Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were
best stick her.

Pro. Nay: in that you are astray, 'twere best
pound you.
Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve
me for carrying your letter.

Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound,—a pin-
fold.

110

Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and

over,

"Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover.

Pro. But what said she?

Speed. [First nodding] Aye.

Pro. Nod-Aye-why, that's noddy.

Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: 120 and you ask me if she did nod; and I say, 'Aye.'

Pro. And that set together is noddy.

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

Pro. No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter.

Speed. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear

with you.

Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? Speed. Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly; having nothing but the word 'noddy' for my pains.

Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.

130

Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow

purse.

Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said she?

Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered. Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?

Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her.

Pro. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?

Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from

140

her; no, not so much as a ducat for deliver-
ing your letter: and being so hard to me
that brought your mind, I fear she 'll prove 150
as hard to you in telling your mind. Give
her no token but stones; for she's as hard
as steel.

Pro. What said she? nothing?

Speed. No, not so much as 'Take this for thy pains.' To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my

master.

160

157. That is, you have given me a testern. Testern, now called tester, was a coin of sixpence value, first issued in England in 1542, and so named from having a teste, that is, a head, stamped upon it. It was introduced from France, and was originally 18d, but afterwards fell to 12d, 9d, and finally 6d, where it stuck.H. N. H.

Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from

wreck,

Which cannot perish having thee aboard,
Being destined to a drier death on shore.
[Exit Speed.
I must go send some better messenger:
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post.

The same.

Garden of Julia's house.

Enter Julia and Lucetta.

Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,

Wouldst thou, then, counsel me to fall in love? Luc. Aye, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully.

Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen

That every day with parle encounter me,

In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

Luc. Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind

According to my shallow simple skill.

Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?

Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
Jul. What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio?
Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus?

Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now! what means this passion at his name?

Luc. Pardon, dear madam: 'tis a passing shame That I, unworthy body as I am,

Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.

20

Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?
Luc. Then thus,-of many good I think him best..
Jul. Your reason?

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason;

I think him so, because I think him so.

Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him?

Luc. Aye, if you thought your love not cast

away.

Jul. Why, he, of all the rest, hath never moved

me.

Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.
Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. 30
Jul. They do not love that do not show their love.
Luc. O, they love least that let men know their
love.

Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc. Peruse this paper, madam.

Jul. 'To Julia.'-Say, from whom?
Luc. That the contents will show.

30. “Fire” is here a dissyllable. The play has other like examples: "But qualify the fire's extreme rage”; and again: "Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat," &c. These and similar words were continually used hus by the poets of Shakespeare's time: and yet Steevens undertook c correct the Poet's measure in such cases by supplying another word!-H. N. H.

Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee?

Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.

He would have given it you; but I, being in the way,

40

Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault,
I pray.
Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker! ✔
Dare you presume to harbor wanton lines?
To whisper and conspire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place.

There, take the paper: see it be return'd;
Or else return no more into my sight.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

Jul. Will ye be gone?

Luc.

That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter: It were a shame to call her back again,

51

And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view!
Since maids, in modesty, say 'no' to that
Which they would have the profferer construe
'aye.'

Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love,

That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,

41. "Broker." A matchmaker. It was sometimes used for a procuress.-H. N. H.

53. "What fool is she"; the first three Folios read "what 'fool is she," indicating the omission of the indefinite article, a not uncommon Elizabethan idiom.-I. G.