[Exit. Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewel! 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 hast metamorphos'd me; Made me neglect my studies, lose my time, War with good counsel, set the world at nought; Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought. Enter SPEED. Speed. Sir Protheus, save you: Saw you my master ? 71 Pro. But now he parted hence to embark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one then, he is shipp'd already; And I have play'd the sheep, in losing him. Pro. Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray, An if the shepherd be a while away. Speed. You conclude, that my master is a shepherd then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. 81 Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd. sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me: therefore I am no sheep. 89 Pro. The sheep for fodder follows the shepherd, the shepherd for the food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry baâ. Pro. But dost thou hear gav'st thou my letter to Julia? Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac'd mutton; and she, a lac'd mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such a store of muttons. 100 Speed. If the ground be overcharg'd, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are a stray; 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, sir, less 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. Pro. But what said she did she nod? Speed. I. Pro. Nod, I why, that's noddy. B 110 [SPEED nods. Speed. Speed. You mistook, sir; I said, she did nod: and you ask me, if she did nod; and I said, I. Pro. And that set together, is-noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set 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. 121 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. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit. 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 deliver'd. 130 Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains: What said she? Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? Could'st thou perceive so 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 so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. Pro. What, said she nothing? 141 Speed. Speed. No, not so much as-take this for thy pains. To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck ; Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, 150 [Exeunt severally. SCENE II. Changes to JULIA's Chamber. Enter JULIA, and LUCETTA. Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, That every day with parle encounter me, Juc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew my mind According to my shallow simple skill. 160 Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour ? Luc. As of a knight well spoken, neat and fine; Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? name? 169 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? 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 would'st thou have me cast my love on him? 178 Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. Jul. Why, he of all the rest hath never mov'd me. Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think best loves ye. Jul. His little speaking shews his love but small. Luc. Fire, that is closest kept, burns most of all. Jul. They do not love, that do not shew their love. Luc. Oh, they love least, that let men know their love. Jul. I would I knew his mind. |