of thy fuccefs in love; and what news elfe
Betideth here in absence of thy friend:
And I likewife will visit thee with mine.
Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
Val. As much to you at home; and so, farewel!

[Exit.

Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love;
He leaves his friends to dignify them more;
I leave myself, my friends, and all for love.
Thou, Julia, thou haft metamorphos'd me;
Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,
War with good counsel, set the world at nought;
Made wit with mufing weak, heart fick with thought.
SCENE. II.

IR

Enter Speed.

faw

you my mafter?

Speed. STR. Protheus, fave y parted hence, t'imbark

Pro. now

for Milan.

Speed. Twenty to one then he is fhipp'd already,
And I have play'd the sheep in losing him.
Pro. Indeed, a fheep doth very often stray,
An if the fhepherd 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 fleep.

Pro. A filly anfwer, and fitting well a sheep.
Speed. This proves me ftill a fheep.

Pro. True; and thy mafter a fhepherd.

Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.

H 4

Pro..

1

Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The fhepherd feeks the sheep, and not the fheep the fhepherd; but I seek my mafter, and my mafter feeks not me; therefore I am no fheep.

Pro. The fheep for fodder follows the fhepherd, the fhepherd for the food follows not the fheep; thou for wages followeft thy mafter, thy mafter for wages follows not thee; therefore thou art a fheep.

Speed. Such another proof will make me cry Baâ. Pro. But doft thou hear? gaveft thou my letter to Julia?

Speed. Ay, Sir, I, a loft mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac'd mutton, and fhe, a lac'd mutton, gave me, a loft mutton, nothing for my labour

Pro. Here's too small a pafture for fuch ftore of

muttons,

Speed. If the ground be over-charg'd, you were beft ftick her.

Pro. Nay, in that you are a ftray, 'twere beft pound

you.

Speed. Nay, Sir, lefs than a pound fhall serve me for carrying your letter.

Pro. You mistake: I mean the pound, a pin-fold. 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 faid fhe: did fhe nod? [Speed nods. Speed. I.

Pro. Nod-I? why, that's noddy.

Speed. You mistook, Sir: I said, fhe did nod: And you afk me, if she did nod; and I said, I. Pro. And that fet together, is noddy.

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to fet 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.

Speed. Marry, Sir, the letter very orderly; Having nothing but the word noddy for my pains. Pro. Befhrew me, but you have a quick wit.

Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what faid fhe?

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? could'ft thou perceive fo much from her?

Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; No, not fo much as a ducket for delivering your letter. And being fo hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, fhe'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but ftones; for fhe's as hard as fteel.

Pro. What, faid fhe nothing?

Speed. No, not fo much as--take this for thy pains: To teftify your bounty, I thank you, you have teftern'd me:

In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letter
yourself: and fo, Sir, I'll commend you to my master.
Pro. Go, go, be gone, to fave your fhip from wreck,
Which cannot perifh, having thee aboard,
Being deftin'd to a drier death on fhore.
I must go fend some better meffenger:
I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from fuch a worthless poft.

[Exeunt feverally..

Changes to Julia's Chamber.

Enter Julia and Lucetta..

Jul. Bald' thou then counfel me to fall in UT fay, Lucetta, now we are alone,

love?

H 5

Luc.

Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair refort of gentlemen, That ev'ry day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthieft love?,

Luc. Please you, repeat their names; I'll fhew mind,

According to my fhallow fimple skill.

my

Jul. What think ft thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a Knight well spoken, neat and fine; But were I you, he never fhould be mine.

Jul. What think'ft thou of the rich Mercatio?
Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, fo, so.
Jul. What think'ft thou of the gentle Protheus?
Luc. Lord, lord! to fee what folly reigns in us!
Jul. How now? what means this paflion at his
name?

Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a passing shame, That I, unworthy body as I am,

Should cenfure thus on lovely gentlemen.

Jul. Why not on Protheus, as of all the reft?
Luc. Then thus; of many good, I think him best.

Jul. Your reafon?

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

I think him fo, because I think him fo.

Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love on

him?

Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not caft away.
Jul. Why, he of all the reft hath never mov'd me.
Luc. Yet he of all the reft, I think, beft loves ye.
Jul. His little fpeaking fhews his love but small.
Luc. The fire, that's clofeft kept, burns moft of all.
Jul. They do not love, that do not fhew their love.
Luc. Oh, they love leaft, that let men know their
Jul. I would, I knew his mind.
Luc. Perufe this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia; fay, from whom?
Luc. That the contents will fhew.
Jul. Say, fay; who gave it thee?

[love.

Luc.

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

Protheus.

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

Luc. To plead for love deferves more fee than hate.
Jul. Will ye be gone?

Luc. That you may ruminate.

[Exit.

Jul. And yet I would, I had o'er-look'd the letter.

It were a fhame to call her back again,
And pray her to a fault, for which I chid her.
What fool is fhe, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since maids, in modefty, fay No, to that
Which they would have the proff'rer conftrue, Ay..
Fie, fie; how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a tefty babe, will fcratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kifs 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 enforc'd my heart to fmile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back,

And afk remiffion for my folly paft.

What ho! Lucetta!

Re-enter Lucetta.

Luc. What would your ladyship?

Jul. Is't near dinner-time ?

Luc. I would it were;

That you might kill your ftomach on your meat,

And not upon your maid.

H 6

Jul.