h taught me so much craft that I excel in cunning.

PETER PLOD-ALL.
Well, sir, then I'll be bold to trust to your cunning, and so I'll bid
you farewell, and go forward. I'll to her, that's flat.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW.
Do so, and let me hear how you speed.

PETER PLOD-ALL.
That I will, sir. [_Exit_ PETER.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW.
Well, a good beginning makes a good end. Here's ten groats for doing
nothing. I con Master Churms thanks for this, for this was his device;
and therefore I'll go seek him out, and give him a quart of wine, and
know of him how he deals with the scholar. [_Exit_.

_Enter_ CHURMS _and_ SOPHOS.

CHURMS.
Why, look ye, sir; by the Lord, I can but wonder at her father; he knows
you to be a gentleman of good bringing up, and though your wealth be
not answerable to his, yet, by heavens, I think you are worthy to do far
better than Lelia--yet I know she loves you dearly.

SOPHOS.
The great Tartarian emperor, Tamar Cham,
Joy'd not so much in his imperial crown,
As Sophos joys in Lelia's hoped-for love,
Whose looks would pierce an adamantine heart,
And makes the proud beholders stand at gaze,
To draw love's picture from her glancing eye.

CHURMS.
And I will stretch my wits unto the highest strain,
To further Sophos in his wish'd desires.

SOPHOS.
Thanks, gentle sir.
But truce awhile; here comes her father.

_Enter_ GRIPE.

I must speak a word or two with him.

CHURMS.
Ay, he'll give you your answer, I warrant ye. [_Aside_.

SOPHOS.
God save you, sir.

GRIPE.
O Master Sophos, I have longed to speak with you a great while. I hear
you seek my daughter Lelia's love. I hope you will not seek to dishonest
me, nor disgrace my daughter.

SOPHOS.
No, sir; a man may ask a yea; a woman may say nay. She is in choice to
take her choice, yet I must confess I love Lelia.

GRIPE.
Sir, I must be plain with you. I like not of your love. Lelia's mine.
I'll choose for Lelia, and therefore I would wish you not to frequent my
house any more. It's better for you to ply your book, and seek for some
preferment that way, than to seek for a wife before you know how to
maintain her.

SOPHOS.
I am not rich, I am not very poor;
I neither want, nor ever shall exceed:
The mean is my content; I live 'twixt two extremes.

GRIPE.
Well, well; I tell ye I like not you should come to my house, and
presume so proudly to match your poor pedigree with my daughter Lelia,
and therefore I charge you to ge