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.
Fie, fie: how way-ward is this foolish loue; That (like a testie Babe) will scratch the Nurse, And presently, all humbled kisse the Rod?
How churlishly, I chid Lucetta hence, When willingly, I would haue had her here?
How angerly I taught my brow to frowne, When inward ioy enforc"d my heart to smile?
My pennance is, to call Lucetta backe And aske remission, for my folly past.
What hoe: Lucetta
Lu. What would your Ladiship?
Iul. Is"t neere dinner time?
Lu. I would it were, That you might kill your stomacke on your meat, And not vpon your Maid
Iu. What is"t that you Tooke vp so gingerly?
Lu. Nothing
Iu. Why didst thou stoope then?
Lu. To take a paper vp, that I let fall
Iul. And is that paper nothing?
Lu. Nothing concerning me
Iul. Then let it lye, for those that it concernes
Lu. Madam, it will not lye where it concernes, Vnlesse it haue a false Interpreter
Iul. Some loue of yours, hath writ to you in Rime
Lu. That I might sing it (Madam) to a tune: Giue me a Note, your Ladiship can set Iul. As little by such toyes, as may be possible: Best sing it to the tune of Light O, Loue
Lu. It is too heauy for so light a tune
Iu. Heauy? belike it hath some burden then?
Lu. I: and melodious were it, would you sing it, Iu. And why not you?
Lu. I cannot reach so high
Iu. Let"s see your Song: How now Minion?
Lu. Keepe tune there still; so you will sing it out: And yet me thinkes I do not like this tune
Iu. You doe not?
Lu. No (Madam) tis too sharpe
Iu. You (Minion) are too saucie
Lu. Nay, now you are too flat; And marre the concord, with too harsh a descant: There wanteth but a Meane to fill your Song
Iu. The meane is dround with you vnruly base
Lu. Indeede I bid the base for Protheus
Iu. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me; Here is a coile with protestation: Goe, get you gone: and let the papers lye: You would be fingring them, to anger me
Lu. She makes it stra[n]ge, but she would be best pleas"d To be so angred with another Letter
Iu. Nay, would I were so angred with the same: Oh hatefull hands, to teare such louing words; Iniurious Waspes, to feede on such sweet hony, And kill the Bees that yeelde it, with your stings; Ile kisse each seuerall paper, for amends: Looke, here is writ, kinde Iulia: vnkinde Iulia, As in reuenge of thy ingrat.i.tude, I throw thy name against the bruzing-stones, Trampling contemptuously on thy disdaine.
And here is writ, Loue wounded Protheus.
Poore wounded name: my bosome, as a bed, Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly heal"d; And thus I search it with a soueraigne kisse.
But twice, or thrice, was Protheus written downe: Be calme (good winde) blow not a word away, Till I haue found each letter, in the Letter, Except mine own name: That, some whirle-winde beare Vnto a ragged, fearefull, hanging Rocke, And throw it thence into the raging Sea.
Loe, here in one line is his name twice writ: Poore forlorne Protheus, pa.s.sionate Protheus: To the sweet Iulia: that ile teare away: And yet I will not, sith so prettily He couples it, to his complaining Names; Thus will I fold them, one vpon another; Now kisse, embrace, contend, doe what you will
Lu. Madam: dinner is ready: and your father staies
Iu. Well, let vs goe
Lu. What, shall these papers lye, like Tel-tales here?
Iu. If you respect them; best to take them vp
Lu. Nay, I was taken vp, for laying them downe.
Yet here they shall not lye, for catching cold
Iu. I see you haue a months minde to them
Lu. I (Madam) you may say what sights you see; I see things too, although you iudge I winke
Iu. Come, come, wilt please you goe.
Exeunt.