University of Virginia Library

sena. 1.

VVitte and VVill.
VVitte.
VVhat Will I say Wilboye come againe folishe elfe

VVill.
I crye you mercy sir you are a tall man your selfe.

VVitte.
Such a cokbraine as thou art I neuer saw ye like to it

VVill.
Truth in respect of you that are nothing els but Wit

VVitte.
Cāst thou tel me thy errād because thou art gone so sone,

VVill.
Can I remember a longe tale of a man in the moone,
With such a circumstaunce and such flym flam
I wyll tell at a worde whose seruante I am
Wherfore I come and what I haue to saye,
And cal for her aunswere, before I come awaye
What should I make a brode tree, of euery litell shrubbe,
And kepe her agreat whyle with a tale of a tubbe.

VVitte.
Yet thou must commend me to be rich, lusty pleasaunt and wyse.

VVill.
I can not commend you, but I must make twentie lies
Rich quoth you, that appeareth by the port that you kepe,
Euen as rich as a newe shorne sheepe
Of pleasaunt conceiptes, ten busshells to the pecke,
Lusty like a herringe, with a bell about his necke,
Wyse as a woodcocke: as brage as a bodylouse,
A man of your handes, to matche wyth a mouse:
How say you, are not these proper qualities to prayse you with.

VVitte.
Leaue these mad toyes of thyne and come to the pythe
One part of the errande should haue bene,
To giue her this picture of mine to be seene,
And to request her the same to accepte
Safely vntill my comminge to be kepte,
Which I suspende till thy returne and then
If it like her Ladyshipppe to appoint me where and when
I will waite vpon her gladly out of hande.

VVill.
Sir let me alone your mynde I vnderstand,
I will handle the matter so that you shall owe me thankes,
But what if she finde fault with these spindle shankes
Or els with these blacke spottes on your nose.

VVitte.
In fayth sir boye this talke deserueth blowes.

VVill.
You will not misvse your best seruant I suppose
For by his nayles, and by his fingers toe.
I will marre your mariage if you do clitter.

VVitte.
I praye the goe thy wayes and leaue this clatter.

VVill.
First shal I be so bold to breake to you a matter.

VVitte.
Tushe thou art disposed to spende wordes in wast,
And yet thou knowest this busines asketh hast

VVill.
But euen two wordes, and then I am gon.

VVitte.
If it be worth the hearing, say on.

VVill.
I would not haue you thinke that I for my part
From my promise or frō your seruice wil depart,
But yet now and then it goeth to my hart,
When I thinke how this mariage maye be to my smart

VVitte.
Why so?

VVill.
I would tell you the cause if I durst for shame.

VVitte.
Speke hardely what thou wilt without any blame.

VVill.
I am not disposed as yet to be tame,
And therfore I am loth to be vnder a Dame,
Now you are a Bachiler a man may sone win you
Me thinks there is some good felowshippe in you,
We may laugh and be meery at bord and at bedde,
You are not so testy as those that be wedde,
Myld in behauior and loth to fall out,
You may runne, you may ryde & roue roūd about,
With wealth at your will and all thinge at ease,
Free franke and lusty, esye to please,
But when you be clogged and tyed by the toe,
So faste that you shal not haue power to let goe,
You will tell me another lesson sone after
And cry peccaui too except your lucke be the better:
Then farewel goodfellowshyp then come at a call
Then waite at an inche you idle knaues all,
Then sparyng and pynchinge and nothing of gift,
No talke with our maister, but al for his thrift,
Solemne and sower and angry as a waspe,
Althinges must be kept vnder locke and haspe,
At that which will make me to fare ful ill.
All your care shalbe to hamper poore wyll.

VVitte.
I warrant the for that take thou no thought,
Thou shalt be made of, whosoeuer be set at nought
As dere to me, as myne owne dere brother,
Whosoeuer be one, thou shalt be an other.

VVill
Yea but your wyfe wyl play the shrew, perdy it is she that I feare

VVitte.
Thy message wyll cause her some fauor to beare,
For my sake and thy sake and for her owne likewyse
If thou vse thy selfe discretly in this enterpryse.

VVill.
She hath a father, a testy sower old man,
I doubt lest he and I, shall fall out nowe and than,

VVitte.
Gyue hym fayre words, forbeare him for his age,
Thou must consider hym to be auncient and sage,
Shew thy selfe officious and seruisable stil,
And then shall Reason make very muche of Will.

VVill.
If your wyfe be euer complayning, how then?

VVitte.
My wyfe wyll haue nothing to doe wyth my men.

VVill.
If she doe, beleue her not in any wyse.
And when you once perceyue her stomacke to aryse,
Then cut her short at the first and you shall see
A meruaylouse vertue in that medisen to bee,
Giue her not the bridle for a yeare or twayne
And you shal see her bridle it without a reine,
Breake her betymes and bring her vnder by force
Or elles the graye Mare, wil be the better horse.

VVitte.
If thou haue done begone, and spende no time in vayne.

VVill.
Where shal I fynde you, when I come againe.

VVitte.
At home.

VVill.
Good enough take your ease let me alone with this
Surely a treasure of all treasures it is,
To serue such a mayster, as I hope him to bee,
And to haue such a seruant as he hath of mee,
For I am quicke, nimbell, proper and nise,
He is ful good, gentle, sober and wyse,
He is full loth to chide or to checke,
And I am as willinge to serue at a becke,
He orders me well and speakes me so fayre
That for his sake no trauayle I must spare,
But now am I come to the gate of this Ladye,
I wyll pause awhyle to frame myne errante fynelye
And loe wher she commeth yet will I not come nye her,
But amonge these fellowes wyl I stande to eye her.