MEAN. Methinks y' are strong enough and very lusty, Fit to get heirs: among your other pieces Of age and time let one young face be seen May call you father. MOTH. Wholesome counsel! But The world is now full tickle[154] sykerly; 'Tis hard to find a damosel unwenned;[155] They being all coltish and full of ragery,[156] And full of gergon[157] as is a flecken[158] pie. Whoso with them maketh that bond anon, Which men do clyppen[159] spousail or wedlock, Saint Idiot is his lord, i-wis. MEAN. This is No tender and wanton thing; she is a staid And settled widow, one who'll be a nurse Unto you in your latter days. MOTH. A norice[160] Some dele ystept in age! So mote[161] I gone, This goeth aright: how highteth[162] she, say you? MEAN. Mistress Joan Potluck, vintner Potluck's widow. MOTH. Joan Potluck, spinster? Lore me o' thing mere Alouten: what time 'gan she brendle thus? MEAN. On Thursday morning last. MOTH. Y' blessed Thursday, Ycleped so from Thor the Saxon's god. Ah, benedicite! I might soothly sayn, Mine mouth hath itched all this livelong day; All night me met[163] eke, that I was at kirk; My heart gan quapp[164] full oft. Dan Cupido Sure sent thylke sweven[165] to mine head. MEAN. You shall Know more, if you'll walk in. [_Exit_ MEANWELL. MOTH. Wend you beforne; Kembeth[166] thyself, and pyketh[167] now thyself; Sleeketh thyself; make cheer much digne,[168] good Robert: I do arret thou shalt acquainted bin With nymphs and fauns, and hamadryades: And yeke the sisterne nine Pierides That were transmued into birds, nemp'd[169] pyes Metamorphoseos wot well what I mean: I is as jollie now as fish in Seine. [_Exeunt._ SCENE III. HEARSAY, CASTER, SHAPE. HEAR. Can I lie hid nowhere securely from The throng and press of men? Must every place Become a theatre, where I seek shelter, And solitudes become markets, 'cause I'm there? Good sir, I know your tricks; you would entrap: This is your snare, not your request. SHAPE. Take heed; He's nois'd about for a deep-searching head. I'll pawn my life 'tis a trick. HEAR. Leave off these gins, You do not do it handsomely. You think Y' have met with fools, I warrant. SHAPE. On my life, a spy, a mere informer. CAS. As I hope For fortunes, my intentions are most fair. SHAPE. A gamester's oath! he hath some reservation. HEAR. Yet did I think you true---- CAS. By all that's good, You do me wrong, to think that I'd wrong you. HEAR. When I lay agent last in New Atlantis, I met with, what you now desire, a strange New way of winning, but yet very sure. Were not the danger great, I'd----