Per. Ay, good brother, or go about to think. Enter AUTOLYCUS, singing. Lawn as white as driven snow; Buy, lads, or else your lasses cry: Clo. If I were not in love with Mopsa, thou shouldst take no money of me; but being enthralled as I am, it will also be the bondage of certain ribbons and gloves. Mop. I was promised them against the feast; but they come not too late now. Dor. He hath promised you more than that, or there be liars. Mop. He hath paid you all he promised you may be, he has paid you more, will shame you to give him again. which Clo. Is there no manners left among maids? will they wear their plackets where they should bear their faces? Is there not milking-time, when you are going to bed, or kiln-hole, to whistle off these secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling before all our guests? 'tis well they are whispering: clamour your tongues, and not a word more. Mop. I have done. Come, you promised me a tawdry-lace and a pair of sweet gloves. Clo. Have I not told thee how I was cozened by the way and lost all my money? Aut. And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore it behoves men to be wary. Clo. Fear not thou, man, thou shalt lose nothing here. Aut. I hope so, sir; for I have about me many parcels of charge. Clo. What hast here? ballads? Mop. Pray now, buy some: I love a ballad in print o' life, for then we are sure they are true. Aut. Here's one to a very doleful tune, how a usurer's wife was brought to bed of twenty money-bags at a burthen, and how she longed to eat adders' heads and toads carbonadoed. Mop. Is it true, think you? Aut. Very true, and but a month old. Dor. Bless me from marrying a usurer! Aut. Here's the midwife's name to 't, one Mistress Tale-porter, and five or six honest wives that were present. Why should I carry lies abroad? Mop. Pray you now, buy it. Clo. Come on, lay it by: and let's first see moe ballads; we'll buy the other things anon. Aut. Here's another ballad of a fish, that appeared upon the coast, on Wednesday the fourscore of April, forty thousand fathom above water, and sung this ballad against the hard hearts of maids: it was thought she was a woman, and was turned into a cold fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that loved her: the ballad is very pitiful and as true. Dor. Is it true too, think you? Aut. Five justices' hands at it, and witnesses more than my pack will hold. Clo. Lay it by too: another. Aut. This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one. Mop. Let's have some merry ones. Aut. Why, this is a passing merry one and goes to the tune of 'Two maids wooing a man' there's scarce a maid westward but she sings it; 'tis in request, I can tell you. Mop. We can both sing it if thou'lt bear a part, thou shalt hear; 'tis in three parts. Dor. We had the tune on 't a month ago. Aut. I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my occupation: have at it with you. SONG. A. Get you hence, for I must go D. Whither? M. O, whither? D. M. It becomes thy oath full well, D. Me too, let me go thither. M. Or thou goest to the grange or mill: A. Neither. D. What, neither? D. Thou hast sworn my love to be; Then whither goest? say, whither? Clo. We'll have this song out anon by ourselves my father and the gentlemen are in sad talk, and we'll not trouble them. Come, bring away thy pack after me. Wenches, I'll buy for you both. Pedlar, let's have the first choice. Follow me, girls. [exit with Dorcas and Mopsa. Aut. And you shall pay well for 'em. [Follows singing. Will you buy any tape, Any toys for your head, Of the new'st, and finest, finest wear-a? Come to the pedlar; Money's a medler, That doth utter all men's ware-a. |