Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 1, Scene 2, 1-103
Arden 3 | William C. Carroll | London: Bloomsbury, 2004 | 147-156 (158)
“But say, Lucetta, now we are alone…”
Scene
Words + Pronunciation
Translation
Assonance
Alliteration
Consonance
Thoughts
Thought Count
Rhythm
Pacing
Beats
Full Scene
Rhetoric
Scene
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Words and Pronunciation +
Arden 3 | 2004
Words
O God: one of several apostrophes to the Deity by Juliet. (Weis)
honey: sweet, used here adjectivally; honey was the standard sweetener in Shakespeare’s day, and Juliet is humouring Nurse. (Weis)
aweary: tired (Leung); weary, tired (SW)
jaunt: fatiguing journey (cited in OED) (Weis)
have I: have I had (Weis)
would: 3. a. Denoting expression (usually authoritative) of a wish or intention: Determine, decree, ordain, enjoin, give order (that something be done). Obs. (OED)
Jesu: not yet banned at this date and, outside RJ, used exclusively in the history plays, particularly in the Henry IVs (Weis)
stay the circumstance: wait for the detail (see without circumstance, 5.3.181) (Weis)
circumstance: special argument, detailed explanation (SW); circumlocution, verbiage, unnecessary detail (SW): pageantry, ceremony, spectacle (SW)
simple: foolish; Nurse picks up Juliet’s formal dichotomy of good and bad while ignoring the substance of her question. (Weis); foolish, silly, stupid (SW)
flower of courtesy: effectively a non sequitur after flower of courtesy since gentleness could be thought to be part of courtesy; ‘as gentle as a lamb’ is proverbial (Dent, L34). (Weis)
go thy ways: ‘Lucky you!’ ways: well done (SW), carry on, go ahead (SW); get along, be off (SW)
wench: a term of endearment for a young woman (OED sb. c) (Weis)
serve God: ‘Be good.’ (Weis)
dined: had your midday meal (Weis)
as: as if (Weis, re: line 49)
beshrew your heart: a mild and humorous imprecation on Juliet’s romantic heart for sending Nurse on this ‘back-breaking’ trip (cf. MA 5.1.55) (Weis)
beshrew: blame, censure, take to task, wish mischief on (SW); curse, devil take, evil befall (SW)
jauncing: prancing about (cited under OED jaunce v.)(Weis); jaunce: jaunt, trudge about, run around (SW); jaunt, fatiguing journey (SW)
honest: honourable (Weis); honourable, respectable, upright (SW); genuine, real, true (SW); innocent, well-intentioned, innocuous (SW)
warrant: assure, promise, guarantee, confirm (SW)
oddly: unequally, unevenly; or unusually, in a peculiar way (SW)
O God’s Lady: ‘by the Virgin Mary’ (Weis)
hot: eager, with a teasing intimation of unbecoming sexual passion (Weis); active, vigourous (SW); hot-tempered, angry, passionate (SW); fast, hasty (SW); lecherous, lustful, hot-blooded (SW); amorous, sexually eager, ardent, appetent (Partridge)
marry come up: a proverbial expression of indignant or amused surprise (Dent, M699.2) (Weis); expression of (real or playful) impatience (SW)
marry: [exclamation] by Mary (SW)
I trow: here meaning ‘surely’ (OED v. 4b glosses ‘I suppose’) (Weis); trow: (I) wonder, (I) ask you (SW); think, expect, believe (SW); believe, give credence to, accept as true (SW); hope, trust, suppose (SW); think, be sure (SW); know, guess, imagine (SW)
poultice: soothing dressing (Shakespeare’s only usage of the word) (Weis);1. A moist, usually heated mass of a substance with a soft, pasty consistency, applied to the skin, usually by means of a bandage or dressing, in order to promote healing, reduce swelling, relieve pain, etc.; a fomentation, a cataplasm. Also figurative. (OED)
coil: ado, fuss; cf. ‘I am not worth this coil that’s made for me’ (KJ 2.1.165).(Weis); turmoil, disturbance, fuss (SW); 1. Noisy disturbance, ‘row’; ‘tumult, turmoil, bustle, stir, hurry, confusion’ (Johnson).2. Confused noise of inanimate things; clutter, rattle, confused din. 3. Fuss, ado; a ‘business’. 4.a. to keep a coil: to keep up a disturbance; make a fuss, bustle, much ado.
