Come on, fair daughter, fall to your work of 144mind, and make your body fit to embrace the body of this 145gentlemanʼs, ʼtis art: happy are they, say I.

I protest, sir, you speak the best that ever I heard.

I pray, sir, take acquaintance of my daughter.

I do desire you of more acquaintance.

[To Martia] Why dost not thou say ‘Yea, and I the same of youʼ?

That everybody says.

Oh, you would be singular.

Single, indeed.

‘Single, indeedʼ: thatʼs a pretty toy! 154Your betters, dame, bear double, and so shall you.

Exceeding pretty, did you mark it, forsooth?

What should I mark, forsooth?

Your bearing double, which equivocate is, and hath 158a fit allusion to a horse that bears double, for your good 159father means you shall endure your single life no longer, 160not in worse sense than bearing double, forsooth.

I cry you mercy, you know both belike.

Knowledge, forsooth, is like a horse and you, that can 163bear double. It nourisheth both bee and spider: the bee 164honeysuckle, the spider, poison. I am that bee.

I thought so by your stinging wit.

Lady, I am a bee without a sting, no way hurting 167any, but good to all, and before all, to your sweet self.

Afore God, daughter, thou art not worthy to hear 169him speake. But who comes here?

God save you, sir.

You are welcome, sir, for aught that I know yet.

I hope I shall be so still, sir.

What is your business, sir, and then Iʼll tell you?

Marry thus, sir, the Countess Moren entreats your 175fair daughter to bear her company this forenoon.

This forenoon, sir? Doth my lord or lady send for 177her, I pray?

My lady, I assure you.

My lady, you assure me. Very well, sir. Yet that house 180is full of gallant gentlemen, dangerous thorns to prick 181young maids, I can tell you.

There are none but honest and honourable 183gentlemen.

All is one, sir, for that. Iʼll trust my daughter with any 185man, but no man with my daughter, only yourself Monsieur 186Besha, whom I will entreat to be her guardian and to bring 187her home again.

I will wait upon her, an it please you.

No, sir, your weight upon her will not be so good. Here, 190Monsieur Besha, I deliver my daughter unto you a perfect 191maid, and so I pray you look well unto her.

Farewell, Monsieur Foyes.

I warrant Iʼll look unto her well enough. 194Mistress, will it please you to preambulate.

With all my heart.