But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,

1.2.4155Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?

Ay, Madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.

Of all the fair resort of gentlemen

1.2.7158That every day with parle encounter me,

1.2.8159In thy opinion which is worthiest love?

Please you repeat their names, I'll show my mind

1.2.10161According to my shallow simple skill.

What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?

As of a knight, well-spoken, neat, and fine;

1.2.13164But were I you, he never should be mine.

What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio?

Well of his wealth; but of himself, so-so.

What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus?

Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us.

How now? What means this passion at his name?

Pardon, dear madam, 'tis a passing shame

1.2.20171That I, unworthy body as I am,

1.2.21172Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.

Why not on Proteus as of all the rest?

Then thus: of many good, I think him best.

Your reason?

I have no other but a woman's reason:

1.2.26177I think him so because I think him so.

And would'st thou have me cast my love on him?

Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.

Why he, of all the rest, hath never moved me.

Yet he, of all the rest, I think best loves ye.

His little speaking shows his love but small.

Fire that's closest kept burns most of all.

They do not love that do not show their love.

Oh, they love least that let men know their love.

I would I knew his mind.

Peruse this paper, madam.

"To Julia." Say, from whom?

That the contents will show.

Say, say, who gave it thee?

Sir Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.

1.2.42192He would have given it you, but I being in the way

1.2.43193Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray.

Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker.

1.2.45195Dare you presume to harbor wanton lines?

1.2.46196To whisper and conspire against my youth?

1.2.47197Now trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,

1.2.48198And you an officer fit for the place.

1.2.49199There, take the paper. [Gives Lucetta the letter.] See it be returned,

1.2.50200Or else return no more into my sight.

To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.

Will ye be gone?

That you may ruminate.

And yet I would I had o'er looked the letter.

1.2.57205It were a shame to call her back again,

1.2.58206And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.

1.2.59207What fool is she, that knows I am a maid

1.2.60208And would not force the letter to my view?

1.2.61209Since maids, in modesty, say "No" to that

1.2.62210Which they would have the profferer construe "Ay."

1.2.63211Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love

1.2.64212That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,

1.2.65213And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!

1.2.66214How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,

1.2.67215When willingly I would have had her here!

1.2.68216How angerly I taught my brow to frown,

1.2.69217When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!

1.2.70218My penance is to call Lucetta back

1.2.71219And ask remission for my folly past.

1.2.72220What ho! Lucetta!

What would your ladyship?

Is't near dinner time?

I would it were,

1.2.78224That you might kill your stomach on your meat,

1.2.79225And not upon your maid.

What is't that you

1.2.82227Took up so gingerly?

Nothing.

Why didst thou stoop then?

To take a paper up that I let fall.

And is that paper nothing?

Nothing concerning me.

Then let it lie for those that it concerns.

Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,

1.2.90235Unless it have a false interpreter.

Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.

That I might sing it, madam, to a tune.

1.2.93238Give me a note. Your ladyship can set -

As little by such toys as may be possible.

1.2.95240Best sing it to the tune of "Light o' love."

It is too heavy for so light a tune.

Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then?

Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.

And why not you?

I cannot reach so high.

Let's see your song.

1.2.103247How now, minion?

Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.

1.2.105249And yet me thinks I do not like this tune.

You do not?

No, madam, 'tis too sharp.

You, minion, are too saucy.

Nay, now you are too flat,

1.2.110254And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.

1.2.111255There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.

The mean is drowned with your unruly base.

Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.

This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;

1.2.115259Here is a coil with protestation.

1.2.117260Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie;

1.2.118261You would be fingering them to anger me.

1.2.120 [Aside] She makes it strange, but she would be best pleased

1.2.121263To be so angered with another letter.

Nay, would I were so angered with the same.

1.2.124265O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!

1.2.125266Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey,

1.2.126267And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!

1.2.127268I'll kiss each several paper for amends.

1.2.128269Look, here is writ, "Kind Julia." Unkind Julia!

1.2.129270As in revenge of thy ingratitude,

1.2.130271I throw thy name against the bruising stones,

1.2.131272Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.

1.2.132273And here is writ, "Love-wounded Proteus."

1.2.133274Poor wounded name, my bosom as a bed

1.2.134275Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly healed;

1.2.135276And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.

1.2.136277But twice or thrice was Proteus written down.

1.2.137278Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,

1.2.138279Till I have found each letter in the letter

1.2.139280Except mine own name. That, some whirlwind bear

1.2.140281Unto a ragged, fearful, hanging rock,

1.2.141282And throw it thence into the raging sea.

1.2.142283Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ:

1.2.143284"Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus

1.2.144285To the sweet Julia." That I'll tear away,

1.2.145286And yet I will not, sith so prettily

1.2.146287He couples it to his complaining names.

1.2.147288Thus will I fold them, one upon another;

1.2.148289Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.

Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays.

Well, let us go.

What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?

If you respect them, best to take them up.

Nay, I was taken up for laying them down.

1.2.155295Yet here they shall not lie for catching cold.

I see you have a month's mind to them.

Ay, Madam, you may say what sights you see;

1.2.158298I see things too, although you judge I wink.

Come, come, wilt please you go?