University of Virginia Library

scena 3

Intrat Cacurgus.
Ca.
Alta voce, Eay laud laud laud (decies) how shall I doe (toties)
Eay well a d[ay] (sexies) Ime vndone (toties) gravie voce (o o o)
tanquā castrator porcorū vociferarū emūge nasū et singulties clama
aliquando.
Ist be tournd out a srvice now ery bodye saies
& why? maye bycause I haue bin an old srvaunt ith house trusty & trewe
when I do all that I can foam they make me a foole i* my old days
theile ha the old foole no more now they say theile haue a newe
What were I best to do now Srs wc h on yow can tell
is there any good body amonge ye will take me in for god sake
& there be ere a gentleman here woud haue a foole wt h him dwell
lett him speake an a my worde a shall a verye foole take
And I might be but winterd this yeare I woud near care
A god helpe te William now thart put to thy nede
will no body take pity one a stray foole, here longe inoughe I ma[y] stare
& ther were yet a crier to helpe me at a proclimation to rede

254

Is ther near a cryer amonge yow good laud what luks tis.
an yow knewe my properties some body woud ha me Ime sure
Ile crye as well my selfe as I can & I pray yow pardon me a[n I]***
I dare swere it woud wīne your hart & ye hard me but l[u]**
O o o o yes.
***[h]eir be any gentleman
***[n]y gentlewoman
****[ow]ne or oth cuntrie
******** [f]or Saint charitie
******* [str]aye fool[e]
******** [here on this s]to[ole]
Tha[t c]*********
& yt can [pele]****
That can chair[e****
& yt can peke pies
That can rocke ye cradle
& yt can bare a bable
That can gether stickes
& that can chopp lekes
That can tourne spitt
& yt can bith fier sitt
That can ringe a bell
& that can tales tell
That can whope at noone
& daunce when dinners done
That can washe dishes
& yt can make ringes a rushes
That can houlde a candell
& that can babies dandell

255

That can thresse maulte
& that can chope saulte
That can hold his finger
in a hole and therby linger
That can lay downe maidens bedds
& that can hold ther sickly heds
That can play at put pin
blowe poynte & near lin
That can knowe my right hande
& tell twenty & near stande
That can find a titmuns nest
& keape a Robin redbreste
That can eat & drinke & play
singe songes both night & day
That can go toth winde mill
& that can doe what sere ye will
And now for all this my taske
small wages I will aske
A cape onelye once bith yeare
& some prety cullerd geare
And drinke when sere I will
& eat my belly full
For more I will not seke
he that will haue me lett him speake.
What say ye Maisters, speake will no body take me vp for poore p[itty]
no body care forth poore now. poores alwayes thrust toth wall
fooles now may go a begging ery boddyes become so witty
now a gods name ye woud laughe I thinke & ye shoud see me fall

256

Alas good William how doe thy elbowes what more anger yett
faith what remedye, I knowe none I but ene patience
Ey but for all that yu wert wont after a fall to haue a good hi[tt]
this is ene that last tyme of askinge. speake & yeile ha me or h[e] ***
Well yeile not ha me ye say. bare witnes then Ime****
let me see now william wc h way standes the wi[n]*
Is ter near a wisard amonge yow can tell Ile****
Masse this geare will not cote n I must another wa[y] ****
Stande I praye the I woud but ene see wc h w******
[They] say it[s good] lucke to seke ons fortune *******
******* [I thinke I] must pl[ay y]e [foole] sti[ll] *****
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] we yong[e Maister
*** [will not] ************ away some [pelfe]
*** [when I ha done if a]ny body[e] *****nd their wenches to [me I t]each a sew[ing]
*** [this tyme &] ene haue any more for me yeist sait y[ea]r selfe
exit [Cacurgus]