C. CUSTANCE. So, sirrah! If I should not with him take this way, I should not be rid of him, I think, till doom's day. I will call forth my folks, that without any mocks, If he come again, we may give him raps and knocks. Madge Mumblecrust, come forth, and Tibet Talkapace; Yea, and come forth too, Mistress Annot Alyface. AN. ALYFACE. I come. TIB. TALK. And I am here. M. MUMBL. And I am here too, at length. C. CUSTANCE. Like warriors, if need be, ye must show your strength. The man that this day hath thus beguiled you Is Ralph Roister Doister, whom ye know well enou'; The most lout and dastard that ever on ground trod. TIB. TALK. I see all folk mock him, when he goeth abroad. C. CUSTANCE. What, pretty maid, will ye talk when I speak? TIB. TALK. No, forsooth, good mistress. C. CUSTANCE. Will ye my tale break? He threateneth to come hither with all his force to fight; I charge you, if he come, on him with all your might: M. MUMBL. I with my distaff will reach him one rap. TIB. TALK. And I with my new broom will sweep him one swap; And then with our great club I will reach him one rap. And I with our skimmer will fling him one flap. TIB. TALK. Then Truepenny's fire-fork will him shrewdly fray: And you with the spit may drive him quite away. C. CUSTANCE. Go, make all ready, that it may be e'en so. TIB. TALK. For my part, I shrew them that last about it go. [_Exeant._ ACTUS IV., SCÆNA 5. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE, TRUEPENNY, TRISTRAM TRUSTY. C. CUSTANCE. Truepenny did promise me to run a great pace, My friend Tristram Trusty to fet into this place. Indeed he dwelleth hence a good start, I confess; But yet a quick messenger might twice since, as I guess, Have gone and come again. Ah! yond I spy him now. TRUEPENNY (_To T. Trusty_). Ye are a slow goer, sir, I make God a vow; My Mistress Custance will in me put all the blame; Your legs be longer than mine: come apace, for shame. C. CUSTANCE. I can[149] thee thank, Truepenny; thou hast done right well. TRUEPENNY. Mistress, since I went, no grass hath grown on my heel: But Master Tristram Trusty here maketh no speed. C. CUSTANCE. That he came at all, I thank him in very deed; For now have I need of the help of some wise man. T. TRUSTY. Then may I be gone again, for none such I am. TRUEPENNY. Ye may be by your going; for no Alderman Can go, I dare say, a sadder[150] pace than ye can. C. CUSTANCE. Truepenny, get thee in; thou shalt among them know, How to use thyself like a proper man, I trow. TRUEPENNY. I go. [_Exit._ C. CUSTANCE. Now, Tristram Trusty, I thank you right much: For at my first sending to come ye never grutch.