prove. Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at; I am not Love. Val. Love is your master, for he masters you: And be that is so yoked by a fool, Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. Pro. Yet writers say, As in the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells, so eating love Inhabits in the finest wits of all. Val. Yet writers say, As the most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow, Even so by love the young and tender wit Once more adieu: my father at the road Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave. Pro. But dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia ? Speed. Ay, Sir: 1, 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 a store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be overcharged, 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, 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? did she nod ? Speed. I. [SPEED nods. Pro. Nod, I why, that's noddy. † Speed. You mistook, Sir; I say she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod, and I say, 1. 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 Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief; What said she? Val. As much to you at home! and so farc-purse. nought! at stance. 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'st thou perceive so much from her? Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat for delithat brought your mind, I fear, she'll prove as vering your letter: And being so hard to ne token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no 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 : Being destined to a drier death on shore :- Pro. It shall go hard, but I'll prove it by SCENE II.-The same. another. house. [Exeunt. Garden of JULIA Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love? Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. A term for a girl of pleasure: Mutton-lane, in such persons. Clerkenwell, is so called from being frequented by A game at cards. 1 Given me a sixpence. ine. Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, best loves ye. Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small. Luc. Fire, that is closest kept, burns most of all. Jul. They do not love, that do not show their love. Luc. Oh! they love least, that let men know their love. Jul. I would I knew his mind. Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! Dare you presume to barbour 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. Jul. Will you 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, Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love, Re-enter LUCETTA. Luc. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? That you might kill your stomach on your meat, And not upon your maid. So gingerly? Luc. Nothing. Jul. Why did'st thou stoop then? Luc. Nothing concerning me. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it coucerns, Unless it have a false interpreter. Jul. Some love of your's bath writ to you in rhyme. Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune: Give me a note: your ladyship can set. Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible : Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love. Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing it. Jul. And why not you? Jul. Let's see your song ;-How now, minion ? Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out; And yet methinks, I do not like this tune. Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp. And mar the concord with too harsh a descant: There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Here is a coil with protestation !— [Tears the letter. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd [Erit. To be so anger'd with another letter. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! O hateful bands, to tear such loving words! I'll kiss each several paper for amends. I throw thy name against the bruising stones And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. down? • Passion or obstinacy. + The tenor in music Bustlo, th Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your fa- Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn: ther stays. Jul. Well, let us go. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tales here ? Jul. If you respect them, best to take up. Oh! that our fathers would applaud our loves To seal our happiness with their consents! tell-O beavenly Julia! them Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. Jul. I see, you have a month's mind to them. Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you judge I wink. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in ANTONIO'S House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO, Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister ? Pan. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son. Ant. Why, what of him? Pan. He wonder'd, that your lordship He said, that Proteus, your son, was meet; Ant. How now? what letter are you reading there ? Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two Of commendation sent from Valentine, news. Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes How happily he lives, how well belov❜d, Muse + not that I thus suddenly proceed; Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; Please you, deliberate a day or two. Ant. Look what thou want'st, shall be sent after thee: No more of stay; to-morrow thou must go.→ [Exeunt ANT. and PAN. Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; Val. Go to, Sir; tell me, do you know madam Silvia ? Speed. She that your worship loves? Val. What should I see then? Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing deformity: for he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last moruing you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, Sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Val. In conclusion I stand affected to her. Speed. I would you were set: so, your affection would cease. Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves. Speed. And bave you? Val. I have. Speed. Are they not lamely writ Val. No, boy, but as well I can do them :Peace, here she comes. Enter SILVIA. Speed. O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet! now will be interpret to her. Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good Val. Why how know you that I am in love? Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreath your arms like a male-content: to relish a lovesong, like a robin-red-breast; to walk alone like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school boy that had lost his A, B, C; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak pul-morrows. You were ing like a beggar at Hallowmas. + wont, when you laugh'd, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when I look on you, I can hardly think you my master. Val. Are all these things perceiv'd in me? Speed. They are all perceiv'd without you. Val. Without me? They cannot. Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain, for, without you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within, you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal; that not an eye, that sees you, but is a physician to comment on your malady. Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia ? Speed. She, that you gaze on so, as she sits at supper? Val. Hast thou observ'd that? even she I mean. Speed. Why, Sir, I know her not. Speed. O 'give you good even! Here's a [Aside. million of manners. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. Speed. He should give her interest; and she gives it him. Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter, Unto the secret nameless friend of your's; Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much pains? Val. No, madam; so it stead you, I will write, thousand times Please you command, a much: And yet, as Sil. Á pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; And yet I will not name it :-and yet I care not; Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on And yet take this again;-and yet I thank you; her, and yet know'st her not. Speed. Is she not hard favoured Sir? Val. Not so fair, boy, as well favoured. Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favoured. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but ber favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count. Val. How painted? and how out of count? Speed. Marry, Sir, so painted, to make her fair that no man counts of her beauty. Val. How esteem'st thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed. Val. How long hath she been deformed? Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still I see her beautiful. Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her. Speed. Because love is blind. O that you had mine eyes; or your own hand the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at Sir Protens for going ungartered! Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more. Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it ? Sil. Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly writ: Val. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, Sir, at my re |