'POTHECARY. If he taste this box nigh about the prime, By the mass, he is in heaven ere evensong time. My craft is such, that I can right well Send my friends to heaven and myself to hell. But, sirs, mark this man, for he is wise, Who[442] could devise such a device: For if we three may be as one, Then be we[443] lords everychone; Between us all could not be mist To save the souls of whom we list. But for good order, at a word, Twain of us must wait on the third. 'POTHECARY. And unto that I do agree, For both you twain shall wait on me.[444] PARDONER. What chance is this, that such an elf Command two knaves beside himself? Nay, nay, my friend, that will not be; I am too good to wait on thee. PALMER. By our lady, and I would be loth To wait on the better of you both. PEDLAR. Yet be ye sure for all this doubt, This waiting must be brought about. Men cannot prosper, wilfufly led; All things decay,[445] where is no head. Wherefore, doubtless, mark what I say, To one of you three twain must obey. And since ye cannot agree in voice, Who shall be head, there is no choice But to devise some manner thing, Wherein ye all be like conning; And in the same who can do best, The other twain do make them prest, In every thing of his intent, Wholly[446] to be at commandment. And now have I found one mastery,[447] That ye can do indifferently; And is nother selling nor buying, But even on very lying. And all ye three can lie as well, As can the falsest devil in hell. And though afore ye heard me grudge In greater matters to be your judge, Yet in lying I can some skill,[448] And if I shall be judge, I will And be you sure, without flattery, Where my conscience findeth the mastery, There shall my judgment straight be found, Though I might win a thousand pound. PALMER. Sir, for lying, though I can do it: Yet am I both for to go to it. PEDLAR. Ye have no[449] cause for fear, be bold,[450] For ye may here[451] lie uncontrolled. And ye in this have good advantage, For lying is your common usage. And you in lying be well sped, For all your craft doth stand in falsehood. Ye need not care who shall begin; For each of you may hope to win. Now speak all three even as ye find: Be ye agreed to follow my mind? PALMER. Yea, by my troth, I am content. PARDONER. Now, in good faith, and I assent. 'POTHECARY. If I denied, I were a noddy; For all is mine, by God's body, [_Here the 'Pothecary hoppeth_. PALMER. Here were a hopper to hop for the ring! But, sir,[452] this gear goeth not by hopping. 'POTHECARY. Sir, in this hopping I will hop so well, That my tongue shall hop better[453] than my heel: Upon which hopping I hope, and not doubt it, To hop[454] so, that ye shall hop[455] without it.[456] PALMER. Sir, I will neither boast ne brawl. But take such fortune as may fall: And if ye win this mastery, I will obey you quietly: And sure I think that quietness In any man is great riches In any manner company, To rule or be ruled[457] indifferently.