CAREAWAY. I shrew me, if I drank any more than twice to-day, Till I met even now with that other I, And with him I supped and drank truly; But as for you, if you gave me drink and meat, As oftentimes as you do me beat, I were the best-fed page in all this city. But, as touching that, you have on me no pity, And not only I, but all that do you serve, For meat and drink may rather starve. BONGRACE. What, you saucy malapert knave, Begin you with your master to prate and rave? Your tongue is liberal and all out of frame: I must needs conjure it, and make it tame. Where is that other Careaway that thou said was here? CAREAWAY. Now, by my Christendom, sir, I wot ne'er? BONGRACE. Why, canst thou find no man to mock but me? CAREAWAY. I mock you not, master, so mot I the, Every word was true that I you told. BONGRACE. Nay I know toys and pranks of old, And now thou art not satisfied nor content, Without regard of my biddings and commandment, To have played by the way as a lewd knave and negligent, When I thee on my message home sent, But also wouldest willingly me delude and mock, And make me to all wise men a laughing-stock: Showing me such things as in no wise be may, To the intent thy lewdness may turn to jest and play; Therefore if thou speak any such thing to me again, I promise it shall be unto thy pain. CAREAWAY. Lo, is not he in miserable case, That serveth such a master in any place? That with force woll compel him that thing to deny, That he knoweth true, and hath seen with his eye? BONGRACE. Was it not, trowest thou, thine own shadow? CAREAWAY. My shadow could never have beaten me so! BONGRACE. Why, by what reason possible may such a thing be? CAREAWAY. Nay, I marvel and wonder at it more than ye; And at the first it did me curstly meve[202] Nor I would mine own eyes in no wise believe, Until that other I beat me so, That he made me believe it, whether I would or no. And if he had yourself now within his reach, He would make you say so too, or else beshit your breech. MASTER BONGRACE. I durst a good meed and a wager lay, That thou layest down and slepst by the way, And dreamed all this, that thou hast me told. CAREAWAY. Nay, there you lie, master, if I might be so bold; But we rise so early that, if I had, I had done well, and a wise lad. Yet, master, I would you understood, That I have always been trusty and good, And fly as fast as a bear in a cage, Whensoever you send me in your message; In faith, as for this that I have told you, I saw and felt it as waking as I am now: For I had no sooner knocked at the gate, But the other I knave had me by the pate; And I durst to you on a book swear, That he had been watching for me there, Long ere I came, hidden in some privy place, Even for the nonce to have me by the face. MASTER BONGRACE. Why, then, thou spakest not with my wife?