1 Car.

Heigh ho! An't be not four by the day, I'll be hanged: Charles' wain^{1 note}

Ost. [Within.]

Anon, anon.

1 Car.

I pry'thee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle^{2 note}

Enter another Carrier.

2 Car.

Pease and beans are as dank^{4 note}

1 Car.

Poor fellow! never joyed since the price of oats rose; it was the death of him.

2 Car.

I think, this be the most villainous house in all London road for fleas: I am stung like a tench^{6 note}

1 Car.

Like a tench? by the mass, there is ne'er a king in Christendom could be better bit than I have been since the first cock.

2 Car.

Why, they will allow us ne'er a jordan, and then we leak in your chimney; and your chamber-lie breeds fleas like a loach^{7 note}

1 Car.

What, ostler! come away and be hanged, come away.

2 Car.

I have a gammon of bacon, and two razes of ginger^{8 note}

1 Car.

'Odsbody! the turkies in my pannier are quite starved^{9 note}.—What, ostler!—A plague on thee! hast thou never an eye in thy head? canst not

hear? An 'twere not as good a deed as drink, to break the pate of thee, I am a very villain.—Come, and be hanged:—Hast no faith in thee?

Gads.

Good morrow, carriers. What's o'clock?

1 Car.

I think it be two o'clock^{2 note}

Gads.

I pr'ythee, lend me thy lantern, to see my gelding in the stable.

1 Car.

Nay, soft, I pray ye; I know a trick worth two of that, i' faith.

Gads.

I pr'ythee, lend me thine.

2 Car.

Ay, when? canst tell^{3 note}

Gads.

Sirrah carrier, what time do you mean to come to London?

2 Car.

Time enough to go to bed with a candle, I warrant thee.—Come, neighbour Mugs, we'll call up the gentlemen; they will along with company, for they have great charge.

Gads.

What, ho! chamberlain!

Cham. [Within.]

At hand, quoth pick-purse^{4 note}

Gads.

That's even as fair as—at hand, quoth the chamberlain: for thou variest no more from picking of purses, than giving direction doth from labouring; thou lay'st the plot how^{5 note}.

Cham.

Good morrow, master Gadshill. It holds current, that I told you yesternight: There's a franklin^{6 note}

hundred marks with him in gold: I heard him tell it to one of his company, last night at supper; a kind of auditor; one that hath abundance of charge too, God knows what. They are up already, and call for eggs and butter^{7 note}: They will away presently.

Gads.

Sirrah, if they meet not with saint Nicholas' clerks^{8 note}

Cham.

No, I'll none of it: I pr'ythee, keep that for the hangman; for, I know, thou worship'st saint Nicholas as truly as a man of falsehood may.

Gads.

What talkest thou to me of the hangman? if I hang, I'll make a fat pair of gallows: for, if I hang, old sir John hangs with me; and, thou knowest, he's no starveling. Tut! there are other Trojans^{9 note} that thou dreamest not of, the which, for sport sake, are content to do the profession some grace; that would, if matters should be looked into, for their own credit sake, make all whole. I am joined with no foot land-rakers^{1 note}, no long-staff, six-penny strikers^{2 note}

purple-hued malt-worms^{3 note}: but with nobility and tranquillity; burgomasters, and great oneyers^{4 note}

as can hold in; such as will strike sooner than speak, and speak sooner than drink, and drink sooner than pray^{5 note}

continually to their saint, the commonwealth; or, rather, not pray to her, but prey on her; for they

ride up and down on her, and make her their boots.

Cham.

What, the commonwealth their boots? will she hold out water in foul way?

Gads.

She will, she will; justice hath liquored her^{6 note}

Cham.

Nay, by my faith; I think you are more beholden to the night, than to fern-seed, for your walking invisible.

Gads.

Give me thy hand: thou shalt have a share in our purchase^{9 note}

Cham.

Nay, rather let me have it, as you are a false thief.

Gads.

Go to; Homo is a common name to all men^{1 note}

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