Roister Doister Part 12

+M. Mery.+ Nowe say thys againe: he hath somewhat to dooing Which followeth the trace of one that is wowing, Specially that hath no more wit in his hedde, Than my cousin Roister Doister withall is ledde.

I am sent in all haste to espie and to marke How our letters and tokens are likely to warke.

Maister Roister Doister must haue aunswere in haste For he loueth not to spende much labour in waste.

Nowe as for Christian Custance by this light, Though she had not hir trouth to Gawin Goodluck plight, Yet rather than with such a loutishe dolte to marie, I dare say woulde lyue a poore lyfe solitarie, But fayne would I speake with Custance if I wist how To laugh at the matter, yond commeth one forth now.

Actus. iij. Scaena. ij.

+Tibet. M. Merygreeke. Christian Custance.+

+Tib. Talk.+ Ah that I might but once in my life haue a sight Of him that made vs all so yll shent by this light, He should neuer escape if I had him by the eare, But euen from his head, I would it bite or teare.

Yea and if one of them were not inowe, I would bite them both off, I make G.o.d auow.

+M. Mery.+ What is he, whome this little mouse doth so threaten?

+Tib. Talk.+ I woulde teache him I trow, to make girles shent or beaten.

+M. Mery.+ I will call hir: Maide with whome are ye so hastie?

+Tib. Talk.+ Not with you sir, but with a little wag-pastie, A deceiuer of folkes, by subtill craft and guile.

+M. Mery.+ I knowe where she is: Dobinet hath wrought some wile.

+Tib. Talk.+ He brought a ring and token which he sayd was sent From our dames husbande, but I wot well I was shent: For it liked hir as well to tell you no lies, As water in hir shyppe, or salt cast in hir eies: And yet whence it came neyther we nor she can tell.

+M. Mery.+ We shall haue sport anone: I like this very well.

And dwell ye here with mistresse Custance faire maide?

+Tib. Talk.+ Yea mary doe I sir: what would ye haue sayd?

+M. Mery.+ A little message vnto hir by worde of mouth.

+Tib. Talk.+ No messages by your leaue, nor tokens forsoth.

+M. Mery.+ Then help me to speke with hir.

+Tibet.+ With a good wil that.

Here she commeth forth. Now speake ye know best what.

+C. Custance.+ None other life with you maide, but abrode to skip?

+Tib. Talk.+ Forsoth here is one would speake with your mistresship.

+C. Custance.+ Ah, haue ye ben learning of mo messages now?

+Tib. Talk.+ I would not heare his minde, but bad him shewe it to you.

+C. Custance.+ In at dores.

+Tib. Talk.+ I am gon. _Ex._

+M. Mery.+ Dame Custance G.o.d ye saue.

+C. Custance.+ Welcome friend Merygreeke: and what thing wold ye haue?

+M. Mery.+ I am come to you a little matter to breake.

+C. Custance.+ But see it be honest, else better not to speake.

+M. Mery.+ Howe feele ye your selfe affected here of late?

+C. Custance.+ I feele no maner chaunge but after the olde rate.

But wherby do ye meane?

+M. Mery.+ Concerning mariage.

Doth not loue lade you?

+C. Custance.+ I feele no such cariage.

+M. Mery.+ Doe ye feele no pangues of dotage?

aunswere me right.

+C. Custance.+ I dote so, that I make but one sleepe all the night But what neede all these wordes?

+M. Mery.+ Oh Iesus, will ye see What dissemblyng creatures these same women be?

The gentleman ye wote of, whome ye doe so loue, That ye woulde fayne marrie him, yf ye durst it moue, Emong other riche widowes, which are of him glad, Lest ye for lesing of him perchaunce might runne mad, Is nowe contented that vpon your sute making, Ye be as one in election of taking.

+C. Custance.+ What a tale is this? that I wote of?

whome I loue?

+M. Mery.+ Yea and he is as louing a worme againe as a doue.

Een of very pitie he is w.i.l.l.yng you to take, Bicause ye shall not destroy your selfe for his sake.

+C. Custance.+ Mary G.o.d yelde his mashyp what euer he be, It is gentmanly spoken.

+M. Mery.+ Is it not trowe ye?

If ye haue the grace now to offer your self, ye speede.

+C. Custance.+ As muche as though I did, this time it shall not neede, But what gentman is it, I pray you tell me plaine, That woweth so finely?

+M. Mery.+ Lo where ye be againe, As though ye knewe him not.

+C. Custance.+ Tush ye speake in iest.

+M. Mery.+ Nay sure, the partie is in good knacking earnest, And haue you he will (he sayth) and haue you he must.

+C. Custance.+ I am promised duryng my life, that is iust.

+M. Mery.+ Mary so thinketh he, vnto him alone.