Читать книгу The Complete Works of Shakespeare онлайн

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Speed. “Item, She is proud.”

Launce. Out with that too; it was Eve’s legacy, and cannot be ta’en from her.

Speed. “Item, She hath no teeth.”

Launce. I care not for that neither, because I love crusts.

Speed. “Item, She is curst.”

Launce. Well, the best is, she hath no teeth to bite.

Speed. “Item, She will often praise her liquor.”

Launce. If her liquor be good, she shall; if she will not, I will; for good things should be prais’d.

Speed. “Item, She is too liberal.”

Launce. Of her tongue she cannot, for that’s writ down she is slow of; of her purse she shall not, for that I’ll keep shut. Now, of another thing she may, and that cannot I help. Well, proceed.

Speed. “Item, She hath more hair than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults.”

Launce. Stop there; I’ll have her. She was mine and not mine twice or thrice in that last article. Rehearse that once more.

Speed. “Item, She hath more hair than wit”—

Launce. More hair than wit? It may be; I’ll prove it: the cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more than the salt; the hair that covers the wit is more than the wit, for the greater hides the less. What’s next?