SCENE II. Changes to Julia's Chamber. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, In thy opinion which is worthiest love? Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the let [ter. It were a shame, to call her back again, Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod! 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 vou, he never should be mine. 15 How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, Jul. What thinks't thou of the rich Mercatio? 20 And ask remission for my folly past: Luc. Well, of his wealth; but of himself, so, so. Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Protheus? 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. Jul. Why not on Protheus, as of all the rest? What ho! Lucetta! Re-enter Lucetta. Luc. What would your ladyship? Jul. Is it near dinner-time? 25 Luc. I would, it were; [meat, That you might kill your stomach on your And not upon your maid. Jul. What is't that you Took up so gingerly? Luc. Then thus, of many good, I think hiin 30 Luc. Nothing. Jul. Your reason? [best. Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I thank him so, because I think him so. Jul. And would'st thou have me cast my love on hun? Luc. Av, if you thought your love not cast away. Jul. Why did'st thou stoop then? Luc. To take a paper up, that I let fall. Jul. And is that paper nothing? Luc. Nothing concerning me. 35 Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Luc. Fire, that is closest kept, burns most of all. 40 Give me a note; your ladyship can set. [it. Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burden then. [way, 50 And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune. He would have given it you, but I, being in the Jul. You do not. Luc. No, madam, it is too sharp. 55 And mar the concord with too harsh a descant: To censure means, in this place, to pass sentence. 2 A broker was used for matchmaker, sometimes for procuress. 3 Stomach was used for passion or obstinacy. • Descant is a term in music. The mean is the tenor in music. • The speaker here turns the allusion (which her mistress employed) from the base in music to a country exercise, Bid the base; in which some pursue, and others are made prisoners. Jul. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be 5 For any, or for all of these exercises, best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! Oh hateful hands, to tear such loving words! He said, that Protheus, your son, was meet; 10 In having known no travel in his youth. [that Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to Look, here is writ-kind Julia; unkind Julia! I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed, [heal'd; And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. Attends the emperor in his royal court. [him thither: Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away, Pant. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be thoroughly 20 How his companion, youthtul Valentine, But twice, or thrice, was Protheus written down: Till I have found each letter in the letter, [bear Except mine own name; that some whirlwind 25 Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen; And be in eye of every exercise, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: 30 The execution of it shall make known; I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. [phonso. With other gentlemen of good esteem, And to commend their service to his will. [go: Enter Protheus. Jul. If thou respect them, best to take them up. 40 Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? 55 Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. Pant. 'Twas of his nephew Protheus, your son. Pant. He wonder'd, that your lordship 1 A month's mind was an anniversary in times of popery; or, as Mr. Ray calls it, a less solemnity directed by the will of the deceased. There was also a year's mind, and a week's mind. See Proverbial 2 Sad is the same as grave or serious. Impeachment is hindrance. 4 The old expres sion when something happened which suited the thing in hand, similar to the French à propos. For SCENE I. ACT An apartment in the duke's palace. Speed. SiR, your glove; my gloves are on. II, phos'd with a mistress, that, when I look on you, 25 Val. Are all these things perceiv'd in me? Speed. Why then this may be yours; for this 30 you are so without these follies, that these follies is but one. Var. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine: Sweet ornament, that decks a thing divine! Speed. Madam Silvia! madam Silvia! 35 Silvia? 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 [supper? Speed. She's not within hearing, sir. Val. Why, sir, who had you call her? Speed. She that you gaze on so, as she sits at Speed. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook. Vul. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, Vai. Well, you'll still be too forward. [slow. 40 and yet know'st her not? Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too Vat. Go to, sir; tell me, do you know madam Speed. Is she not hard-favour'd, sir? Silvia? Speed. Sir, I know that well enough. Val. What dost thou know?. Vat. Why, how know you that I am in love? 45 Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well like a Robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy 50 the other out of all count. that had lost his ABC; to weep, like a young Val. How esteem'st thou me? I account of her wench that had buried her grandain; to fast, like form'd. Speed. You never saw her since she was de- • That is, That is, allowance. * To take diet was the phrase for being under a regimen. about the feast of All-Saints, when the poor people in Staffordshire, and probably in Warwickshire, go from parish to parish a souling as they call it; i. e. begging and puling (or singing small) for soul-cakes, or any good thing to make them merry. This custom seems a remnant of Popish superstition to pray for departed souls, particularly those of friends. