And I have play'd the sheep, in losing him.
Speed. Twenty to one then, he is shipp'd already;
Pro. Indeed a sheep doth very often stray,

An if the shepherd be awhile away.

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

Speed. You conclude that my master is a shep-telling her mind. Give her no token but stones;

herd then, and I a sheep?

Pro. I do.

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.

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

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'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself; and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.

Pro. Go, go, begone, to save your ship from wreck;

Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, the sheep the shepherd; but I seek my master, Being destin'd to a drier death on shore :and my master seeks not me: therefore, I am no I must go send some better messenger; 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 a store of muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; 'twere 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,

'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your
lover.
Pro. But what said she? did she nod?

Speed. I.

[Speed nods.

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

I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same. Garden of Julia's house. Enter Julia and Lucetta.

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in love

Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheed-
fully.

Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen,
That every day with parles encounter me,
In thy opinion, which is worthiest love?

Lúc. 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; 'tis 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.

Jul. Your reason?

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so.

Jul. And would'st 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 mov'd me.
Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, best loves ve.

Speed. Marry, sir, the letter very orderly; having Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.

nothing but word, noddy, my pains.

Pro. Beshrew3 me, but you have a quick wit.
Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow

Luc. Fire, that is closest kept, burns most of all.
Jul. They do not love, that do not show their love.
Luc. O, they love least, that let men know their
love.

Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker 11
Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines ?
To whisper and conspire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place.
There, take the paper, see it be return'd;

Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.

pray.

Here is a coil with protestation!

[Tears the letter. 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

Or else return no more into my sight.

To be so anger'd with another letter.
Jul. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same!

[Exit.

hate.

Jul. Will you be gone?
Luc.

Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey,
And kill the bees that yield it, with your stings!

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!

That you may ruminate. I'll kiss cach several paper for amends.

[Exit. And here is writ-kind Julia; unkind Julia!

Jul. And yet, I would I had o'erlook'd the letter. As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

It were a shame to call her back again,

And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view?
Since maids, in modesty, say No, to that
Which they would have the profferer construe, Ay.
Fic, fie! how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,

When willingly I would have had her here!
How angrily I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enfore'd my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past:-
What ho! Lucetta!

Luc.

Re-enter Lucetta.

I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
Look, here is writ-love-wounded Proteus:-
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be thoroughly

heal'd;

And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice, or thrice, was Proteus written down ?
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name; that some whirlwind bear
Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock,
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,-
Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:-that I'll tear away;
And yet I will not, sith" so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names:
Thus will I fold them one upon another;

What would your ladyship? Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.

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.

Re-enter Lucetta.

What is't you took up

Luc. Madam, dinner's ready, and your father
stays.
Jul. Well, let us go.

Nothing.

Jul.

Why didst thou stoop, then?

Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.
Jul. And is that paper nothing?
Luc.

Nothing concerning me.

Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,

Unless it have a false interpreter.

Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales

here?

Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up.
Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you

see;

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. I see things too, although you judge I wink.
Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune:

I cannot reach so high.
Jul. Let's see your song:-How now, minion?
Luc. Keeptune there still, so you will sing it out:

And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune.
Jul. You do not?

Luc. No, madam; it 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:
There wanteth but a meant to fill your song.
Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base.
Luc. Indeed, I bid the bases for Proteus,

(1) A matchmaker. (2) Passion or obstinacy.
(3) A term in music, (4) The tenor in music,

He wonder'd, that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home;
While other men, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some, to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some, to discover islands far away;
Some, to the studious universities.
For any, or for all these exercises,
He said, that Proteus, your son, was meet;
And did request me, to importune you,
To let him spend his time no more at home,

(5) A challenge. (6) Bustle, stir. (7) Since,
(8) Serious, (9) Little consequence

Come on, Panthino; you shall be employ'd
To hasten on his expedition.

[Exeunt Ant. and Pant.
Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of
burning;
And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
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
Hath he excepted most against my love.
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!

Pant. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Al- SCENE I.-Milan. An apartment in the Duke's

but is a physician to comment on your malady.

Val. But tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia? Speed. She, that you gaze on so, as she sits at supper?

Val. Hast thou observ'd 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?

