R. ROISTER. Shall I so break my brain,[142] To doat upon you, and ye not love us again? M. MERRY. Well said yet. C. CUSTANCE. Go to, thou goose. R. ROISTER. I say, Kit Custance, In case ye will not haze, well; better yes, perchance. C. CUSTANCE. Avaunt, losel![143] pick thee hence! M. MERRY. Well, sir, ye perceive, For all your kind offer, she will not you receive. R. ROISTER. Then a straw for her, and a straw for her again: She shall not be my wife, would she never so fain; No, and though she would be at ten thousand pound cost. M. MERRY. Lo, dame, ye may see what an husband ye have lost. C. CUSTANCE. Yea, no force;[144] a jewel much better lost than found. M. MERRY. Ah, ye will not believe how this doth my heart wound. How should a marriage between you be toward, If both parties draw back, and become so froward? R. ROISTER. Nay, dame, I will fire thee out of thy house, [though I die;[145]] And destroy thee and all thine, and that by and by. M. MERRY. Nay, for the passion of God, sir, do not so. R. ROISTER. Yes, except she will say yea to that she said no. C. CUSTANCE. And what, be there no officers, trow we, in town, To check idle loiterers, bragging up and down? Where be they by whom vagabonds should be represt, That poor silly widows might live in peace and rest? Shall I never rid thee out of my company? I will call for help. What, ho! come forth, Truepenny! TRUEPENNY.[146] Anon. What is your will, Mistress? Did ye call me? C. CUSTANCE. Yea: go, run apace, and, as fast as may be, Pray Tristram Trusty, my most assured friend, To be here by and by, that he may me defend. TRUEPENNY. That message so quickly shall be done, by God's grace, That at my return ye shall say, I went apace. [_Exeat._ C. CUSTANCE. Then shall we see, I trow, whether ye shall do me harm. R. ROISTER. Yes, in faith, Kit, I shall thee and thine so charm, That all women incarnate by thee may beware. C. CUSTANCE. Nay, as for charming me, come hither if thou dare. I shall clout thee, till thou stink, both thee and thy train, And coil[147] thee mine own hands, and send thee home again. R. ROISTER. Yea, say'st thou me that, dame? Dost thou me threaten? Go we, I will see whether I shall be beaten. M. MERRY. Nay, for the paishe[148] of God, let me now treat peace; For bloodshed will there be, in case this strife increase. Ah, good dame Custance, take better way with you! C. CUSTANCE. Let him do his worst! M. MERRY. Yield in time. R. ROISTER. Come hence, thou! [_Exeant Roister and Merry._ ACTUS IV., SCÆNA 4. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE, ANNOT ALYFACE, TIBET TALKAPACE, M. MUMBLECRUST.