_M. Mumbl_. I was nere so shoke[453] up afore since I was borne, That our mistresse coulde not have chid[453] I wold have sworne: And I pray God I die if I ment any harme, But for my life time this shall be to me a charme. _D. Dough._ God you save and see nurse, and howe is it with you? 5 _M. Mumbl._ Mary a great deale the worse it is for suche as thou. _D. Dough._ For me? Why so? _M. Mumb._ Why wer not thou one of them, say, That song and playde here with the gentleman last day? _D. Dough._ Yes, and he would know if you have for him spoken. And prayes you to deliver this ring and token. 10 _M. Mumbl._ Nowe by the token that God tokened[,] brother, I will deliver no token one nor other. I have once ben so shent for your maisters pleasure, C iv As I will not be agayne for all hys treasure. _D. Dough._ He will thank you woman. 15 _M. Mumbl._ I will none of his thanke. _Ex._ _D. Dough._ I weene I am a prophete, this geare will prove blanke:[454] But what should I home againe without answere go? It were better go to _Rome_[455] on my head than so. I will tary here this moneth, but some of the house 20 Shall take it of me, and then I care not a louse. But yonder commeth forth a wenche or a ladde, If he have not one Lumbardes touche,[456] my lucke is bad. Actus. ii. Scæna. iii. TRUEPENIE. D. DOUGH. TIBET T. ANOT AL. _Trupeny._ I am cleane lost for lacke of mery companie, We gree not halfe well within, our wenches and I, They will commaunde like mistresses, they will forbyd, If they be not served, Trupeny must be chyd. Let them be as mery nowe as ye can desire, 5 With turnyng of a hande, our mirth lieth in the mire, I can not skill of such chaungeable mettle, There is nothing with them but in docke out nettle.[457] _D. Dough._ Whether is it better that I speake to him furst, Or he first to me, it is good to cast the wurst. 10 If I beginne first, he will smell all my purpose, Otherwise I shall not neede any thing to disclose. _Trupeny._ What boy have we yonder? I will see what he is. _D. Dough._ He commeth to me. It is hereabout ywis. _Trupeny._ Wouldest thou ought friende, that thou lookest so about? _D. Dough._ Yea, but whether ye can helpe me or no, I dout. 16 I seeke to one mistresse Custance house here dwellyng. _Trupenie._ It is my mistresse ye seeke too by your telling. _D. Dough._ Is there any of that name heere but shee? _Trupenie._ Not one in all the whole towne that I knowe pardee. C iv _b_ 20 _D. Dough._ A Widowe she is I trow. _Trupenie._ And what and she be? _D. Dough._ But ensured to an husbande.