Luc. Nothing. JUL. Why didst thou stoop then? Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall. Nothing concerning me. JUL. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Unless it have a false interpreter. JUL. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Give me a note: your ladyship can set a. Best sing it to the tune of "Light o' love." JUL. You do not? Luc. No, madam; 't is too sharp. JUL. You, minion, are too saucy. Luc. Nay, now you are too flat, And mar the concord with too harsh a descant b: JUL. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me. Go, get you gone; and let the papers lie: You would be fingering them, to anger me. Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be best pleas'd To be so anger'd with another letter. JUL. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! [Tears the letter. [Exit. • Set-compose. Julia plays upon the word, in the next line, in a different sense,-to "set by " being to make account of. Descant. The simple air, in music, was called the "Plain song," or ground. The "descant" was what we now call a "variation." • Mean the tenor. The whole of the musical allusions in this passage show that the terms of the art were familiar to a popular audience; and that music (of which there can be no doubt) was generally cultivated in Shakspere's time. d The quibbling Lucetta here turns the allusion to the country game of base, or prison-base, in which one runs and challenges another to pursue. Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey", I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Luc. Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here? Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold b. JUL. I see you have a month's mind to them". JUL. Come, come, will 't please you go? SCENE III.-The same. A Room in Antonio's House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. [Exeunt. a Search-probe. b For catching cold-lest they should catch cold. Sad-serious. ANT. Why, what of him? He wonder'd that your lordship He said that Proteus, your son, was meet: And perfected by the swift course of time: Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him? PAN. I think your lordship is not ignorant, How his companion, youthful Valentine, ANT. I know it well. 10 PAN. T were good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. ANT. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: Even with the speediest expedition I will despatch him to the emperor's court. Are journeying to salute the emperor, And to commend their service to his will. ANT. Good company; with them shall Proteus go: And, in good time a.-Now will we break with him. In good time. As Antonio is declaring his intention Proteus appears; the speaker, therefore, breaks off with the expression, "in good time "—à propos. Break with him. Break the matter to him, a form which repeatedly occurs. Enter PROTEUS. PRO. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! ANT. How now? what letter are you reading there? And daily graced by the emperor; Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. And not depending on his friendly wish. PRO. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; ANT. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee: To hasten on his expedition. PRO. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter, Lest he should take exceptions to my love; And with the vantage of mine own excuse [Exeunt ANT. and PAN. • Exhibition-stipend, allowance. The word is still used in this sense with reference to any special fund for a scholar's maintenance in our universities. O, how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day; Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away! Re-enter PANTHINO. PAN. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; He is in haste; therefore, I pray you go. [Exeunt. |