_Trupeny._ I am cleane lost for lacke of mery companie,
We gree not halfe well within, our wenches and I,
They will commaunde like mistresses, they will forbyd,
If they be not served, Trupeny must be chyd.
Let them be as mery nowe as ye can desire, 5
With turnyng of a hande, our mirth lieth in the mire,
I can not skill of such chaungeable mettle,
There is nothing with them but in docke out nettle.[457]
_D. Dough._ Whether is it better that I speake to him furst,
Or he first to me, it is good to cast the wurst. 10
If I beginne first, he will smell all my purpose,
Otherwise I shall not neede any thing to disclose.
_Trupeny._ What boy have we yonder? I will see what he is.
_D. Dough._ He commeth to me. It is hereabout ywis.
_Trupeny._ Wouldest thou ought friende, that thou lookest so about?
_D. Dough._ Yea, but whether ye can helpe me or no, I dout. 16
I seeke to one mistresse Custance house here dwellyng.
_Trupenie._ It is my mistresse ye seeke too by your telling.
_D. Dough._ Is there any of that name heere but shee?
_Trupenie._ Not one in all the whole towne that I knowe
pardee. C iv _b_ 20
_D. Dough._ A Widowe she is I trow.
_Trupenie._ And what and she be?
_D. Dough._ But ensured to an husbande.
_Trupenie._ Yea, so thinke we.
_D. Dough._ And I dwell with hir husbande that trusteth to be.
_Trupenie._ In faith then must thou needes be welcome to me,
Let us for acquaintance shake handes togither, 25
And what ere thou be, heartily welcome hither.
_Tib. Talk._ Well Trupenie never but flinging.[458]
[entering with AN.]
_An. Alyface._ And frisking?
_Trupenie._ Well Tibet and Annot, still swingyng and whiskyng?
_Tib. Talk._ But ye roile abroade.
_An. Alyface._ In the streete evere where.
_Trupenie._ Where are ye twaine, in chambers when ye mete me there? 30
But come hither fooles, I have one nowe by the hande,
Servant to hym that must be our mistresse husbande,
Byd him welcome.
_An. Alyface._ To me truly is he welcome.
_Tib. Talk._ Forsooth and as I may say, heartily welcome.
_D. Dough._ I thank you mistresse maides. 35
_An. Alyface._ I hope we shal better know.
_Tib. Talk._ And when wil our new master come.
_D. Dough._ Shortly I trow.
_Tib. Talk._ I would it were to morow: for till he resorte
Our mistresse being a Widow hath small comforte,
And I hearde our nourse speake of an husbande to day
Ready for our mistresse, a riche man and a gay, 40
And we shall go in our frenche hoodes[459] every day,
In our silke cassocks (I warrant you) freshe and gay,
In our tricke[460] ferdegews and billiments of golde,[461]
Brave[462] in our sutes of chaunge seven double folde,
Then shall ye see Tibet sirs, treade the mosse so trimme, 45
Nay, why sayd I treade? ye shall see hir glide and swimme,
Not lumperdee clumperdee like our spaniell Rig.
_Trupeny._ Mary then prickmedaintie[463] come toste me a fig.[464]
Who shall then know our Tib Talke apace trow ye?
_An. Alyface._ And why not Annot Alyface as fyne as she? 50
_Trupeny._ And what had Tom Trupeny, a father or none?
_An. Alyface._ Then our prety newe come man will looke to be one.
_Trupeny._ We foure I trust shall be a joily mery knot.
Shall we sing a fitte to welcome our friende, Annot? D i
_An. Alyface._ Perchaunce he can not sing. 55
_D. Dough._ I am at all assayes.[465]
_Tib. Talk._ By cocke and the better welcome to us alwayes.
_Here they sing._
A thing very fitte
For them that have witte,
And are felowes knitte
Servants in one house to bee, 60
Is fast fast for to sitte,
And not oft to flitte,
Nor varie a whitte,
But lovingly to agree.
No man complainyng, 65
Nor other disdayning,
For losse or for gainyng,
But felowes or friends to bee.
No grudge remainyng,
No worke refrainyng, 70
Nor helpe restrainyng,
But lovingly to agree.
No man for despite,
By worde or by write
His felowe to twite, 75
But further in honestie,
No good turnes entwite,[466]
Nor olde sores recite,
But let all goe quite,
And lovingly to agree. 80
After drudgerie,
When they be werie,
Then to be merie,
To laugh and sing they be free
With chip and cherie 85
Heigh derie derie,
Trill on the berie,[467]
And lovingly to agree.
_Finis._
_Tib. Talk._ Wyll you now in with us unto our mistresse go?
_D. Dough._ I have first for my maister an errand or two. 90
But I have here from him a token and a ring,
They shall have moste thanke of hir that first doth it bring.
_Tib. Talk._ Mary that will I.
_Trupeny._ See and Tibet snatch not now.
_Tib. Talk._ And why may not I sir, get thanks as well as you?
_Exeat._
_An. Alyface._ Yet get ye not all, we will go with you both. 95
And have part of your thanks be ye never so loth.
[_Exeant omnes._]
_D. Dough._ So my handes are ridde of it: I care for no more.
I may now return home: so durst I not afore. _Exeat._