Chapter D: DOUGH. I am at all assays

TIB. TALK. By Cock, and the better welcome to us always.

_Here they sing:_

_A thing very fit_
_For them that have wit,_
_And are fellows knit,_
_Servants in one house to be;_
_As fast for to sit,_
_And not oft to flit,_
_Nor vary a whit,_
_But lovingly to agree._

_No man complaining,_
_No other disdaining,_
_For loss or for gaining._
_But fellows or friends to be;_
_No grudge remaining,_
_No work refraining,_
_Nor help restraining,_
_But lovingly to agree._

_No man for despite,_
_By word or by write,_
_His fellow to twite,_
_But further in honesty;_
_No good turns entwite,_
_Nor old sores recite,_
_But let all go quite,_
_And lovingly to agree._

_After drudgery,_
_When they be weary,_
_Then to be merry,_
_To laugh and sing they be free;_
_With chip and cherry,_
_Heigh derry derry,_
_Trill on the bery,_
_And lovingly to agree_.

TIB. TALK. Will you now in with us unto our mistress go?

D. DOUGH. I have first for my master an errand or two.
But I have here from him a token and a ring;
They shall have most thank of her, that first doth it bring.

TIB. TALK. Marry, that will I.

TRUEPENNY. See, and Tibet snatch not now!

TIB. TALK. And why may not I, sir, get thanks as well as you?
[_Exit._

AN. ALYFACE. Yet get ye not all, we will go with you both,
And have part of your thanks, be ye never so loth.
[_Exit omnes._

D. DOUGH. So my hands are rid of it, I care for no more.
I may now return home: so durst I not afore.
[_Exit._

ACTUS II., SCÆNA 4.

C. CUSTANCE, TIBET, ANNOT ALYFACE, TRUEPENNY.

C. CUSTANCE. Nay, come forth all three; and come hither, pretty maid:
Will not so many forewarnings make you afraid?

TIB. TALK. Yes, forsooth.

C. CUSTANCE. But still be a runner up and down?
Still be a bringer of tidings and tokens to town?

TIB. TALK. No, forsooth, mistress.

C. CUSTANCE. Is all your delight and joy
In whisking and ramping abroad, like a Tom-boy?

TIB. TALK. Forsooth, these were there too, Annot and Truepenny.

TRUEPENNY. Yea, but ye alone took it, ye cannot deny.

AN. ALYFACE. Yea, that ye did.

TIB. TALK. But, if I had not, ye twain would.

C. CUSTANCE. You great calf, ye should have more wit, so ye should.
[_To Truep._
But why should any of you take such things in hand?

TIB. TALK. Because it came from him that must be your husband.

C. CUSTANCE. How do ye know that?

TIB. TALK. Forsooth, the boy did say so.

C. CUSTANCE. What was his name?

AN. ALYFACE. We asked not.

C. CUSTANCE. No, did [ye not?]

AN. ALYFACE. He is not far gone, of likelihood.

TRUEPENNY. I will see.

C. CUSTANCE. If thou canst find him in the street, bring him to me.

TRUEPENNY. Yes. [_Exeat._

C. CUSTANCE. Well, ye naughty girls, if ever I perceive
That henceforth you do letters or tokens receive,
To bring unto me from any person or place,
Except ye first show me the party face to face,
Either thou, or thou, full truly abi'[101] thou shalt.

TIB. TALK. Pardon this, and the next time powder me in salt.

C. CUSTANCE. I shall make all girls by you twain to beware.

TIB. TALK. If I ever offend again, do not me spare.
But if ever I see that false boy any more,
By your mistresship's licence, I tell you afore,
I will rather have my coat twenty times swinged,
Than on the naughty wag not to be avenged.

C. CUSTANCE. Good wenches would not so ramp abroad idly,
But keep within doors, and ply their work earnestly.
If one would speak with me, that is a man likely,
Ye shall have right good thank to bring me word quickly;
But otherwise with messages to come in post,
From henceforth I promise you shall be to your cost.
Get you into your work.

TIB. AND ANNOT. Yes, forsooth.

C. CUSTANCE. Hence, both twain.
And let me see you play me such a part again!
[_Ex. Tib. and Annot._

TRUEPENNY (_re-entering_). Mistress, I have run past the far end of
the street,
Yet can I not yonder crafty boy see nor meet.

C. CUSTANCE. No!

TRUEPENNY. Yet I looked as far beyond the people
As one may see out of the top of Paul's steeple.

C. CUSTANCE. Hence, in at doors, and let me no more be vext!

TRUEPENNY. Forgive me this one fault, and lay on for the next.[102]