Speed. Why then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.

Pro. A filly answer, and fitting well a sheep..
Speed. This proves me still a fheep.
Pro. True ; and thy master a shepherd.
Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.
Pro. It Thall go hard, but I'll prove it by another.

Speed. The Mepherd seeks the sheep, and not the theep the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks not me; therefore I am no sheep.

Pro. The sheep for fodder follows the shepherd, the Mepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followeft thy master, thy master for wages

follows not thee'; therefore thou art a sheep. Speed. Such another proof will make me

cry Baa. Pro. But dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to Julia.

Speed. Ay, Sir, I, a loft mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac'd mutton (3) ; and fhe, a lac'd mutton, gave me, a loft mutton, nothing for my labour.

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

Speed. If the ground be over-charg'd, you were beste fick her.

(3) !, a loft mutton, gave your letter to ber, a lac'd mutton ;] Launce calis himlelf a loft mutton, because he had lost his master, and because. Prutbeus had been proving him a freep. But why does he call the Lady a lac'd mutton? Your notable wenchers are to this day call’d. Muttonmongers: and consequently the object of their pallon must, by tbe Metaphor, be the mution. And Corgrave, in his English-French : Dictionary, explains lac'd mutton, une garse, putain, fille de joy. And: Mr. Mutteaux has rendered this passage of Rabelais, in the Prologue of his fourth book, cailles ccipbees, mignonnement chantans, in this manner, coated quails and laced mutton waggishly finging. So that lac'd mutton has been a sort of standard phrase for girls of pleasure. I fhall

: explain cailles coipbees in its proper place,, upon a passage of Troilus and Grefida.) That laç'd mutton was a term in vogue before our Author appear'd in writing, I find from an old play, printed in black better in the year 1578, call’d: Promos and Calandra : in which a courtezan's servant thus speaks to her;.

Prying abroad for playefellowes, and such,
For you, 'miftreffe, I hearde of one Pballax,
A man esteemde of Promos verie much :
Of whose nature I was so bolde to axe,
And I Imealte, le lov?d lase mution well,

pound you.

Pro. Nay, in that you are a fray (4); 'twere best

Speed. Nay, Sir, less than a pound fall serve me for carrying your letter.

Pro. You mistake: I mean the pound, a pinfold. Speed. From a pound to a pină fold it over and overy, 'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover..

Pro. But what said she ; did the nod? (Speed nodsa
Speed. I.
Pro. Nod-I? why, that's noddy.

Speed. You miftook, Sir ; I said, he did nod;
And
you
ask

me, if she did nod; and I said, I.. 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.
Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purse.

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

Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be both at once deliver'd.

Pro. Well, Sir, here is for your pains; what said she? Speed. Truly, Sir, I think, you'll hardly win her. Pro. Why? could's thou perceive so 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 so hard to me that brought your mind,
I fear, she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mine,
Give her no token but ftones; for the's as hard as steel.

Pro. What, faid fhe nothing ?
Speed. No, not so much as- take this for thy pains ;;

(4), Nay, in that you are aftray.] For the reason Prortzus gives, Dr. Thirlby advises that we should read, a stray; i. e, a stray sheepj, which continues Prorbeus's banter upon Speed,

Τον

To testify your bounty,I thank you, you have teftern'd me: In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letter yourfelf: and fo, Sir, I'll commend you to my master.

Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your thip from wreck, Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Being destin'd to a drier death on shore. I must go fend some better messenger: I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthleis poft.

[Exeunt severally. SCENE changes to Julia's Chamber.

Enter Julia and Lucetta.
UT Lucetta, now we

Jul. B Woulait chouce then

counted me to fall in love?

Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen, That ev'ry day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

Luc.Please you, repeat their names ; I'll fhew my mind, According to my shallow simple kill.

Jul, What think'it thou of the fair Sir Eglamokr?

Luc. As of a Knight well spoken, neat and fine ; But were I you, he never should be mine.

Ful. Whát think'st thou of the rich Mercatio ?
Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, fo, fo.
Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Protheus?
Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us !
Jul. How nows what means this passion at his name?

Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a palling fame,
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen..

ful. Why not on Protheus, as of all the rest?
Luc. Then thus; of many good, I think him best.
Jula Your reason ?

Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason ;
I think him so, because I think him fo..
Jul. And would'At thou have me cast my

love

on himi Lue Ay, if you thought your love not caft away.

Jul

. Why, he of all the reit hath never mov'd me.
Luc. Yet he of all the rest, I think, beft loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking shews his love but small.
Luc. The fire, that's closest kept, burns moft of all.
Jul. They do not love, that do not shew their love.
Luc. Oh, 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 shew,
Jul. Say, fay; who gave it thee!
Lue.Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Protheus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it; pardon the fault, I pray.
Jul

. Now, by my, modefty, a goodly broker!
Dare you presume to harbour 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 fight.

Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
Jul. Will ye be gone?
Luc. That you may ruminate.

(Exito Jul. And

yet I would, I had o'er-look'd the letter, It were a shame to call her back again, And

pray her to a fault, for which I chid, her..
What fool is the, 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 proff'rer construe, ay
Py, fy; how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod ?:
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here !
How angerły I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile !
My penance is to call Lucetta back,

And

i

And ask remission for my folly past.
What ho! Lucetta!

Re-enter Lucetta..
Luc. What would your Ladyship?
Jul. Is't near dinner-time.

Luc. I would it were;
That you might kill your ftomach on your meat, .
And not upon your maid.
Jul. What is, that

you Took up so gingerly?

Luc. Nothing
Jul. Why did it thou stoop then ?
Luc. To take a paper up, that I let fall.
Jul. And is that paper nothing?
Luc. Nothing concerning me.
Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns.

Luc. Madam, it will not lie, where it concerns ; Unless it have a falfe interpreter..

Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme..

Luc. That I might fing it, madam, to a tune; Give me a note ; your Ladyflip can fet.

Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible,
Beit sing it to the tune of Light o' love.

Luc. It is too heavy. for so light a tune.
Jul. Heavy? belike, it hath some burden then.
Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you ang it.
Jul. And why not you?
Luc. I cannot reach fo high..

Jul. Let's see your song:
How now, minion ?-

Luc. Keep tune there ftill, so you will fing it out: And yet, methinks, I do not like this tune.

Jul. You do not?
Luc. No, madam, 'tis too farp.
Jul. You, minion, are too faucy.

Luc. Nay, now you are too flat;
And mår the concord with too harsh a defcant :
There wanteth but a mean, to fill your song.
Jul. The mean is drown’d with your unruly base.