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 As little by such toys as may be possible. JULIA Best sing it to the tune of ‘Light o’ Love’. LUCETTA It is too heavy for […]

[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. [Lucetta drops the letter and picks it up again] JULIA What is’t that you Took up so gingerly? LUCETTA Nothing. JULIA Why didst thou stoop […]

JULIA  How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence When willingly I would have had her here! How angrily 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!      (1.2.60-66)   More self-reproach from Julia: she […]

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 fool is she, that knows I am a maid And would not force the letter to my view, Since maids in modesty say ‘No’ […]

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. There. Take the paper. [She gives back the letter] See it be returned, Or else return […]

JULIA  ‘To Julia’–say, from whom? 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.       (1.2.35-40)   ‘To […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

15 January 2024   Enter Julia 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? […]