"_Philip._ Now will I see if my memorie will serue for some prouerbes too. O, a painted cloath were as well worth a shilling as a theefe worth a halter; wel, after my heartie commendations, as I was at the making therof. He that trots easilie will indure. You have most learnedly proverbde it, commending the virtue of patience and forbearance, but yet you know forbearance is no quittance. "_Nich._ I promise ye, maister Philip, you have spoken as true as steele. "_Phil._ Father, there's a prouerbe well applied. "_Nich._ And it seemeth vnto me that you mocke me; do you not kno mocke age and see how it will prosper? "_Phil._ Why ye prouerbe booke bound up in follio, have ye no other sense to answere me but euery word a prouerbe, no other English?" Presently a dispute arises outside, and Nicholas is asked, "Wilt thou not go see the fraye?" to which this inveterate proverb-monger replies: "No indeed, even as they brew so let them bake--I will not thrust my hand into a flame and neede not--'Tis not good to have an oare in another man's boat--Little said is soone amended, and in a little medling commeth great rest. 'Tis good sleeping in a whole skin--so a man might come home by weeping-crosse. No, by Lady, a friend is not so soone gotten as lost--blessed are the peace-makers--they that strike with the sword shall be beaten with the zcabberd." To this flow of wisdom Philip replies: "Well said, Prouerbes, is ne're another to that purpose?" The too ready Nicholas makes reply: "Yes, I could have said to you, Syr, take heede is a good reede." His fellow serving-man at one portion of the play sees well to call Nicholas "tripe-cheeke, fat asse," and other epithets of like nature; upon which he replies: "Good words cost nought, ill words corrupt good manners, Richard, for a hasty man never wants woe, and I had thought you had been my friende, but I see alle is not golde that glisters, time and truth tryeth all, and 'tis an old prouerbe and not so olde as true, bought wit is the best. I can see day at a little hole. I knowe your minde as well as though I were within you: goe to, you seeke to quarrell, but beware of lead I wist; so long goes the potte to the water at length it comes home broken. I knowe you are as goode a man as ever drew sword, as ere lookt man in the face, as ere broke bred or drunke drinke; but he is propper that hath propper conditions, be not you like the Cowe that gives a good sope of milke and casts it downe with his heeles. I speak, plainely, for plaine dealing is a Iewell, yet Ile take no wrong, if hee had a head as big as Brasse and lookt as high as Poules steple." Coomes, not quite liking the tone of these remarks, replies: