PHIL. Father, let me alone, I do it but to make myself some sport. This formal fool, your man, speaks nought but proverbs, And speak men what they can to him, he'll answer With some rhyme-rotten sentence or old saying, Such spokes as th'ancient of the parish use, With, "Neighbour, 'tis an old proverb and a true, Goose giblets are good meat, old sack better than new;" Then says another, "Neighbour, that is true;" And when each man hath drunk his gallon round-- A penny pot, for that's the old man's gallon-- Then doth he lick his lips, and stroke his beard, That's glued together with his slavering drops Of yeasty ale, and when he scarce can trim His gouty fingers, thus he'll phillip it, And with a rotten hem, say, "Ay, my hearts, Merry go sorry! cock and pie, my hearts"! But then their saving penny proverb comes, And that is this, "They that will to the wine, By'r Lady[267] mistress, shall lay their penny to mine." This was one of this penny-father's[268] bastards, For, on my life, he was never[269] begot Without the consent of some great proverb-monger. MR BAR. O, ye are a wag. PHIL. Well, now unto my business. 'Swounds, will that mouth, that's made of old-said saws And nothing else, say nothing to us now? NICH. O Master Philip, forbear; you must not leap over the stile, before you come at it; haste makes waste; soft fire makes sweet malt; not too fast for falling; there's no haste to hang true men.[270] PHIL. Father, we ha't, ye see, we ha't. Now will I see if my memory will serve for some proverbs too. O--a painted cloth were as well worth a shilling as a thief worth a halter; well, after my hearty commendations, as I was at the making hereof; so it is, that I hope as you speed, so you're sure; a swift horse will tire, but he that trots easily will endure. You have most learnedly proverb'd it, commending the virtue of patience or forbearance, but yet, you know, forbearance is no quittance. NICH. I promise ye, Master Philip, you have spoken as true as steel. PHIL. Father, there's a proverb well applied. NICH. And it seemeth unto me, ay, it seems to me, that you, Master Philip, mock me: do you not know, _qui mocat mocabitur_? mock age, and see how it will prosper. PHIL. Why, ye whoreson proverb-book bound up in folio, Have ye no other sense to answer me But every word a proverb? no other English? Well, I'll fulfil a proverb on thee straight. NICH. What is it, sir? PHIL. I'll fetch my fist from thine ear. NICH. Bear witness, he threatens me! PHIL. That same is the coward's common proverb. But come, come, sirrah, tell me where Hugh is. NICH. I may, and I will; I need not, except I list; you shall not command me, you give me neither meat, drink, nor wages; I am your father's man, and a man's a man, and a have but a hose on his head; do not misuse me so, do not; for though he that is bound must obey, yet he that will not tarry, may[271] run away--so he may.