And that I love him not, as I was wont: [Exit. Laun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? Lum. No. Speed. But tell me true, will't be a match? Laun. Ask my dog: if he say, ay, it will; if he say, no, it will; if he shake his tail, and say nothing, it will. Speed. The conclusion is then, that it will. Laun. Thou shalt never get such a secret from me, but by a parable. Speed. Tis well that I get it so. But, Launce, how say'st thou, that my master is become a notable lover? Laun. I never knew him otherwise. Loun. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be. me. Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest Laun. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master. Speed. I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover. Laun. Why, I tell thee, I care not though he burn himself in love. If thou wilt go with me to the ale-house, so; if not, thou art a Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed. Why? Loun. Because thou hast not so much charity in thee, as to go to the ale with a Christian. Wilt thou go? Speel. At thy service. [Exeunt. 1 i. e. on further knowledge, on better consideration. 2 Proteus means to say, that as yet he had only seen outward form, without having known her long enough to have any acquaintance with her mind. 3 Dazzled is used as a trisyllable. 4 i. e. what say'st thou to this circumstance. SCENE VI.-The same. An Apartment in the Palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn; And even that power, which gave me first my oath, Provokes me to this threefold perjury. Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear: O sweet suggesting love, if thou hast sinn'd, Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it. At first I did adore a twinkling star, But now I worship a celestial sun. Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken: To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better.And he wants wit, that wants resolved will Whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferr❜d Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad, With twenty thousand soul-confirming oaths. I cannot leave to love, and yet I do; But there I leave to love, where I should love. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; Julia I lose, and Valentine I lose : For Valentine, myself; for Julia, Silvia. If I lose them, thus find I by their loss, to myself am dearer than a friend; And Silvia, witness heaven, that made her fair! For love is still most precious in itself: Shews Julia but a swarthy Ethiope. I I will forget that Julia is alive, To climb celestial Silvia's chamber-window; Verona. A Room in Julia's House. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. - Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! And, e'en in kind love, I do conjure thee",Who art the table wherein all my thoughts Are visibly character'd and engrav'd,To lesson me; and tell me some good mean, How, with my honour, I may undertake A journey to my loving Proteus. Laue. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. Jul. A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; Much less shall she, that hath love's wings to fly; And when the flight is made to one so dear, Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus. Luc. Better forbear, till Proteus make return. Jul. O, know'st thou not, his looks are my soul's food? Pity the dearth that I have pined in, 5 To suggest, in the language of our ancestors, was to tempt. 6 i, e. myself who am his competitor or rival, being admitted to his counsel. Competitor here means confederate, assistant, partner. Thus in Ant. Cleop. Act v. Sc. 1. That thou my brother, my competitor 7 i. c. proposed or intended flight. The verb pretendre has the same signification in French. 8 The verb to conjure, or earnestly request, was then accented on the first syllable. Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot | And presently go with me to my chamber, fire; But qualify the fire's' extreme rage, Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason. The current, that with gentle murmur glides, And so by many winding nooks he strays, Luc. But in what habit will you go along? To take a note of what I stand in need of, ACT III. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-Milan. An Anti-room in the Duke's [Exit THURIO. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would dis cover, The law of friendship bids me to conceal: My duty pricks me on to utter that Which else no worldly good should draw from me. I know you have determin'd to bestow her Jul. That fits as well, as-"tell me, good my lord, "What compass will you wear your farthingale ?" Why, even what fashion thou best lik'st, Lucetta. Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-A piece,+ madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta; that will be ill favour'd. Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin, Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on. Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'st me, let me have What thou think'st meet, and is most mannerly: But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me, For undertaking so unstaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me scandaliz❜d. pack of sorrows, which would press you down, Being unprevented, to your timeless grave. Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find not. Jul. Nay, that I will not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Jul. This is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. to him! Jul. Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that wrong, To bear a hard opinion of his truth; 1 Fire as a dissyllable, as if spelt Fier. That which thyself hast now disclos'd to me. Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devis'd a mean And this way comes he with it presently; Enter VALENTINE. Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast? Val. Please it your grace there is a messenger found the infinite of thought" in Much Ado About 4 Whoever wishes to be acquainted with that singu- Nothing. The text seems to me sufficiently intelligible, lar appendage to dress, a cod-piece, may consult "Bul-though we are not used to such construction. Malone wer's Artificial Changeling," Ocular instruction may be had from the armour shown as John of Gaunt's in the Tower. However offensive this language may appear to modern ears, it certainly gave none to any of the spectators in Shakspeare's days. He only used the ordinary language of his contemporaries. 5 The second folio reads-"as infinite of love," Malone wished to read of the infinite of love, because he has cited an instance of infinite used for an infinity match Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleman Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, fro- Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking duty; Then let me see thy cloak; I'll get me one of such another length. Val. Why, my cloak will serve the turn, my lord. Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak?I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.What letter is this same? What's here?-To Silvia! [reads. And here an engine fit for my proceeding? Because myself do want my servants' fortune: Val. What would your grace have me to do in That they should harbour where their lord should be. this? Duke. There is a lady, sir, in Milan, here, tents her: Send her another; never give her o'er; For scorn at first makes after-love the more. friends Unto a youthful gentleman of worth; Val. Why then I would resort to her by night. safe, That no man hath recourse to her by night. dow? Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground; Val. Why then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords, Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood, What's here? Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee! 'Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.- Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Be gone, I will not hear thy vain excuse, ment? To die, is to be banish'd from myself; Pro. What seest thou? Laun. Him we go to find; there's not a hair on's head, but 'tis a Valentine. 4 And feed upon the shadow of perfection. 5 i. e. by flying, or in flying. It is a Gallicism. hare he started when he first entered. Pro. Valentine? Val. No. Pro. Who then? his spirit? Val. Neither. Pro. What then? Val. Nothing. Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love.2 Laun. Can nothing speak? master, shall I strike? Regard thy danger, and along with me. Pro. Whom would'st thou strike? Pro. That thou art banished, O, that's the news: Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer'd to the doom, them, As if but now they waxed pale for woe: Val. No more; unless the next word that thou Have some malignant pow'r upon my life: Pro. Cease to lament for that thou can'st not "These to her excellent white bosom." To understand this mode of addressing letters, &c. it should be known that women anciently had a pocket in the forepart of their stays, in which they carried not only love letters and love tokens, but even their money. &c. In many parts of England rustic damsels still continue the practice. A very old lady informed Mr. Steevens, that when it was the fashion to wear very prominent stays it was the custom for stratagem or gallantry to drop its literary favours within the front of Val. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy, Bid him make haste, and meet me at the north gate. Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Valentine. Val. O my dear Silvia! hapless Valentine! [Exeunt VALENTINE and PROTEUS. Laun. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the wit to think, my master is a kind of a knave: but that's all one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now, that knows me to be in love: yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love, and yet 'tis a woman: but what woman, I will not tell myself: and yet 'tis a milk-maid: yet 'tis not a maid, for she hath had gossips: yet 'tis a maid, for she is her master's maid, and serves for wages. hath more qualities than a water-spaniel,-which is much in a bare4 christian. Here is the cate-log [Pulling out a paper] of her condition. Imprimis, She can fetch and carry. Why, a horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry ; therefore is she better than a jade. Item, She can milk; look you, a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands. Enter SPEED. She Laun. Ay, that she can. Speed. Item, She brews good ale. Laun. And therefore comes the proverb,-Blessyour heart, you brew good ale. ing of Speed. Item, She can sew. Laun. That's as much as to say, can she so? Laun. What need a man care for a stock with a wench, when she can knit him a stock." faire." Baret. The old copy reads condition, which was changed to conditions by Rowe. 6 It is undoubtedly true that the mother only knows the legitimacy of the child. Launce infers that if Speed could read, he must have read this well known obser vation. 