_C. Custance._ Welcome friend Merygreeke: and what thing wold ye have? D iii[472] 30 _M. Mery._ I am come to you a little matter to breake. _C. Custance._ But see it be honest, else better not to speake. _M. Mery._ Howe feele ye your selfe affected here of late? _C. Custance._ I feele no maner chaunge but after the olde rate. But whereby do ye meane? 35 _M. Mery._ Concerning mariage. Doth not love lade you? _C. Custance._ I feele no such cariage.[473] _M. Mery._ Doe ye feele no pangues of dotage? aunswere me right. _C. Custance._ I dote so, that I make but one sleepe all the night But what neede all these wordes? _M. Mery._ Oh Jesus, will ye see What dissemblyng creatures these same women be? 40 The gentleman ye wote of, whome ye doe so love, That ye woulde fayne marrie him, yf ye durst it move, Emong other riche widowes, which are of him glad, Lest ye for lesing of him perchaunce might runne mad, Is nowe contented that upon your sute making, 45 Ye be as one in election of taking. _C. Custance._ What a tale is this? that I wote of? whome I love? _M. Mery._ Yea and he is as loving a worme againe as a dove. Een of very pitie he is willyng you to take, Bicause ye shall not destroy your selfe for his sake. 50 _C. Custance._ Mary God yelde his mashyp what ever he be, It is gentmanly spoken. _M. Mery._ Is it not trowe ye? If ye have the grace now to offer your self, ye speede. _C. Custance._ As muche as though I did, this time it shall not neede, But what gentman is it, I pray you tell me plaine, 55 That woweth so finely? _M. Mery._ Lo where ye be againe, As though ye knewe him not. _C. Custance._ Tush ye speake in jest. _M. Mery._ Nay sure, the partie is in good knacking[474] earnest, And have you he will (he sayth) and have you he must. _C. Custance._ I am promised duryng my life, that is just. 60 _M. Mery._ Mary so thinketh he, unto him alone. _C. Custance._ No creature hath my faith and trouth but one, That is Gawin Goodlucke: and if it be not hee, He hath no title this way what ever he be, D iii _b_ Nor I know none to whome I have such worde spoken. 65 _M. Mery._ Ye knowe him not[,] you[,] by his letter and token[!] _C. Custance._ In dede true it is, that a letter I have, But I never reade it yet as God me save. _M. Mery._ Ye a woman? and your letter so long unredde. _C. Custance._ Ye may therby know what hast I have to wedde. 70 But now who it is, for my hande I knowe by gesse. _M. Mery._ Ah well I say. _C. Custance._ It is Roister Doister doubtlesse. _M. Mery._ Will ye never leave this dissimulation? Ye know hym not.