VAL. And on a love-book pray for my success? For he was more than over shoes in love. VAL. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain; If lost, why then a grievous labour won; PRO. So, by your circumstance, you call me fool. Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. VAL. And writers say, as the most forward bud prove. Once more adieu: my father at the road ▪ However—in whatsoever way, "haply won," or "lost." Circumstance. The word is used by the two speakers in different senses. Proteus employs it in the meaning of circumstantial deduction;-Valentine in that of position. To Milan. Let me hear from thee by letters, addressed to Milan. I here in absence of thy friend; th good counsel, set the world at nought; it with musing weak, heart sick with thought. Enter SPEED. Proteus, save you: Saw you my master? now he parted hence, to embark for Milan. enty to one then he is shipp'd already; have play'd the sheep in losing him. ed a sheep doth very often stray, The shepherd be a while away. [Exit VALENTINE. u conclude that my master is a shepherd then, and I a sheep? hy then my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep. ly answer, and fitting well a sheep. is proves me still a sheep. e; and thy master a shepherd. ay, that I can deny by a circumstance. hall go hard but I'll prove it by another. he shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep the shepherd; but I ay master, and my master seeks not me : therefore, I am no sheep. sheep for fodder follow the shepherd, the shepherd for food follows e sheep; thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages = not thee; therefore, thou art a sheep. uch another proof will make me cry baa. dost thou hear? gav'st thou my letter to Julia? y, sir; I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a laced mutton; ginal copy reads, "I love myself." The present reading was introduced by Pope. mutton. The commentators have much doubtful learning on this passage. They SPEED. If the ground be overcharged, you were best stick her. SPEED. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter. SPEED. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over, "T is threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. PRO. But what said she? did she nod? SPEED. Ic. PRO. Nod, I; why, that 's noddy. [SPEED nods. SPEED. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you ask me if she did nod; and I say, 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, purse. PRO. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said she? SPEED. Open your purse, that the money, and the matter, may be both at once delivered. PRO. Well, sir, here is for your pains: What said she? SPEED. Truly, sir, I think you 'll hardly win her. PRO. Why? Couldst thou perceive so much from her? SPEED. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not so much as a ducat 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 your mind. Give her no token but stones; for she 's as hard as steel. PRO. What said she,-nothing? SPEED. No, not so much as-"Take this for thy pains." To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master. PRO. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wrack: Which cannot perish, having thee aboard, Being destined to a drier death on shoree: Astray. The adjective here should be read “a stray"-a stray sheep. Did she nod? These words, not in the original text, were introduced by Theobald. The stage-direction, "Speed nods," is also modern. The second folio changes the passage to "her mind." The first gives it "your mind." Speed says, she was hard to me that brought your mind, by letter;-she will be as hard to you in telling it, in person. • The same allusion to the proverb, "He that is born to be hanged," &c., occurs in 'The Tempest.' thou then counsel me to fall in love? adam; so you stumble not unheedfully. the fair resort of gentlemen, ry day with parle a encounter me, pinion, which is worthiest love? › you, repeat their names, I'll show my mind think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour? unworthy body as I am, censure thus on lovely gentlemen. not on Proteus, as of all the rest? thus: of many good I think him best. reason? ve no other reason but a woman's reason; ould I knew his mind. speech. The first folio spells it par'le, which shows the abbreviation of the original ole. -give an opinion-a meaning which repeatedly occurs. here used as a dissyllable. When the reader has a key to the reading of such words-he may dispense with the notes that he will perpetually find on these matters in commentators. LUC. Peruse this paper, madam. JUL. "To Julia,"-Say, from whom? JUL. Say, say; who gave it thee? That the contents will show. Luc. Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus. Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines? Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Luc. And pray her to a fault for which I chid her. 66 Which they would have the profferer construe " Ay.” How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, When willingly I would have had her here! And ask remission for my folly past: What ho! Lucetta! [Exit. time. That you might kill your stomach on your meat, Took up so gingerly? What is 't that you Angerly, not angrily, as many modern editions have it, was the adverb used in Shakspere's Stomach is here used in the double sense of appetite, and obstinacy, or ill temper. |