SCHOOLMASTER. An eel and woman, A learned poet says, unless by th’ tail And with thy teeth thou hold, will either fail. In manners this was false position. FIRST COUNTRYMAN. A fire ill take her; does she flinch now? THIRD COUNTRYMAN. What Shall we determine, sir? SCHOOLMASTER. Nothing. Our business is become a nullity, Yea, and a woeful and a piteous nullity. FOURTH COUNTRYMAN. Now, when the credit of our town lay on it, Now to be frampul, now to piss o’ th’ nettle! Go thy ways; I’ll remember thee. I’ll fit thee. Enter Jailer’s Daughter. DAUGHTER. [_Sings_.] _The George Alow came from the south, From the coast of Barbary-a. And there he met with brave gallants of war, By one, by two, by three-a._ _Well hailed, well hailed, you jolly gallants, And whither now are you bound-a? O let me have your company Till I come to the sound-a._ _There was three fools fell out about an howlet: The one said it was an owl, The other he said nay, The third he said it was a hawk, And her bells were cut away._ THIRD COUNTRYMAN. There’s a dainty mad woman, Master, Comes i’ th’ nick, as mad as a March hare. If we can get her dance, we are made again; I warrant her, she’ll do the rarest gambols. FIRST COUNTRYMAN. A madwoman? We are made, boys. SCHOOLMASTER. And are you mad, good woman? DAUGHTER. I would be sorry else. Give me your hand. SCHOOLMASTER. Why? DAUGHTER. I can tell your fortune. You are a fool. Tell ten. I have posed him. Buzz! Friend, you must eat no white bread; if you do, Your teeth will bleed extremely. Shall we dance, ho? I know you, you’re a tinker; sirrah tinker, Stop no more holes but what you should. SCHOOLMASTER. _Dii boni!_ A tinker, damsel? DAUGHTER. Or a conjurer. Raise me a devil now, and let him play _Qui passa_ o’ th’ bells and bones. SCHOOLMASTER. Go, take her, And fluently persuade her to a peace. _Et opus exegi, quod nec Jovis ira, nec ignis—_ Strike up, and lead her in. SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Come, lass, let’s trip it. DAUGHTER. I’ll lead. THIRD COUNTRYMAN. Do, do! SCHOOLMASTER. Persuasively, and cunningly. Away, boys; I hear the horns. Give me some meditation, And mark your cue. [_Exeunt all but Schoolmaster._] Pallas inspire me. Enter Theseus, Pirithous, Hippolyta, Emilia, and train. THESEUS. This way the stag took. SCHOOLMASTER. Stay, and edify! THESEUS. What have we here? PIRITHOUS. Some country sport, upon my life, sir. THESEUS. Well, sir, go forward; we will “edify.” Ladies, sit down. We’ll stay it. SCHOOLMASTER. Thou doughty Duke, all hail! All hail, sweet ladies! THESEUS. This is a cold beginning.