War with good counsel, fet the world at n SCENE Enter Speed. II. 6 Speed. Sir Protheus, fave you; faw you my mafter? Pro. But now he parted hence, t'imbark for Milan. Speed. Twenty to one then he is shipp'd already, And I have play'd the sheep in lofing him. Pro. Indeed, a fheep doth very often stray, An if the fhepherd be awhile away. Speed. You conclude that my mafter is a fhepherd then, and I a sheep? Pro. I do. Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether Pro. A filly anfwer, and fitting well a fheep. Pro. True; and thy mafter a shepherd. Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumftance. Pro. It fhall go hard, but I'll prove it by another. Speed. The thepherd feeks the fheep, and not the fheep the shepherd; but I feek my mafter, and my mafter feeks not me; therefore I am no fheep. Pro. The sheep for fodder follows the shepherd, the 5 Made wit with mufing weak.] For made read make. Thou, Julia, haft made me war with good counjel, and make wit weak with mufing. 6 This whole scene, like many others in these plays (fome of which I believe were written by Shakespear, and others interpolated by the players) is compofed of the lowest and most trifling conceits, to be accounted for only from the grofs tafte of the age he lived in ; Populo ut That this, like many other Thep fhepherd for the food follows not the sheep, thou for wages followeft thy mafter, thy mafter for wages follows not thee; therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me cry Baá. Pro. But doft thou hear? gaveft thou my letter to Julia? Speed. Ay, Sir, I, a loft mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac'd mutton, 7 and fhe, a lac'd mutton, gave me, a loft mutton, nothing for my labour. Pro. Here's too fmall a pasture for fuch store of muttons. Speed. If the ground be over-charg'd, you were beft ftick her. Pro. Nay, in that you are a ftray, 'twere best pound you. Speed. Nay, Sir, lefs than a pound fhail ferve me for carrying your letter. Pro. You mistake: I mean the pound, a pin-fold. 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 faid fhe: did fhe nod? [Speed nods. Speed. I. Pro. Nod-I? why, that's noddy. Speed. You mistook, Sir: I faid she did nod: And you ask me, if she did nod; and I faid, I. 7 I, a loft Mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac'd Mutton ;] Speed calls himself a loft Mutton, because he had loft his Mafter, and because Protheus had been proving him a Sheep. But why does he call the Lady a lac'd Matton? Wenchers are to this Day called Mutton-mongers: and confequently the Object of their Paffion muft, by the Metaphor, be the Mutton. And Cotgrave in his English-French Dictionary, explains Lac'd Mutton, Une Garfe, purain, fille de Jaye. And Mr. Motteux has rendered this Paffage of Rabelais, in the Prologue of his fourth Book, Cailles coiphers mignonnement chantans, in this manner; Coated Quails and laced Mutton waggishly finging. So that lac'd Mutton has been a fort of Standard Phrase for Girls of Pleasure. THEOBALD. 8 Nay, in that you are aftray.] For the Reafon Protheus gives, Dr.Thirlby advises that we should read, a Stray, i. e, a ftay Sheep; which continues Protheus's Ban ter upon Speed, THEOBALD, Pro, Pro. And that fet together, is noddy. Speed. Now you have taken the pains to fet 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. Behrew me, but you have a quick wit. Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purse. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what faid fhe? Speed. Open your purfe, that the money and the matter may be both at once deliver❜d. Pro. Well, Sir, here is for your pains; what faid fhe? Speed. Truly, Sir, I think you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? could't thou perceive fo much from her? Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; No, not fo much as a ducket for delivering your letter. And being fo hard to me that brought your mind, I fear, fhe'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind. Give her no token but ftones; for fhe's as hard as iteel. Pro. What, faid fhe nothing? Speed. No, not fo much as-take this for thy pains. To teftify your bounty, I thank you, you have teftern'd me: 9 In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letter your 1 must go fend fome better meffenger: I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines, Jul. B SCENE III. [Exeunt feverally. Changes to Julia's Chamber. Enter Julia and Lucetta. UT fay, Lucetta, now we are alone, Would't thou then counfel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, fo you ftumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair refort of gentlemen, That ev'ry day with parle encounter me, Luc. Pleafe you, repeat their names; I'll shew my mind, According to my fhallow fimple fkill. Jul. What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? Luc. As of a Knight well spoken, neat and fine; 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, fo, so. Jul. What think'ft thou of the gentle Protheus? Luc. Lord, lord! to fee what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now? what means this paffion at his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a paffing fhame, That I, unworthy body as I am, Should cenfure thus on lovely gentlemen. Jul. Why not on Protheus, as on all the rest? Jul. Your reafon? Luc. I have no other but a woman's reafon; I think him fo, because I think him so. Jul. And would't thou have me cast my love on him? Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not caft away, Ful. Jul. Why, he of all the reft hath never mov'd me. Luc. Perufe this paper, madam. Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and fent, I think, from He would have giv'n it you, but I, being in the way, There, take the paper; fee, it be return'd; Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Luc. That you may ruminate. [Exit. Jul. And yet I would I had o'er-look'd the letter. It were a fhame to call her back again, And pray her to a fault, for which I chid her. a goodly broker.] A broker was used for matchmaker, ipmetimes for a procureis. How |