HAR.  Nay, no parting, gentlemen.  Hem!

WEN.  ’Sfoot, does he make punks of us, that he hems already?

HAR.  Gallants,
Know old John Harcop keeps a wine-cellar,
Has travell’d, been at court, known fashions,
And unto all bear habit like yourselves—­
The shapes of gentlemen and men of sort,
I have a health to give them, ere they part.

WEN.  Health, knight! not as drunkards give their healths, I hope:  to go together by the ears when they have done?

HAR.  My healths are Welcome:  Welcome, gentlemen.

ILF.  Are we welcome, knight, in faith?

HAR.  Welcome, in faith, sir.

ILF.  Prythee, tell me, hast not thou been a whoremaster?

HAR.  In youth I swill’d my fill at Venus’ cup,
Instead of full draughts now I am fain to sup.

ILF.  Why then thou art a man fit for my company: 
Dost thou hear? (to WEN. and BAR.) he is a good fellow of our stamp. 
Make much of this[341] father.

[Exeunt.

Manent SCARBOROW and CLARE.

SCAR.  The father and the gallants have left me here with a gentlewoman, and if I know what to say to her, I am a villain.  Heaven grant her life hath borrowed so much impudence of her sex but to speak to me first:  for, by this hand, I have not so much steel of immodesty in my face to parley to a wench without blushing.  I’ll walk by her, in hope she can open her teeth.  Not a word?  Is it not strange a man should be in a woman’s company all this while and not hear her tongue.  I’ll go further.  God of his goodness! not a syllable.  I think if I should take up her clothes too, she would say nothing to me.  With what words, trow, does a man begin to woo.  Gentlewoman, pray you, what is’t a clock?

CLARE.  Troth, sir, carrying no watch about me but mine eyes, I answer you:  I cannot tell.

SCAR.  And if you cannot tell, beauty, I take the adage for my reply:  you are naught to keep sheep.

CLARE.  Yet I am big enough to keep myself.

SCAR.  Prythee tell me:  are you not a woman?

CLARE.  I know not that neither, till I am better acquainted with a man.

SCAR.  And how would you be acquainted with a man?

CLARE.  To distinguish betwixt himself and myself.

SCAR.  Why, I am a man?

CLARE.  That’s more than I know, sir.

SCAR.  To approve I am no less, thus I kiss thee.

CLARE.  And by that proof I am a man too; for I have kissed you.

SCAR.  Prythee, tell me, can you love?

CLARE.  O Lord, sir, three or four things:  I love my meat, choice of suitors, clothes in the fashion, and, like a right woman, I love to have my will.

SCAR.  What think you of me for a husband?

CLARE.  Let me first know what you think of me for a wife?

SCAR.  Troth, I think you are a proper gentlewoman.