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 PRO. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. PRO. True; and thy master a shepherd. SPEED. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. PRO. It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another. SPEED. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me: therefore I am no sheep. PRO. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the shepherd for 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 "baa." PRO. But, dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to Julia? SPEED. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. PRO. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons. SPEED. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. .... 94 lost mutton laced mutton] Speed admits himself to be a sheep whose master is lost. "Laced mutton" is a common name for a courtesan wearing a tightly-laced bodice. 80 90 99 PRO. Nay: in that you are astray, 't were 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, "T is threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. PRO. But what said she? SPEED. [First nodding] Ay. PRO. Nod-Ay-why, that's noddy. SPEED. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me if she did nod; and I say, "Ay." 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. 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. 110 SPEED. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. 120 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 delivered. PRO. Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she? SPEED. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat 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 your mind. in telling your mind. Give her no token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. 132 PRO. What said she? nothing? SPEED. No, not so much as "Take this for thy pains." To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned 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, Being destined to a drier death on shore. I must go send some better messenger: I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post. SCENE II-THE SAME [Exit Speed. 140 GARDEN OF JULIA'S HOUSE Enter JULIA and Lucetta JUL. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou, then, counsel me to fall in love? [Exit. 140 a drier death] A variant of the proverbial expression " He who is born to be hanged will not be drowned." Cf. Tempest, I, i, 77-78. 142 deign] sc. to receive. Sc. II] This scene reads like a crude and feeble draft of the effective duologue between Portia and Nerissa: Merch. of Ven., I, ii. Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. That every day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind According to my shallow simple skill. JUL. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine ; But, were I you, he never should be mine. JUL. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio? Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so. JUL. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus ? Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us! JUL. How now! what means this passion at his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam : 't is a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am, Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. JUL. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? Luc. Then thus, — of many good I think him best. Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so. JUL. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away. JUL. Why, he, of all the rest, hath never moved me. 9 Sir Eglamour] Often used for a characterless inamorato. There is no reference here to Sir Eglamour the friend and agent of Silvia. See Act IV, Sc. iii, seq. 27 moved me] solicited, approached me. Cf. Rom. and Jul., III, iv, 2, "we have had no time to move our daughter." 10 20 Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. JUL. Say, say, who gave it thee? Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus. He would have given it you; but I, being in the way, 30 Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I pray. 40 Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. JUL. Will ye be gone? Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. JUL. And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter: It were a shame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. 50 What fool is she, that knows I am a maid, And would not force the letter to my view! |