Читать книгу The Complete Works of Shakespeare онлайн

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Launce. What need a man care for a stock with a wench, when she can knit him a stock?

Speed. “Item, She can wash and scour.”

Launce. A special virtue; for then she need not be wash’d and scour’d.

Speed. “Item, She can spin.”

Launce. Then may I set the world on wheels, when she can spin for her living.

Speed. “Item, She hath many nameless virtues.”

Launce. That’s as much as to say “bastard virtues,” that indeed know not their fathers, and therefore have no names.

Speed. Here follow her vices.

Launce. Close at the heels of her virtues.

Speed. “Item, She is not to be [kiss’d] fasting, in respect of her breath.”

Launce. Well, that fault may be mended with a breakfast. Read on.

Speed. “Item, She hath a sweet mouth.”

Launce. That makes amends for her sour breath.

Speed. “Item, She doth talk in her sleep.”

Launce. It’s no matter for that, so she sleep not in her talk.

Speed. “Item, She is slow in words.”

Launce. O villain, that set this down among her vices! To be slow in words is a woman’s only virtue. I pray thee out with’t, and place it for her chief virtue.