to a place, till fome certain fhot be paid, and the hoftefs fay, welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap; I'll to the alehoufe with you prefently, where, for one shot of fivepence, thou fhalt have five thoufand welcomes. But, Sirrah, how did thy mafter part with madam Julia? Laun. Marry, after they clos'd in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But fhall fhe marry him? Laun. No. Speed. How then? fhall he marry her? Speed. What, are they broken? Laun. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. Why then how ftands the matter with them? Laun. Marry, thus: when it ftands well with him, it ftands well with her. Speed. What an ass art thou? I understand thee not. Laun. What a block art thou, that thou canst not? My staff understands me. Speed. What thou say'st? Laun Ay, and what I do too; look thee, I'll but lean, and my staff understands me. Speed. It ftands under thee indeed. Laun. Why, ftand-under, and understand, is all one. Speed. But tell me true, will't be a match? Laun. Afk my dog: if he fay, ay, it will; if he fay, no, it will; if he shake his tail, and fay nothing, it will. Speed. The conclufion is then, that it will. Laun. Thou fhalt never get such a secret from me, but by a parable. Speed. 'Tis well, that I get it fo; but Launce, how fay'ft thou, that my mafter is become a notable lover? Laun. I never knew him otherwise. Speed. Than how? Laun. A notable Lubber, as thou reporteft him to be. Laun. Laun. Why, fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy mafter. Speed. I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover. Laun. Why, I tell thee, I care not tho' he burn himself in love: If thou thou wilt go with me to the ale-house, fo; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Chriftian. Speed. Why? Laun. Because thou haft not fo much charity in thee, as to go to the ale-house with a Chriftian: wilt thou go? Speed. At thy fervice. SCENE IX. Enter Protheus folus. [Exeunt. Pro.T O leave my Julia, fhall I be forfworn; To love fair Silvia, fhall I be forfworn: To wrong my friend, I shall be much forfworn: And ev'n that pow'r, which gave me firft my oath, Provokes me to this threefold perjury. Love bad me fwear, and love bids me forswear: Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken; But there I leave to love, where I should love : If I keep them, I needs must lose myself: * if thou haft finn,d,] We must certainly read, --if I have finn'd. If I lose them, this find I by their loss, I will forget that Julia is alive, Now prefently I'll give her father notice Changes to Julia's Houfe in Verona. [Exit. Jul. COUNSEL, Lucelta; gentle girl, affift me; And, even in kind love, I do conjure thee, Who art the table wherein all my thoughts Are vifibly character'd and engrav'd, To leffon me; and tell me fome good mean, Luc. Alas! the way is wearifome and long. Much Much less shall she, that hath love's wings to fly; Luc. Better forbear, 'till Protheus make return. Pity the dearth, that I have pined in, Luc. I do not feek to quench your love's hot fire, But qualify the fire's extream rage, Left it fhould burn above the bounds of reason. The current, that with gentle murmur glides, He makes sweet mufic with th' enamel'd ftones; love; Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent The loofe encounters of lascivious men: Gentle Lucetta, fit me with fuch weeds As may befeem fome well-reputed page. Luc. Why then your ladyship muft cut your hair. Jul. No, girl; I'll knit it up in filken ftrings, With twenty odd-conceited true-love-knots: I 6 Το To be fantastic, may become a youth Of greater time than I fhall fhew to be. [breeches ? Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-piece, Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour'd. Luc. A round hofe, Madam, now's not worth a pin. Unless you have a cod-piece to ftick pins on. Jul. Lucetta, as thou lov'ft me, let me have What thou think'ft meet, and is moft mannerly: But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me For undertaking fo unftaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me fcandaliz'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 Protheus. Luc. All these are fervants to deceitful men. Jul. Bafe men, that use them to fo base effect! But truer flars did govern Protheus' birth; His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; His love fincere, his thoughts immaculate; His tears, pure meffengers fent from his heart; His heart as far from fraud, as heav'n from earth. Luc. Pray heav'n he prove fo,when you come to him? Jul. Now, as thou lov'ft me, do him To bear a hard opinion of his truth; Only deferve my love, by loving him; And prefently go with me to my chamber, not that wrong. To |