Val. Not so fair, boy, as well favoured.
Speed. Sir, I know that well enough.
Val. What dost thou know?

Speed. That she is not so fair, as (of you) well favoured.

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 esteemest thou me? I account of her beauty.

Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed.

Val. How long hath she been deformed?

Speed. Ever since you loved her.

Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her, and

still I see her beautiful.

Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her.

Val. Why?

done.

Val. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off;
For, being ignorant to whom it goes,
I writ at random, very doubtfully.

Sil. Perchance you think too much o so much

pains?
Val. No, madam; so it stead you, I will write,
Please you command, a thousand times as much :
And yet,-

Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel;
And yet I will not name it:-and yet I care not;-
And yet take this again; and yet I thank you;
Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.
Speed. And yet you will; and yet another yet.
[Aside.

Val. What means your ladyship? do you not
like it?

Sil. Yes, yes; the lines are very quaintly writ:
But since unwillingly, take them again;
Nay, take them.

Val. Madam, they are for you.

Sil. Ay, ay; you writ them, sir, at my request:

But I will none of them; they are for you :
I would have had them writ more movingly.

Val. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another.
Sil. And, when it's writ, for my sake read it over :

And, if it please you, so; if not, why, so.

Val. If it please me, madam! what then?

Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour: [Exit Silvia.

Speed. Because love is blind. O, that you had And so good morrow, servant.

mine eyes; or your own had the lights they were

Speed. O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible,

wont to have, when you chid at Sir Proteus for As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a going ungartered!

Val. What should I see then?

steeple!

My master sues to her; and she hath taught her

suitor,

Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing deformity: for he, being in love, could not see to He being her pupil, to become her tutor. garter his hose; and you, being in love, cannot see O excellent device! was there ever heard a better? 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 swinged 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; so, your affection would cease.

Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves.

That my master, being scribe, to himself should

write the letter?

unto her lover.

Act 11. Or fearing else some messenger, that might her so. Now come I to my father; Father, your bless mind discover, ing; now should not the shoe speak a word for Herself hath taught her love himself to write weeping; now should I kiss my father; well, he weeps on:-now come I to my mother, (O, that she could speak now!) like a wood woman; -well, I All this I speak in print; for in print I found it.- kiss her; -why there'tis; here's my mother's breath Why muse you, sir? 'tis dinner-time. up and down: now come I to my sister; mark the Val. I have dined. moan she makes: now the dog all this while sheds Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir: though the came-not a tear, nor speaks a word; but see how I lay leon, Love, can feed on the air, I am one that am the dust with my tears. nourished by my victuals, and would fain have meat: O, be not like your mistress; be moved, be moved. [Exeunt.

Enter Panthino.

SCENE II.-Verona. A room in Julia's house. is shipped, and thou art to post after with oars.

SCENE III. The same. A street. Enter
Launce, leading a dog.

Launce, Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping; all the kind of the Launces have this very fault: I have received my proportion, like the prodigious son, and am going with Sir Proteus to the Imperial's court. I think, Crab my dog be the sourest-natured dog that lives: my mother weeping, my father wailing, my sister crying, our maid howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house in a great perplexity, yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear: he is a stone, a very pebblestone, and has no more pity in him than a dog: a Jew would have wept to have seen our parting; 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 neither; -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 lily, and as small as a wand: this hat is Nan, our maid; I am the dog:-no, the dog is himself, and I am the dog.-0, the dog is me, and I am myself; ay, so,

(1) Kindred, (2) Crazy, distracted,

Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard; thy master What's the matter? why weepest thou, man? Away, ass; you will lose the tide, if you tarry any longer. Laun. It is no matter if the ty'd 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 thoul't lose the flood; and, in losing the flood, lose thy voyage; and, in losing thy voyage lose thy master; and, in losing master, thy service; in losing service, Why dost thou stop my mouth! Laun. For fear thou should'st lose thy tongue. Pan. Where should I lose my tongue? Laun. In thy tale. Pan. In thy tail?

Laun. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master, and the service? The tide!-why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were down, I could drive the boat with my sighs.

Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee.

Laun. Sir, call me what thou darest.
Pan. Wilt thou go?

Laun. Well, I will go.

[Exeunt.