Sil. You may command and go without.

Half. There's glick for you; let me have my gird; on thy conscience tell me what it is o'clock?

Sil. I cry you mercy, I have killed your cushion.

Half. I am paid and struck dead in the nest. I am sure this soft youth, who is not half so wise as you are fair, nor you altogether so fair as he is foolish, will not be so captious.

Acc. Your eloquence passes my recognizance.

Enter MEMPHIO and STELlio.

Luc. I never heard that before; but shall we two make a match between you?

Sil. I'll know first who was his father.

Acc. My father; what need you to care? I hope he was none of yours.

Half. A hard question, for it is odds but one begat them both; he that cut out the upper leather, cut out the inner, and so with one awl stitched two soles together.

Mem. What is she?

Half. 'Tis Prisius' daughter.

Mem. In good time; it fadges.
Stel. What is he?

Luc. Sperantus' son.

Stel. So 'twill cotten.

Acc. Damsel, I pray you how old are you? Mem. My son would scarce have asked such a foolish question.

* "Glick," to gibe, to banter.

"Let me have my gird;" i. e. let me see what sort of a retort she can find in answer to my question.

Sil. I shall be eighteen next bear-baiting.
Stel. My daughter would have made a wiser

answer.

Half. Oh, how fitly this comes off.

Acc. My father is a scold, what's yours? Mem. My heart throbs, I look him in the face, and yonder I espy Stellio.

Stel. My mind misgives me; but whist, yonder is Memphio.

Acc. In faith I perceive, an old saw and a rusty, no fool to the old fool*. I pray you, wherefore was I thrust out like a scarecrow in this similitude?

Mem. My son, and I ashamed! Dromio shall die.

Sil. Father, are you sneaking behind; I pray you what must I do next?

Stel. My daughter! Risio, thou hast cozened me.
Luc. Now begins the game.

Mem. How came you hither?
Acc. Marry, by the way from

hither.

Mem. How chance in this attire?

your house

Acc. How chance? Dromio bid me.

Mem. Ah! my son will be begg'd for a concealed fool t.

* "In faith I perceive an old saw and a rusty, no fool to the old fool:" in other words, I now perceive the truth of an old and almost stale proverbial saying, "there is no fool to be compared to an old fool." This is somewhat out of character from Accius, and might be given with good point to Halfpenny, the continuation of the speech remaining with its present claimant. + 66 My son will be begg'd for a concealed fool." Since the first part of this work has been printed, a friend in whose judgment I place the greatest reliance has suggested to me an ex

Acc. Will I? I'faith, sir, no.

Stel. Wherefore came you hither, Silena, without leave?

Sil. Because I did, and I am here because I

came.

Stel. Poor wench, thy wit is improved to the uttermost.

Half. Ah! 'tis a hard matter to have a wit of ́the old rent, every one racks his commons so high.

Mem. Dromio told me that one should meet Stellio's daughter, and court her in person of my son, and plead in place of my daughter; but, alas! I see my son hath met with Silena himself, and bewraid his folly.

Stel. But I see my daughter hath prattled with Accius, and discovered her simplicity.

Luc. A brave cry, to hear the two old mules to weep over the young fools.

Mem. Accius, how likest thou Silena?
Acc. I take her to be repugnant.

Sil. Truly his talk is very personable.

Stel. Come in, girl, this geer must be fetched about.

Mem. Come, Accius, let us go in.

Luc. Nay, sir, there's no harm done; they have neither bought nor sold; they may be twins for their wits and years.

planation for a preceding speech of Dromio's, page 204,-" I'll beg him for a fool," which will also explain this: the meaning there is, I'll endeavour to obtain from the crown a grant for the custody of his person, and the care and management of his estate, as being an idiot: this, though not clear, will be found correct on a careful examination of the preceding speech of Memphio's.

Mem. But why didst thou tell me it was Pri

sius' son?

Half. Because I thought thee a fool to ask who thine own son was.

Luc. And so, sir, for your daughter education hath done much; otherwise they are by nature soft witted enough.

Mem. Alas! their joints are not yet tied, they are not yet come to years and discretion.

Acc. Father, if my hands be tied, shall I grow wise?

Half. Aye, and Silena too, if you tie them fast to your tongues.

Sil. You may take your pleasure of my tongue, for it is no man's wife.

Mem. Come in, Accius.

Stel. Come in, Silena, I will talk with Memphio's son; but as for Risio

Mem. As for Dromio

[Exeunt Mem. Acc. Stel. and Sil.

Half. Ass for you all four.

Enter DROMIO and RISIO.

Drom. How goes the world now we have made all sure: Candius and Livia are married, their fathers consenting yet not knowing.

Luc. We have flat marred all; Accius and Silena courted one another; their fathers took them napping; both are ashamed, and you both shall be swinged.

Ris. Tush, let us alone; we will persuade them that all falls out for the best; for if I understand, if this match had been concluded, they both had been cozened; and now, seeing they find

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both to be fools, they may be both better advised. But why is Halfpenny so sad?

Enter HACKNEYMAN and SERJEANT.

Half. Because I am sure I shall never be a penny.

Ris. Rather pray there be no fall of money, for thou wilt then go for a q*.

Drom. But did not the two fools currently court one another.

Luc. Very good words, fitly applied, brought in the nick.

Serj. I arrest you.

Drom. Me, sir! why then didst not bring a stool with thee that I might sit down?

Hack. He arrests you at my suit for a horse. Ris. The more ass he; if he had arrested a mare instead of a horse it had been a slight oversight; but to arrest a man that hath no likeness of a horse is flat lunacy or alecyt.

Hack. Tush, I hired him a horse.

Drom. I swear then he was well ridden. Hack. I think in two days he was never baited.

Half. Why was it a bear thou ridest on?
Hack. I mean he never gave him bait.

Luc. Why he took him for no fish.

Hack. I mistake none of you when I take you for fools I say thou never gavest my horse

meat.

Drom. Yes, in four-and-twenty hours I am sure he had a bottle of hay as big as his belly.

"Go for a q," i. e. for a farthing.

+ "Alecy," madness produced by drinking ale to excess.