MAL. The place is void; will you provide me one? FRAN. And if you please, I will supply the room. MAL. But are ye cunning in the carman's lash? And can ye whistle well? FRAN. Yes, I can well direct the coach of love. MAL. Ah, cruel carter! would you whip a dove? PHIL. Hark ye, sister-- MAL. Nay, but hark ye, brother; Whose white boy[324] is that same? know ye his mother? PHIL. He is a gentleman of a good house. MAL. Why, is his house of gold? Is it not made of lime and stone like this? PHIL. I mean he's well-descended. MAL. God be thanked! Did he descend some steeple or some ladder? PHIL. Well, you will still be cross; I tell ye, sister-- This gentleman, by all your friends' consent Must be your husband. MAL. Nay, not all, some sing another note; My mother will say no, I hold a groat. But I thought 'twas somewhat, he would be a carter; He hath been whipping lately some blind bear, And now he would ferk the blind boy here with us. PHIL. Well, do you hear, you, sister, mistress [that] would have-- You that do long for somewhat, I know what-- My father told me--go to, I'll tell all, If ye be cross--do you hear me? I have labour'd A year's work in this afternoon for ye: Come from your cloister, votary, chaste nun, Come down and kiss Frank Goursey's mother's son. MAL. Kiss him, I pray? PHIL. Go to, stale maidenhead! come down, I say, You seventeen and upward, come, come down; You'll stay till twenty else for your wedding gown. MAL. Nun, votary, stale maidenhead, seventeen and upward! Here be names! what, nothing else? FRAN. Yes, or a fair-built steeple without bells. MAL. Steeple! good people, nay, another cast. FRAN. Ay, or a well-made ship without a mast. MAL. Fie, not so big, sir, by one part of four. FRAN. Why, then, ye are a boat without an oar. MAL. O well row'd wit! but what's your fare, I pray? FRAN. Your fair self must be my fairest pay. MAL. Nay, and you be so dear, I'll choose another. FRAN. Why, take your first man, wench, and go no further. [_Aside_.] PHIL. Peace, Francis. Hark ye, sister, this I say: You know my mind; or answer ay or nay. [Your] wit and judgment hath resolv'd his mind, And he foresees what after he shall find: If such discretion, then, shall govern you, Vow love to him, he'll do the like to you. MAL. Vow love! who would not love such a comely feature, Nor high nor low, but of the middle stature? A middle man, that's the best size indeed; I like him well: love grant us well to speed! FRAN. And let me see a woman of that tallness, So slender and of such a middle smallness, So old enough, and in each part so fit, So fair, so kind, endued with so much wit, Of so much wit as it is held a wonder, 'Twere pity to keep love and her asunder; Therefore go up, my joy, call down my bliss; Bid her come seal the bargain with a kiss. MAL. Frank, Frank, I come through dangers, death, and harms, To make love's patent[325] with my[326] seal of arms. PHIL. But, sister, softly, lest my mother hear.