SCENE V. The same. A Street. Enter SPEED and LAUNCE. Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Milan. Laun. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for I am not welcome. I reckon this always-that a man is never undone, till he be hanged; nor never welcome to a place, till some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say, welcome. Speed. Come on, you mad-cap, I'll to the alehouse with you presently; where, for one shot of five pence thou shalt have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy master part with madam Julia? Laun. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest. Speed. But shall she marry him? Laun. No. Speed. How then? Shall he marry her? Laun. No, neither. Speed. What, are they broken? Laun. No, they are both as whole as a fish. Speed. Why then, how stands the matter with them? Laun. Marry, thus; when it stands well with him, it stands well with her. not. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee 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 stands under thee, indeed. Laun. Why, stand under and understand is all one. 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 thou1, 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 whoreson ass, thou mistakest me. 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 alehouse, so; if not, thou art a 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 love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn; 1 i. e. what say'st thou to this circumstance. my oath, Provokes me to this threefold perjury. Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear: But there I leave to love, where I should love. I will forget that Julia is alive, 1 To suggest, in the language of our ancestors, was to tempt. 2 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 In top of all design, my mate in empire, Now presently I'll give her father notice SCENE VII. Verona. A Room in Julia's House. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; 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, 3 i. e. proposed or intended flight. The verb prétendre has the same signification in French. 1 The verb to conjure, or earnestly request, was then accented on the first syllable. VOL. I. N Thou would'st as soon go kindle fire with snow, 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. He makes sweet musick with th' enamel'd stones, And so by many winding nooks he strays, Luc. But in what habit will you go along? Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent 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 show to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches? Jul. That fits as well, as-" tell me, good my lord, 2 Fire as a dissyllable, as if spelt Fier. 4 Trouble. 3 i. e. closest. |