Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest 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 me to the alehouse, so; if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name of a Christian. Speed. Why? Launce. Because thou hast not so much charity in thee, as to go the ale 1 with a Christian. Wilt thou go? Speed. At thy service. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. The same. A room in the palace. Enter PROTEus. Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn; To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn ; To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn; Love bade me swear, and love bids me forswear : 2 Ales were merry-meetings instituted in country places. 2 Sweet-tempting. Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it! Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken; But there I leave to love, where I should love. If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; And Silvia, witness Heaven, that made her fair! I will forget that Julia is alive, I cannot now prove constant to myself, Myself, who am his rival, being admitted to his counsel. Now presently I'll give her father notice [Exit. SCENE VII. Verona. A room in Julia's house. Enter JULIA and LUCETTA. Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me! Luc. Alas! the way is wearisome and long. 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? 1 Intended. 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, Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason. Jul. The more thou dam'st it up, the more it burns: The current, that with gentle murmur glides, He makes sweet music with the enamel'd stones, And so by many winding nooks he strays, Till the last step have brought me to my love; A blessed soul doth in Elysium. Luc. But in what habit will you go along? As may beseem some well-reputed page. Luc. Why then your ladyship must cut your hair. Jal. No, girl; I'll knit it up in silken strings, With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots : Of greater time than I shall show to be. Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches? Jul. That fits as well, as-Tell me, good my lord, What compass will you wear your farthingale?' Why, even what fashion thou best likest, Lucetta. Luc. You must needs have them with a cod-piece, madam. Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favor'd. Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin, Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on. Jul. Lucetta, as thou lovest me, let me have What thou think'st meet, and is most mannerly: But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me, For undertaking so unstaid a journey? I fear me, it will make me scandalized. Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go not. Jul. Nay, that I will not. Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go. If Proteus like your journey, when you come, No matter who's displeased, when you are gone : I fear me, he will scarce be pleased withal. Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear: Hoop, which was formerly an appendage to female apparel. |