VAL. And on a love-book pray for my success? For he was more than over shoes in love. VAL. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; PRO. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. PRO. "Tis love you cavil at; I am not love. VAL. Love is your master, for he masters you: Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. 3 VAL. And writers say, as the most forward bud Even so by love the young and tender wit Once more adieu: my father at the road ■ However—in whatsoever way, "haply won," or "lost." in the meaning of circumstantial deduction;-Valentine in that of position. To Milan. Let me hear from thee by letters, addressed to Milan. Proteus employs it Betideth here in absence of thy friend; And I likewise will visit thee with mine. He leaves his friends to dignify them more; Enter SPEED. SPEED. Sir Proteus, save you: Saw you my master? And I have play'd the sheep in losing him. An if the shepherd be a while away. [Exit VALENTINE. SPEED. You conclude that my master is a shepherd then, and I a sheep? SPEED. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. PRO. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep. SPEED. This proves me still a sheep. PRO. True; and thy master a shepherd. 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? gav'st 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. • The original copy reads, "I love myself." The present reading was introduced by Pope. Sheep is pronounced ship in many English counties; hence Speed's small jest. Mr. Collier observes that in writings of the time "Sheep-street, in Stratford-upon-Avon, is often spelt Shipstreet." A laced mutton. The commentators have much doubtful learning on this passage. They maintain that the epithet "laced" was a very uncomplimentary epithet of Shakspere's time; and that the words taken together apply to a female of loose character. This is probable; but then the insolent application, by Speed, of the term to Julia is received by Proteus very patiently. The jest would scarcely cover the coarseness, provided the slang term were of general acceptation. SPEED. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. PRO. Nay, in that you are astray a; 't were best pound you. SPEED. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. 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? did she nod b? SPEED. Ic. PRO. Nod, I; why, that 's noddy. [SPEED nods. SPEED. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me if she did nod; and I say, I. 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. SPEED. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. 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. Truly, sir, I think you 'll hardly win her. PRO. Why? Couldst thou perceive so much from her? 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. Give her no token but stones; for she 's as hard as steel. 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 testern'd3 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 wrack; Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Being destined to a drier death on shore: Astray. The adjective here should be read "a stray"—a stray sheep. Did she nod? These words, not in the original text, were introduced by Theobald. The stage-direction, "Speed nods," is also modern. The second folio changes the passage to "her mind." The first gives it " your mind." Speed says, she was hard to me that brought your mind, by letter;-she will be as hard to you in telling it, in person. • The same allusion to the proverb, "He that is born to be hanged," &c., occurs in 'The Tempest.' I must go find some better messenger; SCENE II.-The same. [Exeunt. 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? Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully. JUL. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, That every day with parle a encounter me, In thy opinion, which is worthiest love? Luc. Please you, repeat their names, I'll show my mind JUL. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen. JUL. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? Luc. I have no other reason but a woman's reason; JUL. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? • Parle-speech. The first folio spells it par'le, which shows the abbreviation of the original French parole. > Censure-give an opinion-a meaning which repeatedly occurs. Fire is here used as a dissyllable. When the reader has a key to the reading of such wordsfer, hou-er-he may dispense with the notes that he will perpetually find on these matters in the earlier commentators. Luc. Peruse this paper, madam. That the contents will show. JUL. "To Julia,"-Say, from whom? JUL. Say, say; who gave it thee? Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus: Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? Or else return no more into my sight. Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Luc. Since maids, in modesty, say "No" to that How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, And ask remission for my folly past:- Re-enter LUCETTA. What would your ladyship? JUL. Is 't near dinner-time? 99 [Exit. time. Angerly, not angrily, as many modern editions have it, was the adverb used in Shakspere's Stomach is here used in the double sense of appetite, and obstinacy, or ill temper. |