SCENE III. [The same. A street.] Enter LAUNCE [leading a dog]. Launce. Nay, 't will be this hour ere I have done weeping; all the kind of the Launces have this very fault. I have receiv'd my proportion, like the prodigious son, and am going with Sir Proteus to the Imperial's court. I think Crab [ my dog be the sourest-natured dog that lives. My mother weeping, my father wailing, my sister crying, our maid howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear. He is a stone, a very pebble [10 stone, and has no more pity in him than a dog. A Jew would have wept to have seen our parting; why, my grandam, having no eyes, look you, wept herself blind at my parting. Nay, I'll show you the manner of it. This shoe is [15 my father; no, this left shoe is my father; no, no, this left shoe is my mother; nay, that cannot be so neither; yes, it is so, it is so, it hath the worser sole. This shoe, with the hole in it, is my mother, and this my father; a ven- [20 geance on 't! there 'tis. Now, sir, this staff is my sister, for, look you, she is as white as a lily and as small as a wand. This hat is Nan, our maid. I am the dog; no, the dog is himself, and I am the dog, O! the dog is me, and I am myself; ay, so, so. Now come I to my [25 father: "Father, your blessing." Now should not the shoe speak a word for weeping. Now should I kiss my father; well, he weeps on. Now come I to my mother. Oh, that she could speak now like a wood woman! Well, I kiss [30 her; why, there 'tis; here's my mother's breath up and down. Now come I to my sister; mark the moan she makes. Now the dog all this while sheds not a tear nor speaks a word; but see how I lay the dust with my tears. Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air. Val. You have said, sir. 30 Thu. Ay, sir, and done too, for this time. Val. I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin. Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. Val. 'Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver. Sil. Who is that, servant? 35 Val. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire. Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your To have a look of such a worthy mistress. Pro. I'll die on him that says so but yourself. That you are worthless. [Re-enter THURIO.] Thu. Madam, my lord your father would speak with you. 116 Sil. I wait upon his pleasure. Come, Sir Or as one nail by strength drives out another, Is it mine [eye], or Valentinus' praise, 199 Her true perfection, or my false transgression, 205 210 If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. [Exit Launce. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth, for I am not welcome. I reckon this always, that a man is never undone till he be hang'd, (6 nor never welcome to a place till some certain shot be paid and the hostess say, "Welcome!" Speed. Come on, you madcap, I'll to the alehouse with you presently; where, for one shot of five pence, thou shalt have five thousand [1a welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy master part with Madam Julia ? Launce. Marry, after they clos'd in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? Launce. No. Speed. How then? Shall he marry her? Launce. No, neither. Speed. What, are they broken? 14 Launce. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. Why, then, how stands the matter with them? Launce. Marry, thus: when it stands well with him, it stands well with her. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand [ thee not. Launce. What a block art thou, that thou canst not! My staff understands me. Speed. What thou say'st? Launce. Ay, and what I do too. Look thee, [30 I'll but lean, and my staff understands me. Speed. It stands under thee, indeed. Launce. Why, stand-under and under-stand is all one. Speed. But tell me true, will 't be a match? 35 Launce. Ask my dog. If he say ay, it will; if he say, no, it will; if he shake his tail and say nothing, it will. Speed. The conclusion is then that it will. Launce. Thou shalt never get such a secret [40 from me but by a parable. Speed. 'Tis well that I get it so. But, Launce, how say'st thou, that my master is become a notable lover? Launce. I never knew him otherwise. 45 Launce. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be. Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mis tak'st me. 50 Launce. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master. Speed. I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover. Launce. Why, I tell thee, I care not though [55 he burn himself in love. If thou wilt, go with me to the alehouse; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed. Why? Launce. Because thou hast not so much [60 charity in thee as to go to the ale with a Christian. Wilt thou go? Speed. At thy service. [Exeunt. swear. 10 O sweet-suggesting Love, if thou hast sinn'd, If I keep them, I needs must lose myself. 20 I to myself am dearer than a friend, 30 I will forget that Julia is alive, 35 Love, lend me wings to make my purpose swift, As thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift! [Exit. Luc. Alas, the way is wearisome and long! Jul. A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; 10 Much less shall she that hath Love's wings to fly. And when the flight is made to one so dear, Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus. Luc. Better forbear till Proteus make return. Jul. O, know'st thou not his looks are my soul's food? 15 Pity the dearth that I have pined in, But qualify the fire's extreme rage, Lest it should burn above the bounds of rea Till the last step have brought me to my love; And there I'll rest, as after much turmoil A blessed soul doth in Elysium. |