shrift: confession (Leung, SW); absolution (SW); confessional, place for hearing confession (SW)
hie: hasten, go quickly (also at 72, 77, 78) (Weis); hasten, hurry, speed (SW)
cell: small, humble dwelling (SW)
stays: waits (Leung); stay: stay in hiding, remain hidden (SW); staying, remaining, continued presence (SW); remain, continue, endure (SW); wait (for), await (SW)
wanton blood: Juliet is starting to blush (Weis)
blood: spirit, vigour, mettle (SW); anger, temper, passion (SW); colouring, healthy complexion, blushing (SW); hot blood, the blood as affected by sexual passion (Partridge, 67)
wanton: feminine; or: childlike (SW); lascivious, lewd, obscene (SW); carefree, lighthearted, frolicsome, playful (SW)
climb: to climb a woman’s legs (as though they were the limb of a tree) and then enjoy her (Partridge, 80)
bird’s nest: i.e. Juliet’s bedroom; the idiom ‘to climb a bird’s nest’ may have been proverbial (Dent, N124.1). (Weis) pudend and pubic hair (Partridge, 66)
at any: hasten, go quickly (also at 72, 77, 78) (Weis)
drudge and toil in your delight: ‘I am a mean labourer and hack, and I labour for your pleasure.’ (Weis)
drudge: slave, serf, lackey (SW)
bear the burden: assume responsibility for what will ensue; but also suggesting that Juliet will experience the weight of Romeo’s body during love-making (cf. AC 1.5.22).(Weis); bear: to bear children; to bear, support, a superincumbent man (Partridge, 63)
soon at night: tonight (proverbial; Dent, S639.1) (Weis); quickly, in a short time (SW)
hie to high fortune: Wish me luck. (No Fear Shakespeare Translation)
Pronunciation +
lookest: possibly “look’st” (Leung, also: Arden CWRE, 1998)
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
+prose: (lines 38-45) The nurse switches to prose for this speech.
Translation
No Fear Shakespeare
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Assonance
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
Alliteration
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Consonance
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Thoughts
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
JULIA
Long:
Medium:
Short:
Complex:
End stopped:
Midline:
Period:
Exclamation:
Question:
Dash:
Total:
LUCETTA
Long:
Medium:
Short:
Complex:
End stopped:
Midline:
Period:
Exclamation:
Question:
Dash:
Total:
Rhythm
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Pacing
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Beats
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
Beat 1
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
Beat 2
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
Beat 3
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
Beat 4
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
Beat 5
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
Beat 6
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
Beat 7
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
Beat 9
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
9b. What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
9c. Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
9d. My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
Beat 10
JULIA
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
Beat 11
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
Beat 12
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
Beat 13
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
Beat
JULIA
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
Beat 15
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Beat 16
JULIA
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
Beat 17
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
Full Scene
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Rhetoric
Arden 3 | 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
ANTITHESIS
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
JULIA
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 returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
JULIA
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine;
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
SHARED ANTITHESIS
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
JULIA
Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
METAPHOR
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
But say,Lucetta, now we are alone…?
Source
RSC | Jonathan Bate & Eric Rasmussen. London: RSC Shakespeare, 2009
SCENE II. The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me,
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine;
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us!
JULIA
How now! what means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam: ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest?
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason;
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him?
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest, hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all.
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
JULIA
‘To Julia.’ Say, from whom?
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you; but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it: pardon the
fault I pray.
JULIA
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.
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
That you may ruminate.
Exit
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter:
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view!
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘no’ to that
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently all humbled kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past.
What ho! Lucetta!
Re-enter LUCETTA
LUCETTA
What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly?
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop, then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me.
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune.
Give me a note: your ladyship can set.
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy! belike it hath some burden then?
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out:
And yet methinks I do not like this tune.
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
No, madam; it is too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.
JULIA
The mean is drown’d with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.
Here is a coil with protestation!
Tears the letter
Go get you gone, and let the papers lie:
You would be fingering them, to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words!
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d;
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away.
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
Re-enter LUCETTA
LUCETTA
Madam,
Dinner is ready, and your father stays.
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Line Analysis
RSC | 2009
Thoughts
Short: 9
Medium: 5
Long: 2
Total: 16
End-stopped: 5
Mid-line: 11
Periods: 7
Exclamations: 1
Questions: 7
Unfinished: 1
PAULINA
What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me?
What wheels? Racks? Fires? What flaying? Boiling?
In leads or oils? what old or newer torture
Must I receive, whose every word deserves
To taste of thy most worst? Thy tyranny,
Together working with thy jealousies–
Fancies too weak for boys, too green and idle
For girls of nine– O, think what they have done
And then run mad indeed, stark mad! for all
Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it.
