Launce. O illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy grandmother: this proves that thou Speed. Come, fool, come; try me in thy paper. Speed. [Reads] 'Imprimis: She can milk.' Speed. Item: She brews good ale.' Launce. And thereof comes the proverb: 'Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale.' Speed. Item: She can sew.' 300 Launce. That's as much as to say, Can she so? 310 Speed. 'Item: She can knit.' Launce. What need a man care for a stock with a wench, when she can knit him a stock? Speed. Item: She can wash and scour.' Launce. A special virtue; for then she need not be washed and scoured. Speed. 'Item: she can spin.' 302. St. Nicholas had many weighty cares, but was best known as the patron-saint of scholars, in which office he is here invoked. He is said to have gained this honor by restoring to life three scholars, whom a wicked host had murdered while on their way to school. By the statutes of St. Paul's School, London, the scholars are required to attend divine service in the cathedral on the anniversary of St. Nicholas. The parish clerks of London, probably because scholars were called clerks, formed themselves into a guild, with this saint for their patron. In King Henry IV thieves are called St. Nicholas' clerks; whether from the similarity of the names Nicholas and Old Nick, or from some similarity of conduct in thieves and scholars in the old days of learned beggary, doth not fully appear. St Nicholas was also the patron-saint of Holland and Russia; and Mr. Verplanck says, "he has long been known in Holland and New York as the special friend of children."-H. N. H. Launce. Then may I set the world on wheels, when she can spin for her living. Speed. Item: She hath many nameless vir- 320 tues.' Launce. That's as much as to say, bastard vir tues; that, indeed, know not their fathers, Speed. 'Here follow her vices.' Launce. Close at the heels of her virtues. Speed. Item: She is not to be kissed fasting, in respect of her breath.' Launce. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast. Read on. Speed. Item: She hath a sweet mouth.' Launce. That makes amends for her sour breath. Speed. Item: She doth talk in her sleep.' Launce. It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her talk. Speed. 'Item: She is slow in words.' 330 Launce. O villain, that set this down among her vices! To be slow in words is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee, out with 't, and 340 place it for her chief virtue. Speed. 'Item: She is proud.' Launce. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and cannot be ta'en from her. Speed. 'Item: She hath no teeth.' 331. A "sweet mouth" formerly meant a sweet tooth, and so was reckoned a vice: but Launce chooses to take it literally, that he may have something to offset the sour breath.-H. N. H. Launce. I care not for that neither, because I love crusts. Speed. Item: She is curst.' Launce. Well, the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. Speed. 'Item: She will often praise her liquor.' Speed. 'Item: She is too liberal.' Launce. Stop there; I'll have her: she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last article. Rehearse that once more. Speed. Item: She hath more hair than wit,'— 350 360 prove it. The cover of the salt hides the 355. That is, free beyond the allowings of modesty. Thus in Othello Desdemona says of Iago: "Is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor?" "She will often praise her liquor";—that is, by drinking of it. Curst is peevish, scolding. Thus in The Taming of The Shrew one of the persons calls Kate a curst shrew.-H. N. H. 370. The ancient English saltcellar was very different from the modern, being a large piece of plate, generally much ornamented, with a cover to keep the salt clean. There was but one on the dinner table, which was placed near the top, and those who sat the hair that covers the wit is more than the Speed. And more faults than hairs,'-- Launce. That's monstrous: O, that that were out! Speed. 'And more wealth than faults.' Launce. Why, that word makes the faults gracious. Well, I'll have her: and if it be a match, as nothing is impossible, Speed. What then? Launce. Why, then will I tell thee that thy master stays for thee at the North-gate? Speed. For me? Launce. For thee! aye, who art thou? he hath stayed for a better man than thee. Speed. And must I go to him? Launce. Thou must run to him, for thou hast stayed so long, that going will scarce serve the turn. 380 390 [Exit. Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? pox of [Exit. below it were, for the most part, of inferior condition to those who sat above it.-H. N. H. Enter Duke and Thurio. Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not but that she will love you, Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight. Thu. Since his exile she hath despised me most, Forsworn my company, and rail'd at me, That I am desperate of obtaining her. Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. A little time will melt her frozen thoughts, And worthless Valentine shall be forgot. 10 Enter Proteus. How now, Sir Proteus! Is your countryman, Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously. Makes me the better to confer with thee. |