Luc. Nothing. JUL. Why didst thou stoop then? Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall. Nothing concerning me. JUL. Then let it lie for those that it concerns. Unless it have a false interpreter. JUL. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme. Give me a note: your ladyship can seta. Best sing it to the tune of "Light o' love."6 JUL. You do not? Luc. No, madam; 't 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 b: JUL. The mean is drown'd with your unruly base. Here is a coil with protestation!— 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 To be so anger'd with another letter. JUL. Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same! O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! [Tears the letter. [Exit. • Set-compose. Julia plays upon the word, in the next line, in a different sense,-to set by" being to make account of. ▸ Descant. The simple air, in music, was called the "Plain song," or ground. The "descant" was what we now call a "variation." • Mean the tenor. The whole of the musical allusions in this passage show that the terms of the art were familiar to a popular audience; and that music (of which there can be no doubt) was generally cultivated in Shakspere's time. The quibbling Lucetta here turns the allusion to the country game of base, or prison-base, in which one runs and challenges another to pursue. Injurious wasps! to feed on such sweet honey", I throw thy name against the bruising stones, Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear And throw it thence into the raging sea! Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,— And yet I will not, sith so prettily Re-enter LUCETTA. Luc. Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here? Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold . JUL. I see you have a month's mind to themR. JUL. Come, come, will 't please you go? SCENE III.-The same. A Room in Antonio's House. Enter ANTONIO and PANTHINO. ANT. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that, Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister? PAN. "T was of his nephew Proteus, your son. [Exeunt. ANT. Why, what of him? He wonder'd that your lordship For any, or for all these exercises, He said that Proteus, your son, was meet: To let him spend his time no more at home, And perfected by the swift course of time: Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him? PAN. I think your lordship is not ignorant, How his companion, youthful Valentine, ANT. I know it well. PAN. "T were good, I think, your lordship sent him thither: 10 There shall he practise tilts and tournaments 1o, Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. ANT. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advis'd: Even with the speediest expedition I will despatch him to the emperor's court. Are journeying to salute the emperor, And to commend their service to his will. ANT. Good company; with them shall Proteus go: And,—in good time.-Now will we break with him ". • In good time. As Antonio is declaring his intention Proteus appears; the speaker, therefore, breaks off with the expression, "in good time"-à propos. Break with him. Break the matter to him, a form which repeatedly occurs. Enter PROTEUS. PRO. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! ANT. How now? what letter are you reading there? And daily graced by the emperor; Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune. And not depending on his friendly wish. PRO. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided; ANT. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee: To hasten on his expedition. PRO. Thus have I shunn'd the fire, for fear of burning; 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 [Exeunt ANT. and PAN. • Exhibition-stipend, allowance. The word is still used in this sense with reference to any special fund for a scholar's maintenance in our universities. 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! Re-enter PANTHINO. PAN. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you; He is in haste; therefore, I pray you go. PRO. Why, this it is! my heart accords thereto; And yet a thousand times it answers, No. [Exeunt. |