University of Virginia Library

Ha, ha, he,
I haue discovered more then e're Columbus,
Or our owne water-fowle, Drake: my pretty stripling,
Which I did take away from Stipes even now,
Is prov'd a woman, prov'd an errant Lady,
That is in quest after her errant Knight,
Who is enchanted. 'Tis the Neece (forsooth)
Of our good vertuous Iustice, Mr Hooke,
Who has put on this habit for to follow
Her lover Cleopes, who has forsooke her.
All this did shee confesse to mee in private,
'Soone as she saw, I had descry'd her sex
And name; but I haue stayd her pilgrimage,
Shee's fast enough, I warrant her, i'th noose
Of wedlocke now, to stirre in haste. No sooner
Did I reade woman in her lookes, but straight
I did command my mayds for to unpage her,
And cooke her in her kind, in her owne sawce;
Shee's pickeld now in some three yards of lawne:
Here shee has it, and there shee has it, fie, fie.
Was I a young man now againe, and should
Venture on such a dish to carue, by'r Lady,
I should not know which side for to begin on:
Hardly distinguish breast from backe. Well, well,—
Beshrew my heart the queanes, where e're they had them,
Haue hung good rags about her; sure they borrow'd them.
This being done, I went unto Neander,
Told him, that I had got a Boy, and drest him
Fit for his palate: he rejoyc'd, made haste
Vnto the contract, and (as kind Fortune would)
That very time a good old merry Vicar
Of my acquaintance came to visite me.
I crav'd his ayd, and (in one word) I brought her
Vayl'd, but first softned by a thousand threatnings,
If shee but mov'd towards a discovery.
The good kinde Gentleman thinking her boy,
And therefore in his power when er'e he please
For to untie the knot, is before witnesse,
Contracted to her by the Vicar.—Oh for Lucius now.