Laun. That makes amends for her four breath, Laun. It's no matter for that, fo the fleep not in her talk. Speed. Item, She is flow in words. Laun. O villain! that fet down among her vices! To be flow in words, is a woman's only virtue : I pray thee, out with't; and place it for her chief virtue. Speed. Item, She is proud. Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her. Speed. Item, She hath no teeth. Laun. I care not for that neither, because I love crufts. Speed. Item, She is curft. Laun. Well; the beft is, fhe hath no teeth to bite. Speed. Item, She will often praise her liquor. Laun. If her liquor be good, the fhall if she will not, I will; for good things fhould be praised. Speed. Item, She is too liberal. Laun. Of her tongue fhe cannot; for that's writ down, fhe is flow of: of her purse she shall not; for that I'll keep fhut: now of another thing the may; and that I cannot help. Well, proceed. now vulgarly called a faveet tooth, a luxurious defire of dainties. and fweetmeats. JOHNSON. How a luxurious defire of dainties can make amends for offenfive breath, I know not: I rather believe that by a sweet mouth is meant that the fings fweetly. In Twelfth Night we have heard of a fweet breaft as the recommendation of a finger. It may however mean a liquorifh mouth, in a wanton fenfe. So in Measure for Meafure: "Their faucy fivectness that do coin heaven's image, &c.” STEEVENS. -praife her liquor.] That is, fhew how well the likes it by drinking often. JOHNSON. she is too liberal.] Liberal, is licentious and grofs in language. So in Othello: "Is he not a profane and very liberal counsellor?" JOHNSON." Speed. Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults. Laun. Stop there; I'll have her: fhe was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that laft article: Rehearse that once more. 6 Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit, Laun. More hair than wit,-it may be; I'll prove it: The cover of the falt hides the falt, and therefore it is more than the falt: the hair, that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the lefs. What's next? Speed. And more faults than hairs Laun. That's monftrous: Oh, that that were out! Speed. And more wealth than faults. Laun. Why, that word makes the faults gracious": Well, I'll have her: And if it be a match, as nothing is impoffible, Speed. What then? Laun. Why, then will I tell thee,-that thy mafter stays for thee at the north gate. Speed. For me? Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath ftaid for a better man than thee. Speed. And muft I go to him? Laun. Thou must run to him, for thou haft ftaid fo long, that going will fcarce ferve the turn. 6 he hath more hair than wit,-] An old English proverb. See Ray's Collection : "Bush natural, more hair than wit." Again, in Decker's Satiromaftix: "Hair! 'tis the bafeft fubble; in fcorn of it "This proverb fprung-He has more hair than wit.” Again, in Rhodon and Iris, 1631: 7 "Now is the old proverb really perform'd, "More hair than wit." STEEVENS. makes the faults gracious:] Gracious, in old language, means graceful. So in K. John: There was not fuch a gracious creature born." N 3 STEEVENS. Speed. Speed. Why didft not tell me fooner? pox on your love-letters! Laun. Now will he be fwing'd for reading my letter; An unmannerly flave, that will thruft himself. into fecrets!-I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Enter Duke and Thurio, and Protheus behind. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love you, Now Valentine is banifh'd from her fight. Thu. Since his exile fhe hath defpis'd me moft, Duke. This weak imprefs of love is as a figure Duke. My daughter takes his going heavily. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace, Let me not live to look upon your grace. Duke. Thou know'ft, how willingly I would effect The match between fir Thurio and my daughter. 8 Trenched in ice;] Cut, carved in ice. Trancher, to cut, French. JOHNSON. So in Arden of Feversham, 1633: "Is deeply trenched in my blushing brow." STEEVENS. Pro. Pro. I do, my lord. Duke. And alfo, I do think, thou art not ignorant Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Duke. Ay, but fhe'll think, that it is spoke in hate Therefore it muft, 9 with circumftance, be fpoken Duke. Then you must undertake to flander him. Pro. And that, my lord, I fhall be loth to do: 'Tis an ill office for a gentleman; Efpecially, against his very friend'. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage Your flander never can endamage him; Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it, Thu. Therefore 2 as you unwind her love from him, Left 9with circumftance,] With the addition of fuch incidental particulars as may induce belief. JOHNSON. bis very friend.] Very is immediate. So in Macbeth: "And the very points they blow." STEEVENS. 2 as you unwind her love- -] As you wind off her love from him, make me the bottom on which you wind it. The housewife's term for a ball of thread wound upon a central body, is a bottom of thread. JOHNSON. Left it should ravel, and be good to none, Duke, And, Protheus, we dare trust you in this kind; Because we know, on Valentine's report, And cannot foon revolt and change your mind. And, for your friend's fake, will be glad of you; Pro. Say, that upon the altar of her beauty For Orpheus' lute was ftrung with poets' finews; Whose So in Grange's Garden, 1577, in answer to a letter written unto him by Curtyzan : 3 "A bottome for your filke it seemes "My letters are become, "Which oft with winding off and on "Are wafted whole and fome." STEEVENS. 4 For Orpheus lute was ftrung with poets' finews;] This hews Shakespeare's knowledge of antiquity. He here affigns Orpheus his true character of legiflator. For under that of a poet only, or |