7 St. Nicholas presided over scholars, who were therefore called St. Nicholas' clerks; either because the legend makes this saint to have been a bishop while yet a boy, or from his having restored three young scholars to life. By a quibble between Nicholas and Old Nick highwaymen are called Nicholas' clerks in Henry IV. 3 Gossips not only signify those who answer for a part 1. The parish clerks of London finding that scho child in baptism, but the tattling women who attend ly-lars, more usually termed clerks, were under the pa ings-in. The quibble is evident. them. 4 Bare, has two senses, mere and naked. Launce, quibbling on, uses it in both senses, and opposes the naked female to the water-spaniel covered with hairs of remarkable thickness. "Condition, honest behaviour or demeanour in living, a custume or facion. Mos. Moris, fucon de tronage of this saint, conceived that clerks of any kind might have the same right, and accordingly took him as their patron, much in the same way as the woolcombers did St. Blaise, who was martyred with an instrument like a carding comb; the nailmakers St. Clou; and the booksellers St. John Port Latin. 8 i. e. stocking. Laun. A special virtue; for then she need not be washed and scoured. Speed. Item, She can spin. Laun. Then may I set the world on wheels, when she can spin for her living, Speed. Item, She hath many nameless virtues. Laun. That's as much as to say, bastard virtues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have no names. Speed. Here follow her vices. Laun. Close at the heels of her virtues. Speed. Item, She is not to be kissed fasting, in Trespect of her breath. Loun. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast: Read on. Speed. Item, She hath a sweet mouth.1 Ian. That makes amends for her sour breath. Speed. Why did'st not tell me sooner? 'pox of your love-letters! [Exit. Laun. Now will he be swinged for reading my letter: An unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into secrets! I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. SCENE II. The same. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE and THURIO; PROTEUS behind. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not, but that she will love you, Now Valentine is banished from her sight. Thu. Since his exile she has despis'd me most, Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Laun. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in Trench'd in ice; which with an hour's heat her talk. Speed. Item, She is slow in words. Laas. O villain, that set this down among her vies! To be slow in words, is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with't; and place it for het chief virtue. Speed. Item, She is proud. Laun. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her. Speed. Item, She hath no teeth. Inn. I care not for that neither, because I love crusts. Speed. Item, She is curst. Lun. Of her tongue she cannot; for that's writ Speed. Item, She hath more hair than wit.— The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt; the hair that covers the wit, is more than the wit; for the greater hides the less. What's next? Speed. And more faults than hairs.- Lun. Why, that word makes the faults grations, Well, I'll have her: and if it be a match, as nothing is impossible, Speed. What then? Lun. Why, then will I tell thee, that thy master stays for thee at the north-gate. Speed. For me? Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. now, Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your grace, Duke. Thou know'st, how willingly I would effect Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine Duke. Ay, but she'll think that it is spoke in hate. By one, whom she esteemeth as his friend. Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him. Especially against his very friend. Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage Therefore the office is indifferent, Pro. You have prevail'd, my lord: if I can do it, Laun. For thee? ay; who art thou? he hath It follows not that she will love Sir Thurio. staid for a better man than thee. Speed. And must I go to him? Lawn. Thou must run to him, for thou hast staid so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. Speed uses the term a sweet mouth in the sense a sireet tooth; but Launce chooses to understand it the literal and lauditory sense. Cotgrave renders Friand, A sweet-lips, daintie-mouthed, sweet-toothed," &c. 2 Liberal is licentious, free, frank, beyond honesty decency. Thus in Othello, Desdemonda says of azo: he not a most profane and liberal counselne." 3 This was an old familiar proverb, of which SteeVas has givena many examples. I will add one from Ph: "A tiaty-tosty wag feather, more haire than There was but one on the dinner table, which was placed near the top, and those who sat below it were, for the most part, of inferior condition to those who sat above it. 5 Gracious was sometimes used for favoured, countenanced, like the Italian Gratiato, v. As you Like It. Art i. Sc. 2. 6 i. e. cut, carved; from the Fr. trancher. 7 i. e. with the addition of such incidental particulars as may induce belief. 8 Very, that is, true; from the Lat. verus. Massinger calls one of his plays " A Very Woman." 9 As you unwind her love from him, make me the bottom on which you wind it. A bottom is the housewife's term for a ball of thread wound upon a central 4 The ancient English salt-cellar was very different Loa the modern, being a large piece of plate, generally auch ornamented, with a cover to keep the salt clean. I body. |