_Glend._ I can speak English, lord, as well as you; For I was train'd up in the English court; Where, being but young, I framed to the harp[2653] Many an English ditty lovely well And gave the tongue a helpful ornament, 125 A virtue that was never seen in you. _Hot._ Marry,[2654] And I am glad of it with all my heart:[2654] I had rather be a kitten and cry mew Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers;[2655] 130 I had rather hear a brazen canstick turn'd,[2656] Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree; And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,[2657] Nothing so much as mincing poetry: 'Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag. 135 _Glend._ Come, you shall have Trent turn'd. _Hot._ I do not care: I'll give thrice so much land[2658] To any well-deserving friend;[2658][2659] But in the way of bargain, mark ye me, I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair. 140 Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone? _Glend._ The moon shines fair; you may away by night:[2660] I'll haste the writer, and withal[2661][2662] Break with your wives of your departure hence:[2662] I am afraid my daughter will run mad, 145 So much she doteth on her Mortimer. [_Exit._ _Mort._ Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my father![2663] _Hot._ I cannot choose: sometime he angers me[2664] With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant,[2665] Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies,[2666] 150 And of a dragon and a finless fish, A clip-wing'd griffin and a moulten raven,[2667] A couching lion and a ramping cat,[2668] And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff As puts me from my faith. I tell you what,-- 155 He held me last night at least nine hours[2669] In reckoning up the several devils' names That were his lackeys: I cried 'hum,' and 'well, go to,'[2670] But mark'd him not a word. O, he is as tedious[2671] As a tired horse, a railing wife;[2672] 160 Worse than a smoky house: I had rather live With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far, Than feed on cates and have him talk to me In any summer-house in Christendom.