_Tib. Talk._ If she kepe not promise, I will beshrewe hir head: B ii _b_ But it will be starke nyght before I shall have done. 5 _R. Royster_ [_aside_]. I will stande here a while, and talke with them anon, I heare them speake of Custance, which doth my heart good, To heare hir name spoken doth even comfort my blood. _M. Mumbl._ Sit downe to your worke Tibet like a good girle. _Tib. Talk._ Nourse medle you with your spyndle and your whirle, 10 No haste but good, Madge Mumblecrust, for whip and whurre[393] The olde proverbe doth say, never made good furre. _M. Mumbl._ Well, ye wyll sitte downe to your worke anon, I trust. _Tib. Talk._ Soft fire maketh sweete malte,[394] good Madge Mumblecrust. _M. Mumbl._ And sweete malte maketh joly good ale for the nones. 15 _Tib. Talk._ Whiche will slide downe the lane without any bones. _Cantet._[395] Olde browne bread crustes must have much good mumblyng, But good ale downe your throte hath good easie tumbling. _R. Royster_ [_aside_]. The jolyest wench that ere I hearde, little mouse,-- May I not rejoice that she shall dwell in my house? 20 _Tib. Talk._ So sirrha, nowe this geare beginneth for to frame. _M. Mumbl._ Thanks to God, though your work stand stil, your tong is not lame _Tib. Talk._ And though your teeth be gone, both so sharpe and so fine Yet your tongue can renne on patins[396] as well as mine. _M. Mumbl._ Ye were not for nought named Tyb Talke apace. 25 _Tib. Talk._ Doth my talke grieve you? Alack, God save your grace. _M. Mumbl._ I holde[397] a grote ye will drinke anon for this geare. _Tib. Talk._ And I wyll pray you the stripes for me to beare. _M. Mumbl._ I holde a penny, ye will drink without a cup. _Tib. Talk._ Wherein so ere ye drinke, I wote ye drinke all up. 30 _An. Alyface._[398] By Cock and well sowed, my good Tibet Talke apace. _Tib. Talk._ And een as well knitte my nowne Annot Alyface. _R. Royster_ [_aside_]. See what a sort she kepeth that must be my wife[!] Shall not I when I have hir, leade a merrie life? _Tib. Talk._ Welcome my good wenche, and sitte here by me just. 35 _An. Alyface._ And howe doth our old beldame here, Mage Mumblecrust? _Tib. Talk._ Chyde, and finde faultes, and threaten to complaine. _An. Alyface._ To make us poore girles shent to hir is small gaine. B iii _M. Mumbl._ I dyd neyther chyde, nor complaine, nor threaten. _R. Royster_ [_aside_]. It woulde grieve my heart to see one of them beaten. 40 _M. Mumbl._ I dyd nothyng but byd hir worke and holde hir peace.