Methinks fhould not be chronicled for wife.
Pro. Yet writers fay, As in the sweetest bud
The eating canker dwells, fo eating love
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.

Val. And writers fay, As the most forward bud
Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,

Even fo by love the young and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly; blafting in the bud,
Lofing his verdure even in the prime,
And all the fair effects of future hopes.
But wherefore wafte I time to counsel thee,
That art a votary to fond defire?

Once more adieu: my father at the road.

Expects my coming, there to fee me fhipp'd.

Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine.

Val. Sweet Protheus, no; now let us take our leave.

At Milan, let me hear from thee by letters,

Of thy fuccefs in love, and what news elfe
Betideth here in abfence of thy friend;

And I likewife will vifit thee with mine.

Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!

Val. As much to you at home! and fo, farewell! [Exit.
Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love:

He leaves his friends, to dignify them more;
I leave myself, my friends, and all for love.
Thou, Julia, thou haft metamorphos'd me;
Made me neglect my ftudies, lofe my time,
War with good counfel, fet the world at nought;
Made wit with musing weak, heart fick with thought,

Enter Speed.

Speed. Sir Protheus, fave you: Saw you my mafter? Pro. But now he parted hence to embark for Milan.

Speed.

Speed. Twenty to one then, he is fshipp'd already, And I have play'd the sheep, in losing him.

Pro. Indeed, a fheep doth very often stray, An if the fhepherd be awhile away.

Speed. You conclude, that my master is a fhepherd then, and I a sheep?

Pro. I do.

Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or fleep.

Pro. A filly anfwer, and fitting well a fheep.

Speed. This proves me ftill a fheep.

Pro. True; and thy mafter a fhepherd.

Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.

Pro. It fhall go hard but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The fhepherd feeks the fheep, and not the sheep the fhepherd; but I feek my mafter, and my master seeks not me; therefore I am no fheep.

Pro. The fheep for fodder follows the fhepherd, the fhepherd for the food follows not the fheep; thou for wages followeft thy mafter, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a fheep.

Speed. Such another proof will make me cry baâ.

Pro. But doft thou hear? gav'ft thou my letter to

g

Julia?

Speed. Ay, fir: I, a loft mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac'd mutton; and fhe a lac'd mutton, gave me, a loft mutton, nothing for my labour.

Pro. Here's too small a pasture for fuch a store of

muttons.

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

her.

floft mutton,-having loft his master.

a lac'd mutton;]-a courtezan.

Pro.

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

you.

Speed. Nay, fir, lefs than a pound fhall ferve 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 faid fhe? [Speed nods.] did fhe nod?
Speed. I.

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

Speed. You mistook, fir; I said, fhe did nod: and you ask me, if fhe did nod; and I faid, I.

Pro. And that fet together, is-noddy.

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

Pro. No, no, you fhall have it for bearing the letter. Speed. Well, I perceive, I must be fain to bear with you. Pro. Why, fir, how do you bear with me?

Speed. Marry, fir, 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?

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

Pro. Well, fir, here is for your pains: What faid she? Speed. Truly, fir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Could'st thou perceive fo much from her? Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not fo much as a ducket for delivering your letter: And being fo hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, fhe'll

prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no token but ftones; for fhe's as hard as steel.

Pro. What, faid fhe nothing?

i

Speed. No, not fo much as-take this for thy pains. To teftify your bounty, I thank you, you have teftern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and fo, fir, I'll commend you to my master.

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 fhore :-
I must go fend fome better meffenger;
I fear my Julia' would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from fuch a worthless poft.

SCENE

[Exeunt feverally.

II.

Changes to Julia's Chamber.

Enter Julia and Lucetta.

ful. But fay, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Would't thou then counfel me to fall in love?
Luc. Ay, madam; fo you stumble not unheedfully.
Jul. Of all the fair refort of gentlemen,

m

That every day " with parle encounter me,

In thy opinion which is worthieft love?

Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll fhew my mind. According to my fhallow fimple skill.

in telling your mind.]—her mind.-when you address her in perfon. i teftern'd me ;]-given me a tefter, fixpence.

* Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,]-He that's born to be hanged, will never be drowned. Prov.

TEMPEST, A& I, S. 1. Gon.

I would not deign]-would not think well of.
with parle encounter me,]-pay their addreffes to me.

Jul.

Jul. 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'ft thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well, of his wealth; but, of himself, fo, fo. Jul. What think'st 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 of all the rest?

Luc. Then thus,-of many good, I think him beft.
Jul. Your reafon ?

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reafon;

I think him fo, because I think him fo.

Jul. And would'ft thou have me caft my love on him?
Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
Jul. Why, he of all the reft hath never mov'd me."
Luc. Yet he of all the reft, I think, best loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking fhews his love but small.
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 least, that let men know their love.
ful. 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 Pro

theus:

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

"Should cenfure thus a lovely gentleman.]-Pafs fentence on, fo freely give my opinion of.