Clo. Have I not told thee how I was cozen'd by the way, and loft all my money ? Aut. And, indeed, Sir, there are cozeners abroad, therefore it behoves men to be wary. Clo. Fear not thou, man, thou shalt lofe nothing. here. Aut. I hope fo, Sir, for I have about me many parcels of charge. Clo. What haft here? ballads? Mop. Pray now, buy fome; I love a ballad in print, or a life; for then we are fure they are true. Aut. Here's one to a very doleful tune, how a ufurer's wife was brought to-bed with twenty money-bags at a burthen; and how the long'd to eat adders' heads, and toads carbonado'd. Mop. Is it true, think you? Aut. Very true, and but a month old. Dor. Blefs me from marrying a usurer ! Aut. Here's the midwife's name to 't, one Mistress Tale-porter, and five or fix honeft wives that were prefent. Why should I carry lyes abroad? Mop. Pray you now, buy it. Clo. Come on, lay it by; and let's first see more ballads; we'll buy the other things anon.. Aut. Here's another ballad, of a fish that appear'd upon the coaft, on Wednesday the fourfcore of April, forty thousand fadom above water, and fung this ballad against the hard hearts of maids. It was thought fhe was a woman, and was turn'd into a cold fish, for she would not exchange flesh with one that lov'd her. The ballad is very pitiful, and as true. Dor. Is it true too, think you? Aut. Five juftices hands at it, and witneffes more than my pack will hold. Clo. Lay it by too: another. Aut. This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one.. Aut. Why, this is a paffing merry one, and goes to the tune of Two maids wooing a man; there's scarce a maid weftward, but the fings it: 'tis in requeft, I can. tell you. Mop. We can both fing it; if thou 'lt bear a part, thou shalt hear, 'tis in three parts. Dor. We had the tune on't a month ago. Aut. I can bear my part; you must know, 'tis my Occupation have at it with you, Aut. Get you hence, for I must go, Dor. Whither? Mop. O whither? Dor. Whither? Mop. It becomes thy oath full well, Dor. Me too, let me go thither. Mop. Or thou goeft to the grange, or mill. Aut. Neither. Dor. What? neither? Aut. Neither. Dor. Thou haft fworn my love to be. Then whither goeft? fay, whither? Clo. We'll have this fong out anon by ourselves. My father and the gentlemen are in fad talk, and we 'll not trouble them. Come, bring away thy pack after me. Wenches, I'll buy for you both. Pedler, let's have the first choice follow me, girls. Aut, And you fhall pay well for 'em. SON G. Will you buy any tape, or lace for your cap, And filk, and thread, any toys for your head [Exit Clown, Autolicus, Dorcas, and Mopfa. SCENE VII. Enter a Servant. Ser, Mafter, there are three carters, three fhepherds, three neat-herds, and three fwine-herds, that have made themselves all men of hair*; they call themfelves faltiers; and they have a dance, which the wenches fay, is a gallymaufry of gambols, because they are not in 't : but they themselves are o' th' mind, (if it be not too rough for fome, that know little but bowling), it will please plentifully. Shep. Away! we'll none on 't; here has been too much homely foolery already. I know, Sir, we weary you. Pol. You weary those that refresh us: pray, let's fee thefe four threes of herdfmen. Ser. One three of them, by their own report, Sir, hath danc'd before the King; and not the worft of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by th' fquare. Shep. Leave your prating; fince thefe good men are pleas'd, let them come in; but quickly now. Here a dance of twelve fatyrs. Pol. O, father, you'll know more of that hereafter. Is it not too far gone? 'tis time to part them; He's fimple, and tells much.- -How now, fair fhepherd? Your heart is full of fomething, that doth take Your mind from feafting. Sooth, when I was young, To load my fhe with knacks. I would have ranfack'd Flo. Old Sir, I know, She prizes not fuch trifles as thefe are. The gifts the looks from me, are pack'd and lock'd * i. e. nimble, that leap as if they rebounded. The phrase is taken from tennis-balls, which were ftuffed with hair. As foft as dove's down, and as white as it, How prettily the young fwain feems to wash Fla. Do, and be witnefs to 't. Pol. And this my neighbour too? Flo. And he, and more Than he, and men; the earth, and heav'ns, and all; Pol. Fairly offer'd. Cam. This fhews a found affection. Shep. But, my daughter, Say you the like to him? Per. I cannot speak So well, nothing fo well, no, nor mean better. By th' pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out Shep. Take hands, a bargain; And, friends unknown, you shall bear witness to 't. I give my daughter to him, and will make Her portion equal his. Flo. O, that must be I' th' virtue of your daughter; one being dead, Shep. Come, your hand; And, daughter, your's. Pol. Soft, fwain, a-while; 'befeech you, Have you a father? Flo. I have; but what of him? Pel. Knows he of this? Pol. He neither does, nor fhall. Pol. Methinks a father Is, at the nuptial of his fon, a guest That best becomes the table: 'pray you once more, Of reasonable affairs? is he not stupid With age, and alt'ring rheums? can he fpeak? hear? Flo. No, good Sir; He has his health, and ampler ftrength, indeed, Pol. By my white beard, You offer him, if this be fo, a wrong Should chufe himself a wife; but as good reason, But fair pofterity) should hold fome counsel Flo. I yield all this; But for fome other reafons, my grave Sir, Which 'tis not fit you know, I not acquaint My father of this business. Pol. Let him know 't. Flo. He fhall not. Pol. Pr'ythee, let him. Flo. No; he must not. Shep. Let him, my fon, he fhall not need to grieve At knowing of thy choice. Flo. Come, come, he must not. Mark our contract. Pol. Mark your divorce, young Sir, [Difcovering himfelf. Whom fon I dare not call; thou art too bafe Shep. O my heart! |