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Speed. The fhepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the fhepherd; but I seek my mafter, and my master seeks not me; therefore I am no sheep.

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

Speed. Such another proof will make me cry, Baá.

Pro. But doft thou hear? gaveft thou my letter to 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 fmall a pasture for such store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be over-charg'd, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are a stray, 'twere beft pound you. Speed. Nay, fir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter.

Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound, a pin-fold.

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. She nodded and faid, I.

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

Speed. You miftook, fir; I faid, fhe did nod:

And you afk me, if she did nod; and I faid, ay.

Pro. And that, fet together, is noddy.

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to fet 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. 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.

a Lac'd mutton is a phrase anciently used for a lady of pleasure.

Speed.

Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purse.

Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief; what faid fhe? Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both deliver'd.

Pro. Well, fir, here is for your pains; what said she?
Speed. Truly, fir, I think you'll hardly win her.
Pro. Why? could'ft 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 so hard to me that brought your mind,
I fear, fhe'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind.
Give her no token but ftones; for fhe's as hard as steel.
Pro. What, said she nothing?

Speed. No, not fo much as, take this for thy pains:
To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have tefter'd me:
In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letter 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 shore.
I muft go send some better meffenger:
I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from fuch a worthless post.

[Exeunt.

Jul.

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Changes to Julia's chamber.

Enter Julia and Lucetta.

UT fay, Lucetta, now we are alone,

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Wouldft thou then counsel me to fall in love?

Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
Jul. Of all the fair refort of gentlemen
That ev'ry day with parle encounter me,
In thy opinion which is worthieft love?

Luc.

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

Jul. What think'ft thou of the fair fir Eglamour?
Luc. As of a knight well spoken, 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, so.
Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Protheus?
Luc. Lord, lord! to see 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 pass on lovely gentlemen.

Jul. Why not on Protheus as on all the reft?.
Luc. Then thus; of many good, I think him best.
Jul. Your reafon ?

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

I think him fo, because I think him fo.

ful. And would'st thou have me cast my love on him?
Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not caft away.
ful. Why, he of all the rest hath never mov❜d me.
Luc. Yet he of all the reft, I think, beft loves ye.
Jul. His little fpeaking fhows his love but small.
Luc. The fire that's closest kept burns most of all.
Jul. They do not love that do not fhow their love.
Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love.
Jul. I would, I knew his mind.

Luc. Perufe this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia; fay from whom?
Luc. That the contents will fhow.

Jul. Say, fay; who gave it thee?

Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and fent, I think, from Protheus. He would have giv'n it you, but I being by

Did in your name receive it; pardon me.

Jul. Now, by my modefty, a goodly broker!

Dare you prefume to harbour wanton lines?

To

To whisper and confpire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place..

There, take the paper; fee it be return'd,
Or else return no more into my fight.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
Ful. Will ye be gone?

Luc. That you may ruminate.

[afide.] [Exit.

Ful. And yet I would I had o'er-look'd the letter.

It were a fhame, to call her back again,

And pray her to a fault, for which I chid her.

What fool is fhe that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since maids, in modefty, fay, no, to that
Which they would have the proff'rer conftrue, ay.
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a tefty babe, will fcratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kifs the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back,

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And ask remiffion for my folly past.
What ho! Lucetta!

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Re-enter Lucetta.

Luc. What would your ladyship?

Jul. Is it near dinner-time ?

Luc. I would, it were,

That

you might kill your stomach on your meat,

And not upon your maid.

Jul. What is't that you

Took up fo gingerly?

Luc. Nothing.

ful. Why didst thou stoop then?

Luc.

Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.

ful. And is that nothing?

Luc. Nothing concerning me.

Jul. Then let it lye for those that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lye where it concerns, Unless it have a falfe interpreter.

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhime. Luc. That I might fing it, madam, to a tune; Give me a note; your ladyship can set.

ful. As little by fuch toys as may be poffible; Beft fing it to the tune of, Light o love.

Luc. It is too heavy for fo light a tune.

Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath fome burthen then.
Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you fing it.
ful. And why not you?

Luc. I cannot reach fo high.

Jul. Let's fee your fong:- why, how now, minion?

[Gives her a box on the ear. Luc. Keep tune there ftill, so you will fing it out:

And yet, methinks, I do not like the tune.

Jul. You do not ?

Luc. No, madam, it is too fharp.

Jul. You are too fawcy.

Luc. Nay, now you are too flat,

And mar the concord with too harsh a defcant:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your fong.

Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base.
Luc. Indeed, I bid the bafe for Protheus.

Jul. This babble fhall not henceforth trouble me.

Here is a coil with protestation!

[Tears it.

Go, get you gone; and let the papers lye :

You would be fing'ring them to anger me.

Luc. She makes it strange, but she would be best pleas'd

To be fo anger'd with another letter.

[Exit.

Jul. Nay, would I were fo anger'd with the fame! O hateful hands, to tear fuch loving words!

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