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Pro. 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 labor.

Pro. Here’s too small a pasture for such store of muttons.

Speed. If the ground be overcharg’d, you were best stick her.

Pro. Nay, in that you are astray; ’twere best pound you.

Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter.

Pro. 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.

Pro. But what said she?

[Speed nods, and Proteus looks at him questioningly.]

Speed. Ay.

Pro. 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.”

Pro. And that set together is ‘noddy.’

Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.

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