KING. Honesty, it is enough; but tell me now What moved thee first to undertake this task To visit us? Speak truth, dissemble not. HONESTY. If I should tell your grace, 'twould make you laugh To hear how Honesty was entertain'd. Poor, lame, and blind, when I came once ashore, Lord! how they came in flocks to visit me; The shepherd with his hook, and thrasher with his flail, The very pedlar with his dog, and the tinker with his mail: Then comes a soldier counterfeit, and with him was his jug,[291] And Will, the whipper of the dogs, had got a bouncing trug; And cogging Dick was in the crew that swore he came from France: He swore that in the king's defence he lost his arm by chance; And yet in conscience, if I were put to swear, I would be bound to lay a pound, the knave was never there. And hap'ning 'mongst this company by chance one day, I had no sooner nam'd my name, but they ran all away. But now I will to my task, and leave your grace; And so I take my conge of your majesty. [_Exit_. KING. Honesty, farewell, and look unto your charge. PERIN. My gracious lord, if I might not offend, I would entreat a favour at your hand. 'Tis so, I heard of late, my gracious lord, That my kind father lay at point of death, And if, my lord, I should not visit him, The world, I fear, would find great fault with me. KING. Nay, Perin, if your business be of weight, We are content to give you leave to go: Provided this, that you return again, When you have seen your father and your friends. PERIN. My gracious lord, I will not stay there long, Only but see my father and return again: Till when, my gracious lord, I take my leave. [_Exit_. KING. Perin, farewell. And tell me, Dunstan, now we are alone, What dost thou think of beauteous Alfrida, For she is reported to be passing fair? They say she hath a white pit in her chin, That makes her look like to the Queen of Love,[292] When she was dallying with Endymion. Believe me, Dunstan, if she be so fair, She will serve our turn to make a concubine: Methinks 'tis good some time to have a love, To sport withal, and pass away the time. DUNSTAN. Ay, my good lord; Dunstan could well allow of it, If so your grace would marry Alfrida. KING. What? Wouldst thou have me marry her I never saw? Then men would say I doted on a wench: But, Dunstan, I have found a policy, Which must indeed be followed to the full. _Enter_ ETHENWALD.