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

Pro. A filly anfwer, and fitting well a sheep..
Speed. This proves me ftill a fheep.

Pro. True; and thy mafter a fhepherd.

Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance. Pro. It fhall go hard, but I'll prove it by another.. Speed. The fhepherd feeks the sheep, and not the fheep the fhepherd; but I feek my mafter, and my mafter feeks not me; therefore I am no fheep..

Pro. The fheep for fodder follows the fhepherd, the fhepherd for food follows not the sheep; thou for wages followeft thy mafter, thy mafter for wages follows not thee; therefore thou art a fheep.

Speed. Such another proof will make me cry Baâ. 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 (3); and he, a lac'd mutton, gave me, a loft mutton, nothing for my labour.

Pro. Here's too fmall a pasture for fuch ftore of muttons. Speed. If the ground be over-charg'd, you were beft flick her.

(3) I, a loft mutton, gave your letter to her, a laç'd mutton;] Launce calls himself a loft mutton, because he had loft his master, and because. Protheus had been proving him a fheep. But why does he call the Lady a lac'd mutton? Your notable wenchers are to this day call'd Muttonmongers: 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, putain, fille de joy. And Mr. Mutteaux has rendered this paffage of Rabelais, in the Prologue of his fourth book, cailles coipbees, mignonnement chantans, in this manner, coated quails and laced mutton waggibly finging. So that lac'd mutton has been a fort of ftandard phrase for girls of pleasure. I fhall: explain cailles coipbees in its proper place,, upon a paffage of Troilus and Creffida.) That lac'd mutton was a term in vogue before our Author appear'd in writing, I find from an old play, printed in black letter in the year 1578, call'd Promos and Caffandra : in which a Courtezan's fervant thus speaks to her;

Prying abroad for playefellowes, and such,
For you, 'miftreffe, I hearde of one Phallax,
A man efteemde of Promos verie much:
Of whofe nature I was fo bolde to axe,
And I fmealte, he lov'd lafe mutton well,

Pro

Pro. Nay, in that you are a tray (4); '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 pinfold.

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 the nod? [Speed nods. Speed. I.

Pro. Nod-I? why, that's noddy..

Speed. You miftook, Sir; I said, she did nod; And you afk me, if she did nod; and I faid, I.. Pro. And that fet together, is noddy.

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to fet it toge-ther, take it for your pains.

Pro. No, no, you fhall 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. Befhrew me, but you have a quick wit.

Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your flow purfe. Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief; what: faid the ?

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, he'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind, Give her no token but ftones; for fhe's as hard as feel.. Pro. What, faid the nothing?

Speed. No, not fo much as-take this for thy pains ::

(4) Nay, in that you are aftray.] For the reafon Protkeus gives, · Dr. Thirlby advises that we should read, a ftray; i. e, a firay sheep. ; . which continues Protheus's banter upon Speed,

To

To teftify your bounty, I thank you, you have teftern'd me:
In requital whereof, henceforth carry your letter your-
felf: and fo, Sir, I'll commend you to my mafter.
Pro. Go, go, be gone, to fave your ship from wreck,
Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,
Being deftin'd to a drier death on shore.
I must go fend fome better meffenger:
I fear, my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from fuch a worthless poft.

Jul.

[Exeunt feverally.

SCENE changes to Julia's Chamber.

Enter Julia and Lucetta.

Would't thou then counfel me to fall in love? Luc. Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully. Jul. Of all the fair refort of gentlemen, That ev'ry day with parle encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthieft love?

Luc. Please you, repeat their names; I'll fhew my mind, According to my fhallow fimple skill.

ful, 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 fhould be mine.

Jul. What think'ft 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 fee what folly reigns in us! Jul. How now? what means this paffion at his name? Luc. Pardon, dear madam; 'tis a paffing shame,, That I, unworthy body as I am,

Should cenfure thus on lovely gentlemen..

Jul. Why not on Protheus, as of all the reft?
Luc. Then thus; of many good, I think him best.
Jul. Your reafon?

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

I think him fo, because I think him fo..

ful. And would'ft thou have me caft my love on him? Luce Ay, if you thought your love not caft away.

ful. Why, he of all the rest hath never mov'd me.
Luc. Yet he of all the reft, I think, beft loves ye.
Jul. His little fpeaking fhews his love but fmall.
Luc. The fire, that's clofeft kept, burns most of all.
Jul. They do not love, that do not fhew their love.
Luc. Oh, they love least, that let men know their love.
Jul. I would, I knew his mind.

Luc. Perufe this paper, madam.
Jul. To Julia; fay, from whom?

Luc. That the contents will fhew.
Jul. Say, fay; who gave it thee?

Luc.Sir Valentine's page; and fent,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 prefume to harbour wanton lines?
To whifper and confpire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place.

There, take the paper; fee, it be return'd;
Or elfe return no more into my fight.

Luc. To plead for love deferves more fee than hate.
ful. Will
ye be gone?

Luc. That'

you may ruminate.

[Exit. ful. 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. What fool is the, that knows I am a maid,. And would not force the letter to my view? Since maids, in modefty, fay no, to that Which they would have the proff'rer conftrue, age Fy, fy; how wayward is this foolish love, That, like a tefty babe, willfcratch the nurfe,. And prefently, all humbled, kifs the rod ? How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, When willingly I would have had her here! How angerly I taught my brow to frown, When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile! My penance is to call Lucetta back,

And

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 fo gingerly?

Luc. Nothing.

Jul. Why didft thou ftoop 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 thofe that it concerns. Luc. Madam, it will not lie, where it concerns; Unless it have a falfe interpreter..

Jul. Same 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 fuch toys as may be poffible,
Beft fing it to the tune of Light o' love.
Luc. It is too heavy for fo light a tune.

Jul. Heavy belike, it hath fome burden then.
Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing it.
Jul. And why not you?

Luc. I cannot reach fo high..

Jul. Let's fee your fong:

How now, minion?

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

Jul. You do not?

Luc. No, madam, 'tis too sharp.

Jul. You, minion, are too faucy.
Luc. Nay, now you are too flat;

And mar the concord with too harsh a defcant:
There wanteth but a mean, to fill your fong..

ful. The mean is drown'd with your unruly bafe.