an English comedy with English notions of the best way of amusing English folk of the sixteenth century. With all its improvements it has no suggestion of the alien about it, as has the classically-flavoured _Thersites_ (also based, like Udall's play, on Plautus's _Miles Gloriosus_), or _Calisto and Melibaea_ with its un-English names. Perhaps that is why it had to wait fifteen years for a successor. Quite possibly its spectators regarded it as merely a better Interlude than usual, without recognizing the precise qualities which made it different from _Johan Johan_. Two quotations will be sufficient to illustrate the opposing characters. (1) _Merrygreek_ (_alone_). But now of Roister Doister somewhat to express, That ye may esteem him after his worthiness, In these twenty towns, and seek them throughout, Is not the like stock whereon to graff a lout. All the day long is he facing and craking[49] Of his great acts in fighting and fray-making; But when Roister Doister is put to his proof, To keep the Queen's peace is more for his behoof. If any woman smile, or cast on him an eye, Up is he to the hard ears in love by and by: And in all the hot haste must she be his wife, Else farewell his good days, and farewell his life! (2) [TRISTRAM TRUSTY, _a good friend and counsellor to_ DAME CUSTANCE, _is consulted by her on the matter of the sea-captain's_ (SURESBY'S) _misunderstanding of her attitude towards_ RALPH ROISTER DOISTER.] _T. Trusty._ Nay, weep not, woman, but tell me what your cause is. As concerning my friend is anything amiss? _C. Custance._ No, not on my part; but here was Sim. Suresby-- _T. Trusty._ He was with me, and told me so. _C. Custance._ And he stood by While Ralph Roister Doister, with help of Merrygreek, For promise of marriage did unto me seek. _T. Trusty._ And had ye made any promise before them twain? _C. Custance._ No, I had rather be torn in pieces and slain. No man hath my faith and troth but Gawin Goodluck, And that before Suresby did I say, and there stuck; But of certain letters there were such words spoken-- _T. Trusty._ He told me that too. _C. Custance._ And of a ring and token, That Suresby, I spied, did more than half suspect That I my faith to Gawin Goodluck did reject. _T. Trusty._ But was there no such matter, Dame Custance, indeed? _C. Custance._ If ever my head thought it, God send me ill speed! Wherefore I beseech you with me to be a witness That in all my life I never intended thing less. And what a brainsick fool Ralph Roister Doister is Yourself knows well enough. _T. Trusty._ Ye say full true, i-wis.