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. Speed. Than how? Laun. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be. Speed. Why, thou whorson ass, thou mistakest me. Lau. 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 alehouse, so; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed Why? Laun. 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. SCENE VI. [Exeunt. The same. An apartment in the palace. Enter PROTEUS. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn ; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn; Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear: But now I worship a celestial sun. [9] Ales were merry meetings instituted in country places. STEEV, But there I leave to love, where I should love. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; I will forget that Julia is alive, I cannot now prove constant to myself, Now presently I'll give her father notice SCENE VII. [Exit. Verona. A room in JULIA's house. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me ! And, even in kind love, I do conjure thee,- Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. STEEV. And when the flight is made to one so dear, 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 pin'd in, By longing for that food so long a time. Didst thou but know the inly touch of love, 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 dam'st it up, the more it burns; He makes sweet music with the enamel'd stones, And make a pastime of each weary step, Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds As may beseem some well-reputed page. Luc. Why then your ladyship must cut your hair. Jul. No, girl; I'll knit it up in silken strings, With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots: To be fantastic, may become a youth Of greater time than I shall shew to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches? Jul. That fits as well, as-" tell me, good my lord, "What compass will you wear your farthingale?" Why, even that fashion thou best lik'st, Lucetta. Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-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.. Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: Warrant me welcome to my Proteus. Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men. Jul. Base men, that use them to so base effect! 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! Jul. Now, as thou lov'st me, do him not that wrong, 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. All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, My goods, my lands, my reputation; Only, in lieu thereof, despatch me hence: Come, answer not, but do it presently; I am impatient of my tarriance. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I-Milan. An anti-room in the Duke's palace. Enter Duke, THURIO, and PROTEUS. Duke. [Exit THU. SIR Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile; Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover, The law of friendship bids me to conceal: But, when I call to mind your gracious favours 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 Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care; |