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. 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

prove

her; no, not so much as a ducat for deliver-
ing your letter: and being so hard to me
that brought your mind, I fear she 'll
as hard to you in telling your mind.
her no token but stones; for she's as hard
as steel.

Pro. What said she? nothing?

Give

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 so, sir, I'll commend you to my

master.

140

150

160

157. That is, you have given me a testern. Testern, now called tester, was a coin of sixpence value, first issued in England in 1542, and so named from having a teste, that is, a head, stamped upon it. It was introduced from France, and was originally 18d, but afterwards fell to 12d, 9d, and finally 6d, where it stuck.H. N. H.

Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from

wreck,

Which cannot perish having thee aboard,
Being destined to a drier death on shore.
[Exit Speed.
I must go send some better messenger:
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post.
[Exit.

SCENE II

The same. Garden of Julia's house.
Enter Julia and Lucetta.

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,

Wouldst thou, then, counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Aye, madam; so you stumble not unheed

fully.

Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen

That every day with parle encounter me,
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

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; 10 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.

20

Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?
Luc. Then thus,-of many good I think him best.
Jul. Your reason?

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. Aye, if you thought your love not cast

Jul. Why, he, of all the rest, hath never moved

me.

Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.
Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. 30
Jul. They do not love that do not show their love.
Luc. O, they love least that let men know their
love.

Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc. Peruse this paper, madam.

Jul. "To Julia.'-Say, from whom?
Luc. That the contents will show.

30. “Fire” is here a dissyllable. The play has other like examples: “But qualify the fire's extreme rage”; and again: "Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat," &c. These and similar words were continually used chus by the poets of Shakespeare's time: and yet Steevens undertook c correct the Poet's measure in such cases by supplying another word!-H. N. H.

Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee?

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

He would have given it you; but I, being in the
way,

Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault,
I pray.

Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!

Dare you presume to harbor 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.

40

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

Jul. Will ye 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,

51

And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view!
Since maids, in modesty, say 'no' to that
Which they would have the profferer construe
'aye.'

Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love,

That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,

41. "Broker." A matchmaker. It was sometimes used for a procuress.-H. N. H.

53. “What fool is she"; the first three Folios read "what 'fool is she," indicating the omission of the indefinite article, a not uncommon Elizabethan idiom.-I. G.

60

And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angrily I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,

And ask remission for my folly past.
What, ho! Lucetta!

I would it were;

your stomach on your meat,

And not upon your maid.

Jul. What is 't that you took up so gingerly? 70 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.
Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
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. It is too heavy for so light a tune.

68. "Stomach" is here used in the double sense of hunger and anger.-H. N. H.