O’ the passion of me! marry, as ye say, yonder is a royal court; There is triumphing, and sport upon sport: Such loyal lords with such lordly exercise, Frequenting such pastime as they can devise; Running at tilt, justing, with running at the ring, Masquing and mumming, with each kind of thing, Such dancing, such singing, with musical harmony: Believe me, I was loth to absent their company. But will you believe? Jesu! what haste they made, till they were married? Not for a million of pounds one day longer they would have tarried. O, there was a banquet royal and superexcellent; Thousands and thousands at that banquet was spent. I muse of nothing but how they can be married so soon; I care not, if I be married before to-morrow at noon, If marriage be a thing that so may be had: How say you, maid? to marry me will ye be glad? Out of doubt, I believe, it is some excellent treasure, Else to the same belongs abundant pleasure. Yet with mine ears I have heard some say,-- _That ever I was married, now cursed be the day!_ Those be they, that with curs’d wives be matched, That husband for hawks’ meat of them is up snatched, Head broke with a bedstaff, face be all-to scratched: Knave, slave and villain! a coil’d coat now and then; When the wife hath given in, she will say, alas, good-man! Such were better unmarried, my masters, I trow, Than all their life after to be matched with a shrow. _Enter_ PREPARATION. PREPARATION. With speed I am sent all things to prepare, My message to do as the king did declare. His grace doth mean a banquet to make, Meaning in this place repast for to take. Well, the cloth shall be laid, and all things in readiness, To court to return, when done, is my business. AMBIDEXTER. A proper man, and also a fit, For the king’s estate to prepare a banquet. PREPARATION. What, Ambidexter? thou art not unknown; A mischief on all good faces, so that I curse not mine own: Now, in the knave’s name, shake hands with me. AMBIDEXTER. Well said, goodman pouchmouth, your reverence I see, I will teach ye, if your manners no better be: Ah, ye slave! the king doth me a gentleman allow: Therefore I look that to me ye shall bow. [_Fight._ PREPARATION. Good Master Ambidexter, pardon my behaviour; For this your deed ye are a knave for your labour. AMBIDEXTER. Why, ye stale counterly villain, nothing but knave? [_Fight._ PREPARATION.