Pro. Why Sir, how doe you beare with me?
Sp. Marry Sir, the letter very orderly, Hauing nothing but the word noddy for my paines
Pro. Beshrew me, but you haue a quicke wit
Sp. And yet it cannot ouer-take your slow purse
Pro. Come, come, open the matter in briefe; what said she
Sp. Open your purse, that the money, and the matter may be both at once deliuered
Pro. Well Sir: here is for your paines: what said she?
Sp. Truely Sir, I thinke you"ll hardly win her
Pro. Why? could"st thou perceiue so much from her?
Sp. Sir, I could perceiue nothing at all from her; No, not so much as a ducket for deliuering your letter: And being so hard to me, that brought your minde; I feare she"ll proue as hard to you in telling your minde.
Giue her no token but stones, for she"s as hard as steele
Pro. What said she, nothing?
Sp. No, not so much as take this for thy pains: To testifie your bounty, I thank you, you haue cestern"d me; In requital whereof, henceforth, carry your letters your selfe; And so Sir, I"le commend you to my Master
Pro. Go, go, be gone, to saue your Ship from wrack, Which cannot perish hauing thee aboarde, Being destin"d to a drier death on sh.o.r.e: I must goe send some better Messenger, I feare my Iulia would not daigne my lines, Receiuing them from such a worthlesse post.
Enter.
Scoena Secunda.
Enter Iulia and Lucetta.
Iul. But say Lucetta (now we are alone) Would"st thou then counsaile me to fall in loue?
Luc. I Madam, so you stumble not vnheedfully
Iul. Of all the faire resort of Gentlemen, That euery day with par"le encounter me, In thy opinion which is worthiest loue?
Lu. Please you repeat their names, ile shew my minde, According to my shallow simple skill
Iu. What thinkst thou of the faire sir Eglamoure?
Lu. As of a Knight, well-spoken, neat, and fine; But were I you, he neuer should be mine
Iu. What think"st thou of the rich Mercatio?
Lu. Well of his wealth; but of himselfe, so, so
Iu. What think"st thou of the gentle Protheus?
Lu. Lord, Lord: to see what folly raignes in vs
Iu. How now? what meanes this pa.s.sion at his name?
Lu. Pardon deare Madam, "tis a pa.s.sing shame, That I (vnworthy body as I am) Should censure thus on louely Gentlemen
Iu. Why not on Protheus, as of all the rest?
Lu. Then thus: of many good, I thinke him best
Iul. Your reason?
Lu. I haue no other but a womans reason: I thinke him so, because I thinke him so
Iul. And would"st thou haue me cast my loue on him?
Lu. I: if you thought your loue not cast away
Iul. Why he, of all the rest, hath neuer mou"d me
Lu. Yet he, of all the rest, I thinke best loues ye
Iul. His little speaking, shewes his loue but small
Lu. Fire that"s closest kept, burnes most of all
Iul. They doe not loue, that doe not shew their loue
Lu. Oh, they loue least, that let men know their loue
Iul. I would I knew his minde
Lu. Peruse this paper Madam
Iul. To Iulia: say, from whom?
Lu. That the Contents will shew
Iul. Say, say: who gaue it thee?
Lu. Sir Valentines page: & sent I think from Protheus; He would haue giuen it you, but I being in the way, Did in your name receiue it: pardon the fault I pray
Iul. Now (by my modesty) 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 returne no more into my sight
Lu. To plead for loue, deserues more fee, then hate
Iul. Will ye be gon?
Lu. That you may ruminate.
Enter.
Iul. And yet I would I had ore-look"d the Letter; It were a shame to call her backe againe, And pray her to a fault, for which I chid her.
What "foole is she, that knowes I am a Maid, And would not force the letter to my view?
Since Maides, in modesty, say no, to that, Which they would haue the profferer construe, I.