talking is here of noses? Come, Peg, we are toward marriage; let
us talk of that may do us good. Granam, what will you give us toward
housekeeping?

MOTHER MIDNIGHT.
Why, William, we are talking of Robin Goodfellow. What think you of him?

WILL CRICKET.
Marry, I say, he looks like a tankard-bearer that dwells in Petticoat
Lane at the sign of the Mermaid; and I swear by the blood of my
codpiece, and I were a woman, I would lug off his lave[160] ears, or
run him to death with a spit. And, for his face, I think 'tis pity there
is not a law made, that it should be felony to name it in any other
places than in bawdy-houses. But, Granam, what will you give us?

MOTHER MIDNIGHT.
Marry, I will give Peg a pot and a pan, two platters, a dish and a
spoon, a dog and a cat. I trow, she'll prove a good huswife, and love
her husband well too.

WILL CRICKET.
If she love me, I'll love her. I' faith, my sweet honeycomb, I'll love
thee _A per se A_. We must be asked in church next Sunday; and we'll be
married presently.

PEG.
I' faith, William, we'll have a merry day on't.

MOTHER MIDNIGHT.
That we will, i' faith, Peg; we'll have a whole noise of fiddlers there.
Come, Peg, let's hie us home; we'll make a bag-pudding to supper, and
William shall go and sup with us.

WILL CRICKET.
Come on, i' faith.
[_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ FORTUNATUS _and_ SOPHOS.

FORTUNATUS.
Why, how now, Sophos? all _amort_? still languishing in love?
Will not the presence of thy friend prevail,
Nor hope expel these sullen fits?
Cannot mirth wring if but a forged smile
From those sad drooping looks of thine?
Rely on hope, whose hap will lead thee right
To her, whom thou dost call thy heart's delight:
Look cheerly, man; the time is near at hand,
That Hymen, mounted on a snow-white coach,
Shall tend on Sophos and his lovely bride.

SOPHOS.
'Tis impossible: her father, man, her father--
He's all for Peter Plod-all.

FORTUNATUS.
Should I but see that Plod-all offer love,
This sword should pierce the peasant's breast,
And chase his soul from his accursed corpse
By an unwonted way unto the grisly lake.
But now th'appointed time is near,
That Churms should come with his supposed love:
Then sit we down under these leafy shades,
And wait the time of Lelia's wish'd approach.

[_They sit down_.

SOPHOS.
Ay, here I'll wait for Lelia's wish'd approach;
More wish'd to me than is a calm at sea[161]
To