_Escal._ Dost thou detest her therefore? _Elb._ I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. _Escal._ How dost thou know that, constable? 75 _Elb._ Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there. _Escal._ By the woman's means? _Elb._ Ay, sir, by Mistress Overdone's means: but as she 80 spit in his face, so she defied him. _Pom._ Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. _Elb._ Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man; prove it. _Escal._ Do you hear how he misplaces? 85 _Pom._ Sir, she came in great with child; and longing, saving your honour's reverence, for stewed prunes; sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China 90 dishes, but very good dishes,-- _Escal._ Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. _Pom._ No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but to the point. As I say, this Mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great-bellied, and 95 longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, Master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly; for, as you know, Master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. 100 _Froth._ No, indeed. _Pom._ Very well;--you being then, if you be remembered, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes,-- _Froth._ Ay, so I did indeed. _Pom._ Why, very well; I telling you then, if you be remembered, 105 that such a one and such a one were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you,-- _Froth._ All this is true. _Pom._ Why, very well, then,-- 110 _Escal._ Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. _Pom._ Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. _Escal._ No, sir, nor I mean it not. 115 _Pom._ Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave. And, I beseech you, look into Master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas:--was't not at Hallowmas, Master Froth?-- _Froth._ All-hallond eve. 120 _Pom._ Why, very well; I hope here be truths. He, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir; 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit, have you not? _Froth._ I have so; because it is an open room, and 125 good for winter.