The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Уильям Шекспир

Чтение книги онлайн.

          therefore, I am no sheep.

        PROTEUS. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the shepherd

      for

          food follows not the sheep: thou for wages followest thy

      master;

          thy master for wages follows not thee. Therefore, thou art a

          sheep.

        SPEED. Such another proof will make me cry 'baa.'

        PROTEUS. But dost thou hear? Gav'st thou my letter to Julia?

        SPEED. Ay, sir; I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a

      lac'd

          mutton; and she, a lac'd mutton, gave me, a lost mutton,

      nothing

          for my labour.

        PROTEUS. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

        SPEED. If the ground be overcharg'd, you were best stick her.

        PROTEUS. Nay, in that you are astray: 'twere best pound you.

        SPEED. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying

      your

          letter.

        PROTEUS. You mistake; I mean the pound- a pinfold.

        SPEED. From a pound to a pin? Fold it over and over,

          'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your

      lover.

        PROTEUS. But what said she?

        SPEED. [Nodding] Ay.

        PROTEUS. Nod- ay. Why, that's 'noddy.'

        SPEED. You mistook, sir; I say she did nod; and you ask me if

      she

          did nod; and I say 'Ay.'

        PROTEUS. And that set together is 'noddy.'

        SPEED. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it

      for

          your pains.

        PROTEUS. No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter.

        SPEED. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.

        PROTEUS. Why, sir, how do you bear with me?

        SPEED. Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly; having nothing but

      the

          word 'noddy' for my pains.

        PROTEUS. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.

        SPEED. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse.

        PROTEUS. Come, come, open the matter; in brief, what said she?

        SPEED. Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be

      both

          at once delivered.

        PROTEUS. Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?

        SPEED. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her.

        PROTEUS. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?

        SPEED. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her; no, not

      so

          much as a ducat for delivering your letter; and being so hard

      to

          me that brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you

      in

          telling your mind. Give her no token but stones, for she's as

          hard as steel.

        PROTEUS. What said she? Nothing?

        SPEED. No, not so much as 'Take this for thy pains.' To testify

          your bounty, I thank you, you have testern'd me; in requital

          whereof, henceforth carry your letters yourself; and so, sir,

          I'll commend you to my master.

        PROTEUS. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck,

          Which cannot perish, having thee aboard,

          Being destin'd to a drier death on shore. Exit SPEED

          I must go send some better messenger.

          I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,

          Receiving them from such a worthless post. Exit

      SCENE II. Verona. The garden Of JULIA'S house

      Enter JULIA and LUCETTA