5 Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll shew According to my shallow simple skill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Jul. What thinks't thou of the rich Mercatio? his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam ; 'tis a passing shame, Jul. Why not on Protheus, as of all the rest? Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. [ter. Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the let- 20 25 Luc. Then thus,-of many good, I think him 30 [best. Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; 1451 Jul. I would I knew his mind. Luc. Nothing concerning me. Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. [rhime. Luc. I cannot reach so high. [it. Jul. Let's see your song:-How now, minion? Luc. No, madam, it is too sharp. 55 And mar the concord with too harsh a descant': 4 To censure means, in this place, to pass sentence. 2 A broker was used for matchmaker, sometimes for procuress. 3 Stomach was used for passion or obstinacy. Descant is a term in music. The mean is the tenor in music. The speaker here turns the allusion (which her mistress employed) from the base in music to a country exercise, Bid the base; in which some pursue, and others are made prisoners. Jul. Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.) Luc. She makes it strange; but she would be To be so anger'd with another letter. [Exit. Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! Oh hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 5 Put forth their sons to seek preferment out: Some, to the studious universities. Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father here? [him thither: Ant. I know it well. Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. Ant. I like thy counsel; weli hast thou advis'd: I will dispatch him to the emperor's court. [phonso. 35 Are journeying to salute the emperor, Jul. If thou respect them, best to take them up. 40 Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. Ant. Good company; with them shall Protheus Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! [there? Ant. How now? what letter are you reading Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or Of commendation sent from Valentine, [two Deliver'd by a friend that came from him. Ant. Lend me the letter; let me see what news. How happily he lives, how well belov❜d, Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish: 1 A month's mind was an anniversary in times of popery; or, as Mr. Ray calls it, a less solemnity directed by the will of the deceased. There was also a year's mind, and a week's mind. See Proverbial Phrases. The old expres 3 2 Sad is the same as grace or serious. Impeachment is hindrance. sion when something happened which suited the thing in hand, similar to the French à propos. For SCENE I. ACT II, Speed. She's not within hearing, sir. Pal. Why, sir, who bad you call her? Speed. Your worship, sir; or else I mistook. V. Well, you ll still be too forward. Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too Vat. Go to, sir; tell me, do you know madam Silvia? 30 35 [slow.40 50 Speed. She that your worship loves? Vai. Why, how Know you that I am in love? 45 Speed. Marry, by these special marks: First, you have learn'd, like sir Protheus, to wreath your arms like a male-content; to relish a love--ong, like a Robin-red-breast; to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like a school-boy that had lost his A B C; to weep, like a young wench that had buried her grandain; to fast, like one that takes diet'; to watch, like one that fears obbing; to speak puling, like a beggar at Hawmas. You were wont, when you laugh'd, to 55 crow like a cock; when you walk'd, to walk like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after dinner; when you look'd sadly, it was for want of money and now you are metamor hos'd with a mistress, that, when I look on you, can hardly think you my master. Val. Are all these things perceiv'd in me? Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain; for, without you were so simple, none else would: but you are so without these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine through you like the water in an urinal; that not an eye, that sees you, but is a physician to comment on your malady. Val. But, tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia? [supper? Speed. She that you gaze on so, as she sits at Val. Hast thou observed that? even she I mean. Speed. Why, sir, I know her not. Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and yet know'st her not? Speed. Is she not hard-favour'd, sir? Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favour'd. Val. I mean, that her beauty is exquisite, but her favour infinite. Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other out of all count. Val. How painted? and how out of count? Speed. Marry, sir, so painted, to make her fair, that no man counts of her beauty. Val. How esteem'st thou me? I account of her beauty. Speed. You never saw her since she was deform'd. Va'. How long hath she been deform'd? ⚫ That is, That is, allowance. 2 To take diet was the phrase for being under a regimen. about the feast of All-Saints, when the poor people in Staffordshire, and probably in Warwickshire, go from parish to parish a souling as they call it; i. e. begging and puling (or singing small) for soul-cakes, or any good thing to make them merry. This custom seems a remnant of Popish superştition to for departed souls, particularly those of friends. pray Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing 10 deformity: for he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose. Val. Belike, boy, then you are in love; for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes. Speed. True, sir; I was in love with my bed; I thank you, you swing'd me for my love, which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours. Val. In conclusion, I stand affected to her. Speed. I would you were set, and your affection so would cease. Val. Last night she enjoin'd me to write some lines to one she loves. 15 But since unwillingly, take them again; Val. Madam, they are for you. Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request; I would have had them writ more movingly. over: And, if it please you, so; if not, why, so. steeple ! And so good-morrow, servant. [Exit. Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a [suitor, My master sues to her; and she hath taught her He being her pupil, to become her tutor. 