and jurors, rebels and bailiff, into a porridge pot; whereat I being melancholy, fetched a deep sigh, that waked myself and my bed-fellow.

Bom. This was devised, not dreamt; and the more foolish being no dream, for that dreams excuse the fantasticalness.

Half. Then ask my bed-fellow, you know him, who dreamt that night that the king of diamonds was sick.

Bom. But thy years and humours, pretty child, are subject to such fancies, which the more vincible they seem the more fantastical they are *; therefore this dream is easy.

To children this is given from the gods,

To dream of milk, fruit, babies and rods, They betoken nothing but that wantons must have rods.

Drom. Ten to one thy dream is true; thou wilt be swinged.

Rix. Nay, gammer, I pray you tell me who stole my spoon out of the buttry.

Bom. Thy spoon is not stolen, but mislaid; Thou art an ill huswife, though a good maid; Look for thy spoon where thou hadst like to be no maid.

Rix. Body of me let me fetch the spoon,

member the place.

I re

Luc. Soft, swift, the place if it be there now, will be there to-morrow.

Rix. Ah! but perhaps the spoon will not.
Half. Wert thou once put to it?

* To reverse this would make it more plain, it would then the more fantastical they seem, the more vincible they

read, are."

Rix. No, sir boy, it was put to me.
Luc. How was it mist?

Drom. I'll warrant for want of a mist. But what's my fortune, mother?

Bom. Thy father doth live because he doth dye,
Thou hast spent all thy thrift with a die,
And so like a beggar thou shalt die.

Ris. Ah! I would have liked well if all the gerunds had been there, di, do, and dum; but all in die, that's too deadly.

Drom. My father, indeed, is a dyer, and I have been a dicer; but to die a beggar, give me leave not to believe Mother Bombie; and yet it may be. I have nothing to live by but by knavery; and if the world grow honest, welcome beggary. But what hast thou to say, Risio ?

Ris. Nothing, 'till I see whether all this be true that she hath said.

Half. Ah! Risio would fain see thee beg.

Ris. Nay, mother, tell us this; what is all our fortunes? We are about a matter of legerdemain; how will it fadge?

Bom. You shall all thrive like cozeners;

That is, to be cozened by cozeners:

All shall end well, and you be found cozeners. Drom. Gramercy, Mother Bombie, we are all pleased, if you were for your pains.

Bom. I take no money, but good words; rail not if I tell true; if I do not, revenge. Farewell. [Exit Bombie.

Drom. Now have we nothing to do but go about this business. Accius' apparel let Candius put on, and I will array Accius with Candius' clothes.

Ris. Here is Silena's attire; Lucio, put it upon Livia, and give me Livia's for Silena: this done, let Candius and Livia come forth; and let Dromio and me alone for the rest.

Half. What shall become of Accius and Silena?

Drom. Tush, their turn shall be next; all must be done orderly; let's to it, for now it works.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Enter CANDIUS and LIVIA.

Liv. This attire is very fit: but how if this make me a fool and Silena wise, you will then Woo me, and wed her.

Cand. Thou knowest that Accius is also a fool, and his raiment fits me: so that if apparel be infectious, I am also like to be a fool; and he wise, what would be the conclusion I marvel?

Enter DROMIO and RISIO.

Liv. Here come our counsellors.

Drom. Well said, I perceive turtles fly in couples.

Ris. Else how should they couple?

Liv. So do knaves go double, else how should they be so cunning in doubling?

Cand. Bona verba, Livia.

Drom. I understand Latin; that is, Livia is a good word.

Cand. No, I bid her use good words.

Ris. And what deeds?

Cand. None but a deed of gift.

Ris. What gift.

Cand. Her heart.

Drom. Give me leave to pose you though you be a graduate; for I tell you, we, in Rochester, spur so many hacknies, that we must needs spur scholars, for we take them for hacknies.

Liv. Why so, sir boy?

Drom. Because I knew two hired for ten groats a piece to say service on Sunday, and that's no more than a post horse from here to Canterbury. Ris. He knows what he says, for he once

served the post-master.

Cand. Indeed I think he served some post to his master; but come, Dromio, post me.

Drom. You say you would have her heart for a deed.

Cand. Well.

Drom. If you take her heart for cor, that heart in her body; then know this: molle ejus levibus, cor est violabile telis: a woman's heart is thrust through with a feather: if you mean she should give a heart named cervus, then are you worse; for cornua cervus habet; that is, to have one's heart grow out at his head, which will made one ake at the heart in their body.

Enter PRISIUS and SPERAntus.

Liv. Ah! beshrew your hearts, I hear one coming, I know it is my father by his coughing. Cand. What must we do?

Drom. Why, as I told you; and let me alone with the old men, fall you to your bridall.

Pris. Come, neighbour, I perceive the love of our children waxeth cold.

Sper. I think it never was but lukewarm.

Pris. Bavins will have their flashes, and youth their fancies, the one as soon quenched as the other burnt; but who be these?

Cand. Here I do plight my faith, taking thee for the staff of my age, and of my youth my solace.