Speed. But shall she marry him? Launce. No. Speed. How then? shall he marry her? Launce. No, neither. Speed. What, are they broken? Launce. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. Why, then, how stands the matter with them? Launce. Marry, thus; when it stands well with him, it stands well with her. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee not. 20 Launce. What a block art thou, that thou canst not! My staff understands me. Speed. What thou say'st? Launce. Ay, and what I do too: look thee, I'll but lean, and my staff understands me. Speed. It stands under thee, indeed. Launce. Why, stand-under and under-stand is all one. Launce. 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. 31 Launce. 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? Launce. I never knew him otherwise. Speed. Than how? 40 Launce. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be. Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistak'st me. Launce. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master. Speed. I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover. Launce. Why, I tell thee, I care not though he burn himself in love. If thou wilt, go with me to the alehouse; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed. Why? Launce. Because thou hast not so much charity in thee as to go to the ale with a Christian. Wilt thou go? Speed. At thy service. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. The same. The DUKE's palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; 17 whole as a fish. A colloquial comparison common in S.'s day. To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn ; Love bade me swear and Love bids me forswear. But there I leave to love where I should love. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; And Silvia-witness Heaven, that made her fair! I will forget that Julia is alive, Rememb'ring that my love to her is dead; 37 pretended intended. ΤΟ 20 30 40 [Exit. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me; Luc. Alas, the way is wearisome and long! 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, By longing for that food so long a time. Didst thou but know the inly touch of love, Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow As seek to quench the fire of love with words. Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire, But qualify the fire's extreme rage, Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason. Jul. The more thou damm'st it up, the more it burns. Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage; He makes sweet music with the enamell'd stones, And so by many winding nooks he strays A blessed soul doth in Elysium. Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent The loose encounters of lascivious men : 4 character'd: accented on the second syllable. 10 20 30 40 24 the more it burns. An example of 8.'s carelessness, followed by one of the most charming and exquisitely written passages of his lighter style. Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds As may beseem some well-reputed page. Luc. Why, then, your ladyship must cut your hair. To be fantastic may become a youth Of greater time than I shall show to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches? Luc. You must needs have them with a codpiece, madam. 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. Luc. If you think So, then stay at home and go not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. If Proteus like your journey when you come, Warrant me welcome to my Proteus. fear: Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. But truer stars did govern Proteus' birth; His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles, His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate, His tears pure messengers sent from his heart, His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth. Luc. Pray heaven he prove so, when you come to him! To bear a hard opinion of his truth: Only deserve my love by loving him; And presently go with me to my chamber, To take a note of what I stand in need of, To furnish me upon my longing journey. 80 1 farthingale. This was at first a contrivance for increasing the apparent breadth of women's hips. The name came to be applied to a full-skirted gown. 10 of infinite of love: that is, of love without bound. All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, ACT III. SCENE I. Milan. The DUKE's palace. Enter DUKE, THURIO, and Proteus. Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile; We have some secrets to confer about. Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me? Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover But when I call to mind your gracious favours you, Which else no worldly good should draw from me. 34 suggested tempted. |