That thou betray’dst Polixenes,’twas nothing:
That did but show thee, of a fool, inconstant
And damnable ingrateful. Nor was’t much,
Thou wouldst have poison’d good Camillo’s honour,
To have him kill a king. Poor trespasses.
More monstrous standing by: whereof I reckon
The casting forth to crows thy baby-daughter
To be or none or little; though a devil
Would have shed water out of fire ere done’t.
Nor is’t directly laid to thee, the death
Of the young prince, whose honourable thoughts–
Thoughts high for one so tender– cleft the heart
That could conceive a gross and foolish sire
Blemish’d his gracious dam: this is not, no,
Laid to thy answer. But the last,–O, lords,
When I have said, cry ‘woe!’ The queen, the queen,
The sweet’st, dear’st creature’s dead, and vengeance for’t
Not dropp’d down yet.
Source
Arden 3 | William C. Carroll. London: Arden Shakespeare, 2004
Act 1, Scene 2
The same. Garden of JULIA’s house.
Enter JULlA and LUCETTA
JULIA
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, so you stumble not unheedfully.
JULIA
Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
LUCETTA
Please you repeat their names, I’ll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour?
LUCETTA
As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine; 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the rich Mercatio?
LUCETTA
Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
JULIA
What think’st thou of the gentle Proteus?
LUCETTA
Lord, Lord, to see what folly reigns in us! 15
JULIA
How now? What means this passion at his name?
LUCETTA
Pardon, dear madam, ’tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
JULIA
Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
LUCETTA
Then thus: of many good, I think him best.
JULIA
Your reason?
LUCETTA
I have no other, but a woman’s reason:
I think him so because I think him so.
JULIA
And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
LUCETTA
Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
JULIA
Why he, of all the rest hath never moved me.
LUCETTA
Yet he, of all the rest I think best loves ye.
JULIA
His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA
Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 30
JULIA
They do not love that do not show their love.
LUCETTA
O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA
I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA
Peruse this paper, madam.
([Gives her a letter.])
JULIA
To Julia. Say, from whom? 35
LUCETTA
That the contents will show.
JULIA
Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA
Sir Valentine’s page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you, but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it. Pardon the fault, I pray. 40
JULIA
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. 45
There, take the paper. See it be returned,
Or else return no more into my sight.
LUCETTA
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA
Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA
—————- That you may ruminate.
([Exit])
JULIA
And yet I would I had o’erlooked the letter; 50
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid
And would not force the letter to my view,
Since maids, in modesty, say ‘No’ to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay.’
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What ho! Lucetta!
[Enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
—————– What would your ladyship?
JULIA
Is’t near dinner-time?
LUCETTA
——————— I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid.
[Drops and picks up the letter.]
JULIA
What is’t that you took up so gingerly? 70
LUCETTA
Nothing.
JULIA
Why didst thou stoop then?
LUCETTA
To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA
And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA
Nothing concerning me. 75
JULIA
Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA
Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
JULIA
Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA
That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note, your ladyship can set –
JULIA
As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ love.’
LUCETTA
It is too heavy for so light a tune.
JULIA
Heavy? Belike it hath some burden then? 85
LUCETTA
Ay, and melodious were it, would you sing it.
JULIA
And why not you?
LUCETTA
—————– I cannot reach so high.
JULIA
Let’s see your song. [Takes the letter.]
——————- How now, minion!
LUCETTA
Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out.
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
JULIA
You do not?
LUCETTA
———– No, madam, ’tis too sharp.
JULIA
You, minion, are too saucy.
LUCETTA
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant.
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
JULIA
The mean is drowned with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA
Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA
This babble shall not henceforth trouble me;
Here is a coil with protestation. [Tears the letter.]
Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie. 100
You would be fingering them to anger me.
LUCETTA
She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger’d with another letter.
Exit
JULIA
Nay, would I were so anger’d with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I’ll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ ‘kind Julia.’ Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, 110
I throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ ‘love-wounded Proteus.’
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal’d; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was ‘Proteus’ written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear 120
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
‘Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:’ that I’ll tear away. 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
[Re-enter LUCETTA]
LUCETTA
Madam, dinner is ready, and your father stays. 130
JULIA
Well, let us go.
LUCETTA
What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA
If you respect them, best to take them up.
LUCETTA
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold. 135
JULIA
I see you have a month’s mind to them.
LUCETTA
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA
Come, come; will’t please you go?
Exeunt
Line Analysis
Arden 3 | 2004
Thoughts
Short: 9
Medium: 5
Long: 2
Total: 16
End-stopped: 5
Mid-line: 11
Periods: 7
Exclamations: 1
Questions: 7
Unfinished: 1
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