University of Virginia Library

Scæna. vj.

Merygreeke. Christian Custance. Trist. Trusty.
M. Mery.
Custance and Trustie both, I doe you here well finde.

C. Custāce.
Ah Mathew Merygreeke, ye haue vsed me well.

M. Mery.
Nowe for altogether ye must your answere tell.
Will ye haue this man, woman? or else will ye not?
Else will he come neuer bore so brymme nor tost so hot.

Tris. & Cu.
But why ioyn ye with him.

T. Tr.
For mirth?

C. C.
or else in sadnesse

M. Mery.
The more fond of you both hardly ye mater gesse.

Tristram.
Lo how say ye dame?

M. M.
Why do ye thinke dame Custāce
That in this wowyng I haue ment ought but pastance?

M. Mery.
Much things ye spake I wote, to maintaine his dotage.

C. Custāce.
But well might ye iudge I spake it all in mockage,
For why? Is Roister Doister a fitte husbande for you?

T. Trusty.
I dare say ye neuer thought it.

M. M.
No to God I vow.
And dyd not I knowe afore of the insurance
Betweene Gawyn Goodlucke, and Christian Custance?
And dyd not I for the nonce, by my conueyance,
Reade his letter in a wrong sense for daliance?
That if you coulde haue take it vp at the first bounde,
We should therat such a sporte and pastime haue founde,
That all the whole towne should haue ben the merier.

C. Custāce.
Ill ake your heades bothe, I was neuer werier,
Nor neuer more vexte since the first day I was borne.

T. Trusty.
But very well I wist he here did all in scorne.

C. Custāce.
But I feared therof to take dishonestie.

M. Mery.
This should both haue made sport, and shewed your honestie
And Goodlucke I dare sweare, your witte therin would low.

T. Trusty.
Yea, being no worse than we know it to be now.

M. Mery.
And nothing yet to late, for when I come to him,
Hither will he repaire with a sheepes looke full grim,
By plaine force and violence to driue you to yelde.

C. Custāce.
If ye two bidde me, we will with him pitche a fielde,
I and my maides together.

M. M.
Let vs see, be bolde.

C. Custāce.
Ye shal see womēs warre.

T. Trusty.
That fight wil I behold

M. Mery.
If occasion serue, takyng his parte full brim,
I will strike at you, but the rappe shall light on him.
When we first appeare.

C. Cust.
Then will I runne away
As though I were afeard.

T. Trusty.
Do you that part wel play
And I will sue for peace.

M. Mery.
And I will set him on.
Then will he looke as fierce as a Cotssold lyon.

T. Trusty.
But when gost thou for him?

M. M.
That do I very nowe.

C. Custāce
Ye shal find vs here.

M. M.
Wel god haue mercy on you.

Ex.
T. Trusty.
There is no cause of feare, the least boy in the streete:

C. Custāce.
Nay, the least girle I haue, will make him take his feete.
But hearke, me thinke they make preparation.

T. Trustie.
No force, it will be a good recreation.

C. Custāce.
I will stande within, and steppe forth speedily,
And so make as though I ranne away dreadfully.