Roister Doister Part 2

+M. Mery.+ What is it than?

Are ye in daunger of debte to any man?

If ye be, take no thought nor be not afraide, Let them hardly take thought how they shall be paide.

+R. Royster.+ Tut I owe nought.

+M. Mery.+ What then? fear ye imprisonment?

+R. Royster.+ No.

+M. Mery.+ No I wist ye offende, not so to be shent.

But if he had, the Toure coulde not you so holde, But to breake out at all times ye would be bolde.

What is it? hath any man threatned you to beate?

+R. Royster.+ What is he that durst haue put me in that heate?

He that beateth me by his armes shall well fynde, That I will not be farre from him nor runne behinde.

+M. Mery.+ That thing knowe all men euer since ye ouerthrewe, The fellow of the Lion which _Hercules_ slewe.

But what is it than?

+R. Royster.+ Of loue I make my mone.

+M. Mery.+ Ah this foolishe a loue, wilt neare let vs alone?

But bicause ye were refused the last day, Ye sayd ye woulde nere more be intangled that way.

I woulde medle no more, since I fynde all so vnkinde.

+R. Royster.+ Yea, but I can not so put loue out of my minde.

+Math. Mer.+ But is your loue tell me first, in any wise, In the way of Mariage, or of Merchandise?

If it may otherwise than lawfull be founde, Ye get none of my helpe for an hundred pounde.

+R. Royster.+ No by my trouth I woulde haue hir to my Wife.

+M. Mery.+ Then are ye a good man, and G.o.d saue your life, And what or who is she, with whome ye are in loue?

+R. Royster.+ A woman whome I knowe not by what meanes to moue.

+M. Mery.+ Who is it?

+R. Royster.+ A woman yond.

+M. Mery.+ What is hir name?

+R. Royster.+ Hir yonder.

+M. Mery.+ Whom.

+R. Royster.+ Mistresse ah.

+M. Mery.+ Fy fy for shame Loue ye, and know not whome? but hir yonde, a Woman, We shall then get you a Wyfe, I can not tell whan.

+R. Royster.+ The faire Woman, that supped wyth vs yesternyght, And I hearde hir name twice or thrice, and had it ryght.

+M. Mery.+ Yea, ye may see ye nere take me to good cheere with you, If ye had, I coulde haue tolde you hir name now.

+R. Royster.+ I was to blame in deede, but the nexte tyme perchaunce: And she dwelleth in this house.

+M. Mery.+ What Christian Custance.

+R. Royster.+ Except I haue hir to my Wife, I shall runne madde.

+M. Mery.+ Nay vnwise perhaps, but I warrant you for madde.

+R. Royster.+ I am vtterly dead vnlesse I haue my desire.

+M. Mery.+ Where be the bellowes that blewe this sodeine fire?

+R. Royster.+ I heare she is worthe a thousande pounde and more.

+M. Mery.+ Yea, but learne this one lesson of me afore, An hundred pounde of Marriage money doubtlesse, Is euer thirtie pounde sterlyng, or somewhat lesse, So that hir Thousande pounde yf she be thriftie, Is muche neere about two hundred and fiftie, Howebeit wowers and Widowes are neuer poore.

+R. Royster.+ Is she a Widowe? I loue hir better therefore.

+M. Mery.+ But I heare she hath made promise to another.

+R. Royster.+ He shall goe without hir, and he were my brother.

+M. Mery.+ I haue hearde say, I am right well aduised, That she hath to Gawyn Goodlucke promised.

+R. Royster.+ What is that Gawyn Goodlucke?

+M. Mery.+ a Merchant man.

+R. Royster.+ Shall he speede afore me? nay sir by sweete Sainct Anne.

Ah sir, Backare quod Mortimer to his sowe, I wyll haue hir myne owne selfe I make G.o.d a vow.

For I tell thee, she is worthe a thousande pounde.

+M. Mery.+ Yet a fitter wife for your mas.h.i.+p might be founde: Suche a goodly man as you, might get one wyth lande, Besides poundes of golde a thousande and a thousande, And a thousande, and a thousande, and a thousande, And so to the summe of twentie hundred thousande, Your most goodly personage is worthie of no lesse.

+R. Royster.+ I am sorie G.o.d made me so comely doubtlesse.

For that maketh me eche where so highly fauoured, And all women on me so enamoured.

+M. Mery.+ Enamoured quod you? haue ye spied out that?

Ah sir, mary nowe I see you know what is what.

Enamoured ka? mary sir say that againe, But I thought not ye had marked it so plaine.

+R. Royster.+ Yes, eche where they gaze all vpon me and stare.

+M. Mery.+ Yea malkyn, I warrant you as muche as they dare.

And ye will not beleue what they say in the streete, When your mashyp pa.s.seth by all such as I meete, That sometimes I can scarce finde what aunswere to make.