Chapter C: CUSTANCE. Not now, but when I need to send, I will be bold

[_Exeat._
I thank you for these pains. And now I will get me in.
Now Roister Doister will no more wooing begin. [_Ex._

FOOTNOTES:

[138] Welfare. Udall uses the word in this sense in his letter to the
Cornish men.--_Cooper._

[139] In seriousness.

[140] In jest.

[141] Disliked or resented. See "Antony and Cleopatra," act iii.,
scene 4.--_Cooper._

[142] So in "The Maid's Metamorphosis," 1600; "In vain, I fear, _I
beat my brains_ about." These expressions have the same signification
as the "_Cudgel thy brains no more about it_," of the _First
Gravedigger_ in "Hamlet."--_Cooper._

[143] A pitiful, worthless fellow. See "Winter's Tale," act ii., sc.
3.--_Cooper._

[144] No matter.

[145] These words, not in the old copy, are necessary for the
rhyme.--_Cooper._

[146] His entrance is not marked in the original.--_Cooper._

[147] Cuff. In Tim Bobbin's "Glossary of the Lancashire Dialect," a
_coil_ is explained by "a lump raised on the head by a blow." See also
Brockett's "Glossary of North Country Words."--_Cooper._

[148] [Passion.]

[149] _I can._ See _ante_.

[150] Slower, graver.

[151] Now, once for all.

[152] _i.e._, So fierce. A sow at certain seasons is said _to go to
brim_--

"They foughten _breme_ as it were bolles two."
--_Cooper._ Chaucer, _Knight's Tale_, line 1701.

[153] Allow.

[154] A sheep. Cotswold (pronounced Cotsold) is an old word for a
sheepcote. Hence the name of the hills in Gloucestershire.--_Cooper._

[155] To assemble. It is used by Bacon in his "History of Henry the
Seventh," p. 68, fol. 1629.--_Cooper._

[156] [Old copy, _and_.]

[157] [Abide by the bargain.]

[158] _i.e._, Be not reconciled to her.--_Cooper._

[159] A small gun, perhaps a corruption of _popgun_.--_Cooper._

[160] The exit and re-entry of Dobinet are not marked in the old
copy.--_Cooper._

[161] To protect or guard. In "Richard II.," act i., sc. 3, the
expression is--

"Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive!"--_Cooper._

[162] T. Trusty is the prefix to this and the following line in the
old copy, but it must be an error.--_Cooper._

[163] [Put for _mass_, as _Gog_ for _God_, &c.]

[164] [An idea perhaps borrowed from the interlude of "Thersites,"
where we have the ludicrous incident of the snail. Udall has drawn
Ralph Roister Doister somewhat on the model of "Thersites," except
that in Roister Doister the man's good nature and singleness of
character win our regard, whereas the other is a contemptible braggart
without any redeeming trait.]

[165] See "Two Gentlemen of Verona," act. iv., scene 4.--_Cooper._

[166] _Mankind_ is used by Shakespeare and other writers of his time
as an adjective, in the sense of masculine.--_Cooper._

[167] So in the old copy, but Ralph, Mat., Dob., and Harpax, only go
out; lower down, the _exeat_ of course applies to T.
Trusty.--_Cooper._

ACTUS V., SCÆNA 1.

GAWIN GOODLUCK, SIM. SURESBY.

G. GOOD. Sim. Suresby, my trusty man, now advise thee well,
And see that no false surmises thou me tell.
Was there such ado about Custance, of a truth?

SIM. SURE. To report that I heard and saw to me is ruth;
But both my duty, and name, and property,[168]
Warneth me to you to show fidelity.
It may be well enough, and I wish it so to be,
She may herself discharge, and try her honesty;
Yet their claim to her, me-thought, was very large,
For with letters, rings, and tokens they did her charge.
Which when I heard and saw, I would none to you bring.

G. GOOD. No, by Saint Mary, I allow thee[169] in that thing.
Ah sirrah! now I see truth in the proverb old:
All things that shineth is not by and by pure gold.
If any do live a woman of honesty,
I would have sworn Christian Custance had been she.

SIM. SURE. Sir, though I to you be a servant true and just,
Yet do not ye therefore your faithful spouse mistrust;
But examine the matter, and if ye shall it find
To be all well, be not ye for my words unkind.

G. GOOD. I shall do that is right, and as I see cause why.
But here cometh Custance forth; we shall know by and by.

ACTUS V., SCÆNA 2.

C. CUSTANCE, GAWIN GOODLUCK, SIM. SURESBY.

C. CUSTANCE. I come forth to see and hearken for news good;
For about this hour is the time, of likelihood,
That Gawin Goodluck, by the sayings of Suresby,
Would be at home; and lo! yond I see him, I.
What, Gawin Goodluck! the only hope of my life,
Welcome home, and kiss me your true espoused wife.

G. GOOD. Nay, soft, dame Custance; I must first, by your licence,
See whether all things be clear in your conscience.
I hear of your doings to me very strange.

C. CUSTANCE. What! fear ye that my faith towards you should change?

G. GOOD. I must needs mistrust ye be elsewhere entangled,
For I hear that certain men with you have wrangled
About the promise of marriage by you to them made.

C. CUSTANCE. Could any man's report therein your mind persuade!

G. GOOD. Well, you must therein declare yourself to stand clear,
Else I and you, dame Custance, may not join this year.

C. CUSTANCE. Then would I were dead, and fair laid in my grave.
Ah! Suresby, is this the honesty that ye have,
To hurt me with your report, not knowing the thing?

SIM. SURE. If ye be honest, my words can hurt you nothing;
But what I heard and saw, I might not but report,

C. CUSTANCE. Ah, Lord, help poor widows, destitute of comfort!
Truly, most dear spouse, nought was done but for pastance.

G. Good. But such kind of sporting is homely daliance.

C. CUSTANCE. If ye knew the truth, ye would take all in good part.

G. GOOD. By your leave, I am not half well-skilled in that art.

C. CUSTANCE. It was none but Roister Doister, that foolish mome.

G. GOOD. Yea, Custance, better (they say) a bad excuse than none.

C. CUSTANCE. Why, Tristram Trusty, sir, your true and faithful friend,
Was privy both to the beginning and the end.
Let him be the judge, and for me testify.

G. GOOD. I will the more credit that he shall verify;
And because I will the truth know, e'en as it is,
I will to him myself, and know all without miss.
Come on, Sim. Suresby, that before my friend thou may
Avouch thee the same words, which thou did'st to me say.
[_Exeant._

ACTUS V., SCÆNA 3.

CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE.