C

Speed. Twenty to one then he is fhipp'd already, And I have play'd the sheep in lofing him.

Pro. Indeed, a fheep doth very often stray, An if the fhepherd be awhile away.

Speed. You conclude that my master is a fhepherd then, and I a sheep?

Pro. I do.

Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or fleep.

Pro. A filly anfwer, and fitting well a fheep.
Speed, This proves me ftill a fheep.

Pro. True; and thy mafter a fhepherd.

Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Pro. It fhall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The fhepherd feeks the fheep, and not the fheep the fhepherd; but I feek my mafter, and my mafter feeks not me; therefore I am no sheep.

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

Speed. Such another proof will make me cry Baa. Pro. But doft thou hear? gaveft thou my letter to Julia?

Speed. Ay, Sir, 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 pafture for fuch ftore of

muttons.

Speed. If the ground be over-charg'd, you were beft ftick her.

lated by the players), is compofed of the lowest and most trifling conceits, to be accounted for only from the grofs taste of the age he lived in; Populo ut placerent. I wish I had authority to leave them out; but I have done all I could: fet a mark of reprobation * upon them throughout this edition. Mr. Pope.

Pro.

Pro. Nay, in that you are a ftray, 'twere best pound

you.

Speed. Nay, Sir, lefs than a pound fhall ferve 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: did fhe nod? [Speed nods.
Speed. I.

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

Speed. You miftook, Sir: I faid, fhe did nod: And you ask me, if fhe did nod; and I faid, I. 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, Sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, Sir, the letter very orderly; Having nothing but the word noddy for my pains. Pro. Befhrew me, but you have a quick wit.

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 at once deliver'd.

7

Pro. Well, Sir, here is for your pains; what faid fhe? Speed. Truly, Sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? could'st 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 fo 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 teftify your bounty, I thank you, you have teftern'd

me:

:

In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letter your-
felf: and fo, Sir, I'll commend you to my mafter.
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 must go fend fome better meffenger:
I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from fuch a worthless post.

:

Jul.

SCENE

BU

[Exeunt feverally.

Changes to Julia's Chamber.

Enter Julia and Lucetta.

III.

UT fay, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Would'st thou then counsel me to fall in
love?

Luc. Ay, madam, fo you ftumble 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. Please you, repeat their names; I'll fhew my mind,

According to my fhallow fimple skill.

ful. What think'ft thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a Knight well spoken, neat and fine; But were I you, he never fhould be mine.

Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio?
Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, fo, fo.
Jul. What think'ft thou of the gentle Protheus?
Luc. Lord, lord! to fee what folly reigns in us!

Jul.

Jul. How now? what means this passion at his

name?

Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a paffing fhame, That I, unworthy body as I am,

Should cenfure thus on lovely gentlemen.

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

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reafon 1;

I think him fo, because I think him fo.

ful. And would'st thou have me caft my love on him?

Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not caft away.
Jul. Why, he of all the reft hath never mov'd me.
Luc. Yet he of all the reft, I think, beft loves ye.
Jul. His little fpeaking fhews his love but small.
Luc. The fire, that's closest kept, burns most of all.
Jul. They do not love, that do not fhew their love.
Luc. Oh, they love leaft, 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 fhew.
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 in the way,
Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray.
Jul. Now, by my modefty, a goodly broker!
Dare you prefume to harbour wanton lines?
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 elfe return no more into my fight.

Luc. To plead for love deferves more fee than hate.

N 3

Jul.

Ful. Will ye be gone?

Luc. That you may ruminate.

[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 construe, Ay.
Fie, fie; how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a tefty babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kifs the rod?
How churlifhly 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 fmile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back,

And ask remiffion for my folly past.

What ho! Lucetta!

Re-enter Lucetta.

Luc. What would your ladyship?

Jul. Is't 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.

Jul. Why didft thou ftoop 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 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,