Audrey.
Touch.
To-morrow is the joyful day, Audrey: to-morrow
will we be married.
Aud.
I do desire it with all my heart, and I hope
it is no dishonest desire, to desire to be a woman of
the world5 note. Here come two of the banished duke's
pages.
Enter two Pages.
1 Page.
Well met, honest gentleman.
-- 91 --
Touch.
By my troth, well met. Come, sit; sit, and
a song.
2 Page.
We are for you: sit i'the middle.
1 Page.
Shall we clap into't roundly, without hawking,
or spitting, or saying we are hoarse, which are the
only prologues to a bad voice?
2 Page.
I'faith, i'faith; and both in a tune, like two
gypsies on a horse.
SONG6 note.
It was a lover, and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o'er the green corn-field did pass
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, 11Q0358
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.
Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In spring time, &c.
This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that a life was but a flower
In spring time, &c.
And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
For love is crowned with the prime
In spring time, &c.
Touch.
Truly, young gentlemen, though there was
-- 92 --
no great matter in the ditty, yet the note was very
untuneable7 note.
1 Page.
You are deceived, sir: we kept time; we
lost not our time.
Touch.
By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost
to hear such a foolish song. God be wi' you; and God
mend your voices. Come, Audrey.
[Exeunt.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