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and 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. I have lov'd her, ever since I saw her; and still I see her beautiful. Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her. Val. Why? Val. Madam, they are for you. But since unwillingly, take them again; Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request; Speed. Because love is blind. O, that you had 5 But I will none of them: they are for you: mine eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have, when you chid at sir Protheus for going ungarter'd! Val. What should I see then? I would have had them writ more movingly. Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another. Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing 10 And, 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 morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, sir; I was in love with my bed; if it over: please you, so; if not, why, so. Val. If it please me, madam? what then? Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour; And so good-morrow, servant. [Exit. 15 Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a [suitor, My master sues to her; and she hath taught her He being her pupil, to become her tutor. steeple ! Speed. I would you were set, and your affection 20 O excellent device! was there ever heard a better? so would cease. That my master, being the scribe, to himself should write the letter! Val. How now, sir? what, are you reasoning with yourself? 25 Speed. Nay, I was rhiming; 'tis you that have the reason. Val. To do what? Speed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia. Speed. Oh, excellent motion'! Oh, exceeding 30 Speed. To yourself; why, she wooes you by a puppet! now will he interpret to her. Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good morrows. Speed. Oh! 'give ye good even! here's a million of manners. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant', to you two thousand. Speed. IHe should give her interest; and she gives it him. Val. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter 40 Val. She gave me none, except an angry word. Sil. A pretty period! Weil, I guess the sequel; And yet take this again; and yet I thank you; Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet Val. What means your ladyship? do you not like it? Sil. Yes, yes! the lines are very quaintly writ: 1 Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the cameleon love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourish'd by my victuals, and would fain have meat: Oh! be not like your mistress; be mov'd, 60 be moved. [Excunt. Motion, in Shakspeare's time, signified puppet, or a puppet-shew. * This was the language of ladies to their lovers in Shakspeare's time. That is, like a scholar. * That is, discoursing, talking. i. e. there's the conclusion of the matter. * In print means with exactness. SCENE my mother;-oh that she could speak now like a wood woman!-well, I kiss her; -why there 'tis; here's my mother's breath up and down: now come I to my sister; mark the moan she makes: 5 now the dog all this while sheds not a tear, nor speaks a word; but see how I lay the dust with my tears. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. Enter Panthino. Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard; thy master is shipp'd, and thou art to post after with oars. What's the matter? why weep'st thou man? Away, ass; you will lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. Laun. It is no matter if the tide were lost; for it is the unkindest ty'd that ever any man ty'd. 15 Pan. What's the unkindest tide? Laun. Why, he that's ty'd here; Crab, my dog. Pan. Tut, man, I mean thou'lt lose the flood; and, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in losing thy voyage, lose thy master; and, in losing 20 thy master, lose thy service; and, in losing thy service,-Why dost thou stop my mouth? Laun. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue, Julia, farewell.-What! gone without a word? Enter Panthino. Go; I come, I come: Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service, and the tide? Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [Exe. tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the Enter Launce leading a dog. SCENE III. 30 boat with my sighs. A street. Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee. Laun. Sir, call me what thou dar'st. Pan. Wilt thou go? [Exeunt. fault: I have received my proportion, like the pro digious son, and am going with sir Protheus to the SCENE IV. Laun. Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping: all the kind of the Launces have this very 35 Laun. Well, I will go. An apartment in the duke's palace. Enter Valentine, Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Sil. Servant,- Speed. Master, sir Thurio frowns on you. Val. Of my mistress then. imperial's court. I think, Crab my dog be the Val. Indeed, madam, I seem so. Thu. So do counterfeits. Thu. What seem I, that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote you my folly? Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. That is, crazy, frantic with grief; or distracted, from any other cause. The word is very frequently used in Chaucer; and sometimes writ wood, sometimes wode. Wood, or crazy women, were anciently supposed to be able to tell fortunes. To quote is to observe. Thu. |