M. MERRY. He hath in his head-- C. CUSTANCE. As much brain as a burbolt.[106] M. MERRY. Well, dame Custance, if he hear you thus play choploge.[107] C. CUSTANCE. What will he? M. MERRY. Play the devil in the horologe.[108] C. CUSTANCE. I defy him, lout. M. MERRY. Shall I tell him what ye say? C. CUSTANCE. Yea, and add whatsoever thou canst, I thee pray, And I will avouch it, whatsoever it be. M. MERRY. Then let me alone; we will laugh well, ye shall see: It will not be long, ere he will hither resort. C. CUSTANCE. Let him come when him lust, I wish no better sport. Fare ye well: I will in, and read my great letter: I shall to my wooer make answer the better. [_Exeat._ ACTUS III., SCÆNA 3. MATTHEW MERRYGREEK. M. MERRY. Now that the whole answer in my device doth rest, I shall paint out our wooer in colours of the best, And all that I say shall be on Custance's mouth, She is author of all that I shall speak, forsooth. But yonder cometh Roister Doister now in a trance. [_Enter_ R. ROISTER.] R. ROISTER. Juno send me this day good luck and good chance! I cannot but come see how Merrygreek doth speed. M. MERRY. I will not see him, but give him a jut[109] indeed. I cry your mastership mercy! R. ROISTER. And whither now? M. MERRY. As fast as I could run, sir, in post against you. But why speak ye so faintly, or why are ye so sad? R. ROISTER. Thou knowest the proverb--because I cannot be had. Hast thou spoken with this woman? M. MERRY. Yea, that I have. R. ROISTER. And what, will this gear be? M. MERRY. No, so God me save. R. ROISTER. Hast thou a flat answer? M. MERRY. Nay, a sharp answer. R. ROISTER. What? M. MERRY. Ye shall not (she saith), by her will, marry her cat. Ye are such a calf, such an ass, such a block, Such a lilburn, such a hobil, such a lobcock; And because ye should come to her at no season, She despised your maship out of all reason. "Beware what ye say (ko I) of such a gentleman!" "Nay, I fear him not (ko she), do the best he can." He vaunteth himself for a man of prowess great, Whereas a good gander, I dare say, may him beat. And where he is louted[110] and laughed to scorn, For the veriest dolt that ever was born: And veriest lubber, sloven and beast, Living in this world from the west to the east; Yet of himself hath he such opinion, That in all the world is not the like minion. He thinketh each woman to be brought in dotage With the only sight of his goodly personage: Yet none that will have him: we do him lout and flock, And make him among us our common sporting-stock; And so would I now (ko she), save only because-- "Better nay (ko I)." "I lust not meddle with daws." "Ye are happy (ko I) that ye are a woman: This would cost you your life, in case ye were a man."