shot of five pence, thou shalt have five thou- Launce. Marry, after they closed in earnest, Speed. But shall she marry him? Launce. No. Speed. How, then? shall he marry her? 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. Launce. What a block art thou, that thou canst not! My staff understands me. Speed. What thou sayest? Launce. Aye, and what I do too: look thee, Launce. Why, stand-under and under-stand is Speed. But tell me true, will 't be a match? Launce. Ask my dog: if he say aye, 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. Launce. Thou shalt never get such a secret from me but by a parable. 20 30 40 Speed. 'Tis well that I get it so. But, Launce, how sayest thou, that my master is become a notable lover? Launce. I never knew him otherwise. Speed. Than how? Launce. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be. Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistak- 50 est 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 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. 60 [Exeunt. 63. The festivals of the Church were often celebrated with merrymakings, of which ale-drinking formed a part: hence they were called "Ales," and "Church Ales." Before the days of Puritanism, of course none but Jews would refuse "to go to the Ale with a Christian." Launce is quibbling still, as usual.-H. N. H. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn; Provokes me to this threefold perjury; Love bade me swear, and Love bids me for swear. 10 O sweet-suggesting Love, if thou hast sinn'd, But there I leave to love where I should love. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; 20 And Silvia-witness Heaven, that made her fair! Shows Julia but a swarthy Ethiope. I will forget that Julia is alive, 30 Now presently I'll give her father notice [Exit. SCENE VII Verona. Julia's house. Enter Julia and Lucetta. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me; Are visibly character'd and engraved, Luc. Alas, the way is wearisome and long! L To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; 10 Much less shall she that hath Love's wings to fly, And when the flight is made to one so dear, Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus. 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. 20 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. 9. An allusion to the pilgrimages formerly made by religious enthusiasts, who, like Julia, loved much, but not wisely, often to Rome, Compostella, and Jerusalem, but oftener still to "the House of our Lady at Loretto." In that age, when there were few roads and many robbers, to go afoot and alone through all the pains and perils of a passage from England to either of these shrines, was deemed proof that the person was thoroughly in earnest. The Santa Casa at Loretto was supposed to be the house in which the Blessed Virgin was born, it having been supernaturally transported from Galilee tc Italy, and placed in a wood at midnight; which was the cause of so many more pilgrimages being made to that place.-H. N. H. |