[Tempest.  Thunder.

Enter 2 Fishermen.

1st Fish.  The trobled sea is yet scarce navigable
Synce the last tempest:  yet wee that only lyv
By our owne sweatt and labour, nor cann eate
Beffore[79] wee fetch our foode out of the sea,
Must ventur thoughe with daunger or bee suer
With empty stomakes go unsupt to bed.

2nd Fish.  And so it often happens.

1 Fish.  See the cordaige
Be stronge and tight, the netts with all theire stringes,
Plometts, and corks, well plac’t for hookes and bates,
This daye wee shall have little use of them: 
The wind’s still hye, beare but a gentle sayle
And hazard not the channele.  Keepe alonge
Close by the shoare, the rocks will shelter us
And may perhapps affoord us lobsters, praunes,
Shrimps, crabbes, and such lyke shell fishe; hence[80] we may
Hunt the sea urchen, and with safety too;
There’s many holde hime for a dayntye fishe,
Hee sells well in the markett.  That poore men
Are forct too, for a slender competens,
A little to prolonge a wretched lyfe!

2 Fish.  Com then lett us weighe anchor and aboord:  The soone is upp allredy.

    Enter the Clowne.

Clowne.  If ever menn weare madd then suer my master is not well in his witts, and all about this wenshe; here’s such sendeinge and seekeinge, hurriinge and posteinge, and all to no purpose.  I have nowe some thyrty errands to deliver and knowe not to whome nor where, what nor to which place fyrst; hee’s gone on to the citty and sent mee back to the villaige, whither his frend travelled[81] one waye, hee another, and I a thyrd contrary from them boathe; he cannott beleeve his inquiry to be well doone but hee must send me to doo’t over againe.  I have asked all I mett and demanded of all I have seene.[82] But what are theese? these should bee fishermen.  Good morrowe, you sea theeves.[83]

1 Fish.  You call us theeves that may proove honester Than many goe for trewe[84] men on the shore.

Clowne.  Sawe[85] you not passe this [way] an ould bald fellowe hutch-shoolderd, crooked nos’d, beetle browd, with a visadge lowreing and a looke skowlinge; one that heaven hates and every good man abhors; a cheatinge raskall and an ugly slave,—­did note such passe you?

1 Fish.  If such a one as you describe you inquire for, Mee thinks, my frend, thou hast mistooke thy way; Thou shouldst have sought him at the gallowes rather, There such are soonest fownd.

Clowne.  Byrlady, worst answered of a playne fellowe; but that you may knowe him the better, hee had too handsome streete-singing-fact lasses in his companye.

2 Fish.  And for such creatures y’had best search the stewes O’th citty; this our villadge yields none such.  This fellowe doth but flowte us; letts aboord.

1 Fish.  Inquire for us of wenshes? tush, wee fishe For no such perewinkles; farewell flesh mongere.