HOW nowe fellowe Franticke,[1018] what, all a mort?[1019] Doth this
sadnes become thy madnes? What though wee have lost our way in the
woodes, yet never hang the head, as though thou hadst no hope to
live till to morrow: for Fantasticke and I will warrant thy life to
night for twenty in the hundred. 5
_Frolicke._ Anticke and Fantasticke, as I am frollicke franion,[1020]
never in all my life was I so dead slaine. What? to loose our way in
the woode, without either fire or candle so uncomfortable? _O caelum!
O terra! O maria! O Neptune!_[1021] 10
_Fantas._ Why makes thou it so strange, seeing Cupid hath led our yong
master to the faire Lady and she is the only saint that he hath sworne
to serve?
_Frollicke._ What resteth then but wee commit him to his wench, and
each of us take his stand up in a tree, and sing out our ill 15
fortune to the tune of _O man in desperation_.[1022]
_Ant._ Desperately spoken, fellow Frollicke in the darke: but seeing
it falles out thus, let us rehearse the old proverb.[1023]
_Three merrie men, and three merrie men,
And three merrie men be wee. 20
I in the wood, and thou on the ground.
And Jacke sleepes in the tree._
_Fan._ Hush! a dogge in the wood, or a wooden dogge.[1024] O
comfortable hearing! I had even as live the chamberlaine of the
White Horse had called me up to bed. 25
_Frol._ Eyther hath this trotting cur gone out of his cyrcuit, or els
are we nere some village, which should not be farre off, for I
_Enter a_ SMITH _with a lanthorne & candle_.
perceive the glymring of a gloworme, a candle, or a cats eye, my life
for a halfe pennie. In the name of my own father, be thou oxe or asse
that appearest, tell us what thou art. 30
_Smith._ What am I? Why I am Clunch the Smith; what are you, what make
you in my territories at this time of the night?
_Ant._ What doe we make, dost thou aske? Why we make faces for feare:
such as if thy mortall eyes could behold, would make thee water the
long seames of thy side slops,[1025] Smith. 35
_Frol._ And in faith, sir, unlesse your hospitalitie doe releeve us,
wee are like to wander with a sorrowfull hey ho, among the owlets,
& hobgoblins of the forrest: good Vulcan, for Cupids sake that hath
cousned us all, befriend us as thou maiest, and commaund us howsoever,
wheresoever, whensoever, in whatsoever, for ever and ever.[1026] 40
_Smith._ Well, masters, it seemes to mee you have lost your waie in
the wood: in consideration whereof, if you will goe with Clunch[1027]
to his cottage, you shall have house roome, and a good fire to sit by,
althogh we have no bedding to put you in.
_All._ O blessed Smith, O bountifull Clunch. 45
_Smith._ For your further intertainment, it shall be as it may be, so
and so.
_Heare a dogge barke._
Hearke![1028] this is Ball my dogge that bids you all welcome in his
own language; come, take heed for[1029] stumbling on the threshold.
Open dore, Madge, take in guests. _Enter old woman._ 50
_Cl._ Welcome Clunch & good fellowes al that come with my good man;
for my good mans sake come on, sit downe; here is a peece of cheese &
a pudding of my owne making.
_Anticke._ Thanks, Gammer; a good example for the wives of our
towne. 55
_Frolicke._ Gammer, thou and thy good man sit lovingly together;
we come to chat and not to eate.
_Smith._ Well, masters, if you will eate nothing, take away. Come,
what doo we to passe away the time? Lay a crab[1030] in the fire to
rost for lambes-wooll. What, shall wee have a game at trumpe or 60
ruffe[1031] to drive away the time, how say you?
_Fantasticke._ This Smith leads a life as merrie as a king[1032] with
Madge his wife. Syrrha Frolicke, I am sure thou art not without
some round or other; no doubt but Clunch can beare his part.
_Frolicke._ Els thinke you mee ill brought up;[1033] so set to it 65
when you will. _They sing._