[_The villagers retire severally._] [_Enter WILLIAM, L._] _Will._ So this publican hath ceased to be a sinner! To think now of old sophisticate Gurton being called Hezekiah Newborn. Gadso, he babbles of salvation like the tap his boy left running this morning to see the troop of cavaliers go by. Yet I marked the unregenerate Gurton swore round ere Newborn found his voice to upbraid sourly as becomes a saint. He hath been more civil since I heard him. O Newborn, how utterly shalt thou be damned! [_Enter HOST._] _Host._ The Lord be with thee, young man. It did seem to me that thou wert discoursing aloud in prayer. Doth thy master desire any creature-comfort? _Will._ Master Gurton! thy belly hath kept pace with thy righteousness. _Host._ Ha! Who told thee my carnal name? I prithee abstain. It doth remind me of the bonds of the flesh. _Will._ Simply, thou art known to me. I am William Nutbrown. _Host._ Nay! What, mine own friend Will, that had his bastard fathered on me? Why, he was a youth! _Will._ He was! A youth of promise. Behold the fulfilment in these legs, this manly bosom! _Host._ O wonderful! and to think I knew thee not! But thou art horribly, and as it were most monstrously improved? Will Nutbrown! to be sure--and whence comest thou? _Will._ From the land of beccaficos, mine old Newborn! but thou understandest not--thou hast merely observed the increase of local timber and the decay of pigeon-houses. Thy sole chronicle hath been the ripe birth of undistinguishable curly-headed village children, and the green burial of undistinguished village bald old men hath been thine only lesson. Thou hast simply acquired amazement at the actions of the man of experience. Doth a quart measure still hold a quart? _Host._ Alas! more--I will tell thee of it. These be sore times for us. You must know there hath been a Parliament commission of inquiry into weights and measures, and last Michaelmas a year, no! let me see--well, marry! there came down-- _Will._ Well, well, thou shalt finish anon. _Host._ It went nigh to kill me. _Will._ Thou shalt tell me all hereafter. _Host._ Damnation! but I am glad. The Lord forgive me! I had nearly sworn. _Will._ Thou hadst--nearly. _Host._ And art thou a vessel of grace, or a brand given to the burning? Of a verity-- _Will._ Come, no lies with me! I shall doubt thee if thou cantest one word except in thy calling. Yet I saw by thy first look thou wert glad to see me; so give me thy hand, and I will shake it ere some one calls for a draught of ale, and thou dost relapse into the sordid and muddy calculation that makes thy daily self, and so forget that the friend of thy youth hath revisited thee. Nay, fear not, I will not betray thee to thy present customers. But first tell me, why thou art so changed: seeing that the cavaliers should be thy best friends?