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

muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharg'd, you were best ftick her.

I

Pro. Nay, in that you are aftray; 'twere best pound you.

Speed. Nay, Sir, lefs 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.

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Pro. But what faid fhe: did fhe nod? [Speed nods. Speed. I.

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

Speed. You miftook, Sir: I faid, fhe did nod: And you ask me, if she did nod; and I faid, 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. 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?

Again Heywood, in his Love's Miftrefs, 1636, fpeaking of Cupid, fays, he is the "Hero of hie-hoes, admiral of ay-me's, and "monfieur of mutton lac'd." STEEVENS.

Nay, in that you are aftray;-] For the reafon Protheus gives, Dr. Thirlby advises that we fhould read, a ftray, i. e. a fray fheep; which continues Protheus's banter upon Speed. THEOBALD.

2 did fhe nod ?] Thefe words have been fupplied by fome of the editors, to introduce what follows. STEEVENS.

Speed.

Speed. Open your purfe, that the money and the matter may be both at once deliver❜d.

Pro. Well, Sir, here is for your pains: what faid fhe?

Speed. Truly, Sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? could't thou perceive fo much from her?

Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducket for delivering your letter. And being fo hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in 3 telling her mind. Give her no token but ftones; for fhe's as hard as fteel.

Pro. What, faid the nothing?

Speed. No, not fo much as-Take this for thy pains. To teftify your bounty, I thank you, 4 you have teftern'd me:

In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourfelf: and fo, Sir, I'll commend you to my mafter. Pro, Go, go, be gone, to fave your fhip from wreck;

Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,
Being deftin'd to a drier death on shore.
I must go fend fome better meffenger:
I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from fuch a worthless post.

[Exeunt feverally.

-telling her mind.] The old copy reads your mind.

STEEVENS.

-you have teftern'd me:] You have gratified me with

a tefter, teftern, or teften, that is, with a fixpence. JOHNSON.

SCENE

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Jul. But fay, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would'ft thou then counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, fo you ftumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair refort of gentlemen That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthieft love?

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

mind

According to my fhallow fimple skill.

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

Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio?
Luc. Well, of his wealth; but, of himself, so, 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 paffion at his name?
Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a paffing fhame,
That I, unworthy body as I am,

* Should cenfure thus on lovely gentlemen.
Jul. Why not on Protheus, as on 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 reason;

I think him fo, because I think him fo.

Jul. And would'ft 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.

Should cenfure thus, &c.] To cenfure means, in this place, to pass sentence. So in Othello:

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to you, lord governor, "Remains the cenfure of this hellish villain." STEEV. VOL. I.

H

Luc.

Luc. Fire, that is closest kept, burns most of all.
Jul. They do not love, that do not fhew their love.
Luc. Oh, they love leaft, that let men know their
love.

Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc. Perufe this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia-Say, from whom?
Luc. That the contents will fhew.
Jul. Say, fay; who gave it thee?

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

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 modefty, 5 a goodly broker!
Dare you prefume to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper and confpire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great

And you an officer fit for the place.

worth;

There, take the paper; fee, it be return'd;
Or elfe return no more into my fight.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
ful. 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 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 profferer construe, Ay.
Fie, fie! how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a tefty babe, will scratch the nurse,
And prefently, all humbled, kifs the rod !
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!

5 -a goodly broker!] A broker was used for matchmaker, fometimes for a procurefs. JOHNSON.

How

How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,

And ask remiffion for my folly past.
What ho! Lucetta!

Re-enter Lucetta.

Luc. What would your ladyship?

Jul. Is it near dinner-time?

Luc. I would it were;

That you might kill your 6 ftomach on your meat,

And not upon your maid.

Jul. What is't that you

Took up fo gingerly?

Luc. Nothing.

Jul. Why didft 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 rhime Luc. That I might fing it, madam, to a tune: Give me a note; your ladyship can set.

ful. As little by fuch toys as may be poffible: Best sing it to the tune of Light o' love."

Luc. It is too heavy for fo light a tune.

Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath fome burden then. Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you fing it, Jul. And why not you?

Luc. I cannot reach fo high.

Jul. Let's fee your fong:

How now, minion?

Luc. Keep tune there ftill, fo you will fing it out And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune.

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- ftomach on your meat,] Stomach was used for passion

or obftinacy. JOHNSON.

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