_Tib. Talk._ Ah that I might but once in my life have a sight
Of him that made us all so yll shent by this light,
He should never escape if I had him by the eare,
But even from his head, I would it bite or teare.
Yea and if one of them were not inowe, 5
I would bite them both off, I make God avow.
_M. Mery._ What is he, whome this little mouse doth so threaten?
_Tib. Talk._ I woulde teache him I trow, to make girles shent or
beaten.
_M. Mery._ I will call hir: Maide with whome are ye so hastie?
_Tib. Talk._ Not with you sir, but with a little wag-pastie, 10
A deceiver of folkes, by subtill craft and guile.
_M. Mery._ I knowe where she is: Dobinet hath wrought some wile.
_Tib. Talk._ He brought a ring and token which he sayd was sent
From our dames husbande, but I wot well I was shent:
For it liked hir as well to tell you no lies, 15
As water in hir shyppe, or salt cast in hir eies:
And yet whence it came neyther we nor she can tell.
_M. Mery._ We shall have sport anone: I like this very well.
And dwell ye here with mistresse Custance faire maide?
_Tib. Talk._ Yea mary doe I sir: what would ye have sayd? 20
_M. Mery._ A little message unto hir by worde of mouth.
_Tib. Talk._ No messages by your leave, nor tokens forsoth.
_M. Mery._ Then help me to speke with hir.
_Tibet._ With a good wil that.
Here she commeth forth. Now speake ye know best what.
[CUSTANCE _enters_.]
_C. Custance._ None other life with you maide, but abrode to skip? 25
_Tib. Talk._ Forsoth here is one would speake with your
mistresship.[471]
_C. Custance._ Ah, have ye ben learning of mo messages now?
_Tib. Talk._ I would not heare his minde, but bad him shewe it to you.
_C. Custance._ In at dores.
_Tib. Talk._ I am gon. _Ex._
_M. Mery._ Dame Custance god ye save.
_C. Custance._ Welcome friend Merygreeke: and what thing wold
ye have? D iii[472] 30
_M. Mery._ I am come to you a little matter to breake.
_C. Custance._ But see it be honest, else better not to speake.
_M. Mery._ Howe feele ye your selfe affected here of late?
_C. Custance._ I feele no maner chaunge but after the olde rate.
But whereby do ye meane? 35
_M. Mery._ Concerning mariage.
Doth not love lade you?
_C. Custance._ I feele no such cariage.[473]
_M. Mery._ Doe ye feele no pangues of dotage? aunswere me right.
_C. Custance._ I dote so, that I make but one sleepe all the night
But what neede all these wordes?
_M. Mery._ Oh Jesus, will ye see
What dissemblyng creatures these same women be? 40
The gentleman ye wote of, whome ye doe so love,
That ye woulde fayne marrie him, yf ye durst it move,
Emong other riche widowes, which are of him glad,
Lest ye for lesing of him perchaunce might runne mad,
Is nowe contented that upon your sute making, 45
Ye be as one in election of taking.
_C. Custance._ What a tale is this? that I wote of? whome I love?
_M. Mery._ Yea and he is as loving a worme againe as a dove.
Een of very pitie he is willyng you to take,
Bicause ye shall not destroy your selfe for his sake. 50
_C. Custance._ Mary God yelde his mashyp what ever he be,
It is gentmanly spoken.
_M. Mery._ Is it not trowe ye?
If ye have the grace now to offer your self, ye speede.
_C. Custance._ As muche as though I did, this time it shall not neede,
But what gentman is it, I pray you tell me plaine, 55
That woweth so finely?
_M. Mery._ Lo where ye be againe,
As though ye knewe him not.
_C. Custance._ Tush ye speake in jest.
_M. Mery._ Nay sure, the partie is in good knacking[474] earnest,
And have you he will (he sayth) and have you he must.
_C. Custance._ I am promised duryng my life, that is just. 60
_M. Mery._ Mary so thinketh he, unto him alone.
_C. Custance._ No creature hath my faith and trouth but one,
That is Gawin Goodlucke: and if it be not hee,
He hath no title this way what ever he be, D iii _b_
Nor I know none to whome I have such worde spoken. 65
_M. Mery._ Ye knowe him not[,] you[,] by his letter and token[!]
_C. Custance._ In dede true it is, that a letter I have,
But I never reade it yet as God me save.
_M. Mery._ Ye a woman? and your letter so long unredde.
_C. Custance._ Ye may therby know what hast I have to wedde. 70
But now who it is, for my hande I knowe by gesse.
_M. Mery._ Ah well I say.
_C. Custance._ It is Roister Doister doubtlesse.
_M. Mery._ Will ye never leave this dissimulation?
Ye know hym not.
_C. Custance._ But by imagination,
For no man there is but a very dolt and loute 75
That to wowe a Widowe woulde so go about.
He shall never have me hys wife while he doe live.
_M. Mery._ Then will he have you if he may, so mote I thrive,
And he biddeth you sende him worde by me,
That ye humbly beseech him, ye may his wife be, 80
And that there shall be no let in you nor mistrust,
But to be wedded on Sunday next if he lust,
And biddeth you to looke for him.
_C. Custance._ Doth he byd so?
_M. Mery._ When he commeth, aske hym whether he did or no?
_C. Custance._ Goe say, that I bid him keepe him warme at home 85
For if he come abroade, he shall cough me a mome.[475]
My mynde was vexed, I shrew his head sottish dolt.
_M. Mery._ He hath in his head[----][476]
_C. Custance._ As much braine as a burbolt.[477]
_M. Mery._ Well dame Custance, if he heare you thus play choploge.[478]
_C. Custance._ What will he? 90
_M. Mery._ Play the devill in the horologe.[479]
_C. Custance._ I defye him loute.
_M. Mery._ Shall I tell hym what ye say?
_C. Custance._ Yea and adde what so ever thou canst, I thee pray,
And I will avouche it what so ever it bee.
_M. Mery._ Then let me alone we will laugh well ye shall see,
It will not be long ere he will hither resorte. 95
_C. Custance._ Let hym come when hym lust, I wishe no better
sport.
Fare ye well, I will in, and read my great letter.
I shall to my wower make answere the better. _Exeat._ D iv
Actus. iii. Scæna. iii.