man i’ the town to him, and if he do not prove himself as tall a man as he, let blind Hugh bewitch him, and turn his body into a barrel of strong ale, and let his nose be the spigot, his mouth the faucet, and his tongue a plug for the bunghole.  And then there will be Robin Goodfellow, as good a drunken rogue as lives, and Tom Shoemaker; and I hope you will not deny that he’s an honest man, for he was constable o’ the town; and a number of other honest rascals which, though they are grown bankrouts, and live at the reversion of other men’s tables, yet, thanks be to God, they have a penny amongst them at all times at their need.

PETER PLOD-ALL.  Nay, if Robin Goodfellow be there, you shall be sure to have our company; for he’s one that we hear very well of, and my son here has some occasion to use him, and therefore, if we may know when ’tis, we’ll make bold to trouble you.

WILL CRICKET. 
Yes, I’ll send you word.

PLOD-ALL. 
Why then farewell, till we hear from you.

[Exeunt PLOD-ALL and his son.

WILL CRICKET. 
Well, clerk, you’ll see this matter bravely performed; let it be
done as it should be.

CLERK. 
I’ll warrant ye; fear it not.

WILL CRICKET. 
Why, then, go you to Sir John, and I’ll to my wench, and bid her give
her maidenhead warning to prepare itself; for the destruction of it is
at hand.
            [Exeunt.

Enter LELIA sola.

LELIA. 
How love and fortune both with eager mood,
Like greedy hounds, do hunt my tired heart,
Rous’d forth the thickets of my wonted joys! 
And Cupid winds his shrill-note buglehorn,
For joy my silly heart so near is spent: 
Desire, that eager cur, pursues the chase,
And fortune rides amain unto the fall;
Now sorrow sings, and mourning bears a part,
Playing harsh descant on my yielding heart.

    Enter NURSE.

Nurse, what news?

NURSE.  Faith, a whole sackful of news.  You love Sophos, and Sophos loves you, and Peter Plod-all loves you, and you love not him, and you love not Master Churms, and he loves you; and so, here’s love and no love, and I love and I love not, and I cannot tell what; but of all and of all Master Churms must be the man you must love.

LELIA. 
Nay, first I’ll mount me on the winged wind,
And fly for succour to the furthest Ind. 
Must I love Master Churms?

NURSE. 
Faith, you must, and you must not.

LELIA. 
As how, I pray thee?

NURSE. 
Marry, I have commendations to you.

LELIA. 
From whom?

NURSE. 
From your brother Fortunatus.

LELIA. 
My brother Fortunatus!

NURSE. 
No, from Sophos.

LELIA. 
From my love?

NURSE. 
No, from neither.

LELIA. 
From neither?

NURSE. 
Yes, from both.