200 excellent device! was there ever heard a better? That my master, being the scribe, to himself should write the letter! 25 Speed. Oh, excellent motion'! Oh, exceeding 30 puppet! now will he interpret to her. Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good morrows. Speed. Oh! 'give ye good even! here's a million of manners. Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. Speed. He should give her interest; and she gives it him. Speed. To be a spokesman from madam Silvia. [figure. Speed. To yourself; why, she wooes you by a Val. What figure? Speed. By a letter, I should say. Val. Why, she hath not writ to me? Speed. What need she, when she made you 35 write to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest? Fal. As you enjoin'd me, I have writ your letter 40 Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very clerkly done'. [off; 45 Fal. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly For, being ignorant to whom it goes, I writ at random, very doubtfully. Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much Val. No, believe me. Speed. No believing you indeed, sir: But did you perceive her earnest ? Val. She gave me none, except an angry word. Val. I would, it were no worse. Speed. I'll warrant you, 'tis as well: [desty, For often you have writ to her; and she, in moOr else for want of idle time,could not again reply; Or fearing else some messenger, that might her mind discover, Herself hath taught her love himself to write un- All this I speak in print, for in print I found it.— Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the cameleon love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourish'd by my victuals, and would fain have meat: Oh! be not like your mistress; be mov'd, 60be moved. Motion, in Shakspeare's time, signified puppet, or a puppet-shew. [Exeunt. This was the language of ladies to their lovers in Shakspeare's time. That is, like a scholar. * That is, discoursing, talk i. e. there's the conclusion of the matter. In print means with exactness. SCENE SCENE II. Julia's house at Verona. Enter Protheus and Julia. Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia. Jul. I must, where is no remedy. Pro. When possibly I can, I will return. Jul. If you turn not, you will return the sooner: Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. Jmy mother-oh that she could speak now like a wood woman'!-well, I kiss her;-why there tis; here's my mother's breath up and down: now come I to my sister; mark the moan she makes: 5 now the dog all this while sheds not a tear, nor speaks a word; but see how I lay the dust with my tears. [Giving aring. 10 Pro. Why then we'll make exchange; here, take you this. 15 Enter Panthino. Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard; thy master is shipp'd, and thou art to post after with oars. What's the matter? why weep'st thou man? Away, ass; you will lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. Laun. It is no matter if the tide were lost; for it is the unkindest ty'd that ever any man ty’d. Pan. What's the unkindest tide? Laun. Why, he that's ty'd here; Crab, my dog. Pan. Tut, man, I mean thou'lt lose the flood; and, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in losing thy voyage, lose thy master; and, in losing 20 thy master, lose thy service; and, in losing thy service,-Why dost thou stop my mouth? Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss. Pro. Here is my hand for my true constancy; And when that hour o'erslips me in the day, Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake, The next ensuing hour some foul mischance Torment me for my love's forgetfulness! My father stays my coming; answer not; The tide is now: nay, not thy tide of tears; That tide will stay me longer than I should: [Exit Julia. Julia, farewell.-What! gone without a word? Ay, so true love should do:-it cannot speak; For truth hath better deeds, than words, to grace it. 25 Enter Panthino. Pan. Sir Protheus, you are staid for. Pro. Go; I come, I come: Laun. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue. Pan. In the tail? Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service, and the tide? Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my 30 boat with my sighs. Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [Exe. tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the SCENE ▲ III. A street. Enter Launce leading a dog. Laun. Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping: all the kind of the Launces have this very 35 fault: I have received my proportion, like the prodigious son, and am going with sir Protheus to the imperial's court. I think, Crab my dog be the sourest natur'd dog that lives: my mother weeping, my father wailing, my sister crying, our maid 40 howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, yet did not this cruelhearted cur shed one tear: he is a stone, a very pebble-stone, and has no more pity in him than a dog: a Jew would have wept to have seen our part-45 ing: why, my grandam having no eyes, look you, wept herself blind at my parting. Nay, I'll show you the manner of it: This shoe is my father;no, this left shoe is my father;-no, no, this left shoe is my mother;-nay, that cannot be so nei-50 ther;-yes, it is so, it is so; it hath the worser sole: This shoe with the hole in it, is my mother, and this my father; A vengeance on't! there'tis; now, sir, this staff is my sister; for, look you, she is as white as a lilly, and as small as a wand: this hat is 55 Nan, our maid; I am the dog-no, the dog is himself, and I am the dog,-oh, the dog is me, and I am myself; ay, so, so. Now come I to my father; Father your blessing; now should not the shoe speak a word for weeping; now should I kiss 60 my father; well he weeps on: now come I tol Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee. Laun. Sir, call me what thou dar'st. Laun. Well, I will go. SCENE IV. MILAN. [Exeunt. An apartment in the duke's palace. Enter Valentine, Silvia, Thurio, and Speed. Sil. Servant, Val. Mistress? Speed. Master, sir Thurio frowns on you. Val. Of my mistress then. Val. Indeed, madam, I seem so. Thu. So do counterfeits. Thu. What seem I, that I am not? Thu. What instance of the contrary? Thu. And how quote2 you my folly? Val. Well, then, I'll double your folly. 1 That is, crazy, frantic with grief; or distracted, from any other cause. The word is very frequently used in Chaucer; and sometimes writ wood, sometimes wode. Wood, or crazy women, were anciently supposed to be able to tell fortunes. To quote is to observe. Thu. |