1500I thank thee for my maid, I like her very well,

1501How doest thou like her, Frances?

1502Fran. In good sadness, Tom, very well, excellent well,

1503She speaks so prettily, I pray what's your name?

1504Luce. My name, forsooth, be called Tanikin.

1505Fran. By my troth a fine name: O Tanikin, you are

1506excellent for dressing one head a new fashion.

1507Luce. Me fall doe every ting about da head.

1508Civ. What Countrey woman is she, Kester?

1509Fath. A Dutch woman, sir.

1510Civ. Why then she is outlandish, is she not?

1511Fath. I, Sir, she is.

1512Fran. O then thou canst tell how to help me to cheeks

1513and ears?

1514Luce. Yes, mistresse, very vell.

1515Fath. Cheeks and ears, why, mistresse Frances, want

1516you cheeks and ears? me thinks you have very fair ones.

1517Fran. Thou art a fool indeed, Tom, thou knowest

1518what I mean.

1519Civ. I, I, Kester, 'tis such as they wear a their heads,

1520I prethee, Kit, have her in, and shew her my house.

1521Fath. I will, sir, come Tanikin.

1522Fran. O Tom, you have not bussed me to day, Tom.

1523Civ. No Frances, we must not kisse afore folkes,

1524God save my Franck,

1526See yonder, my sister Delia is come, welcome, good sister.

1527Fran. Welcome, good sister, how do you like the

1528tire of my head?

1529Delia. Very well, sister.

1530Civ. I am glad you're come, sister Delia, to give or-

1531der for Supper, they will be here soon.

1532Arti. I, but if good luck had not served, she had

1533Not bin here now, filching Flowerdale had like

1534To pepper'd us, but for master Oliver, we had bin robbed.

1535Delia. Peace, sirrah, no more.

1536Fath. Robbed! by whom?

1537Arti. Marry by none but by Flowerdale, he is turned

1538thiefe.

1540For your escape, will you draw near, sister?

1541Fath. Sirrah, come hither, would Flowerdale, he that

1542was my master, a robbed you, I prethee tell me true?

1543Arti. Yes ifaith, even that Flowerdale, that was thy

1544master.

1545Fath. Hold thee, there is a French Crown, and speak

1546no more of this.

1547Arti. Not I, not a word, now do I smell knavery:

1548In every purse Flowerdale takes, he is halfe:

1549And gives me this to keep counsel, not a word I.

1550Fath. Why God a mercy.

1551Fran. Sister, look here, I have a new Dutch maid,

1552And she speaks so fine, it would do your heart good.

1553Civ. How do you like her, sister?

1554Del. I like your maid well.

1555Civ. Well, dear sister, will you draw near, and give

1556directions for supper, guesse will be here presently.

1557Del. Yes, brother, lead the way, I'le follow you.

1559Hark you, Dutch Frow, a word.

1560Luce. Vat is your villwit me?

1561Del. Sister Luce, 'tis not your broken language,

1562Nor this same habit, can disguise your face

1563From I that know you: pray tell me, what means this?

1564Luce. Sister, I see you know me, yet be secret:

1565This borrowed shape that I have tane upon me,

1566Is but to keep my self a space unknown,

1567Both from my father, and my nearest fri

ends:

1568Untill I see how time will bring to passe,

1569The desperate course of Master Flowerdale.

1570Del. O he is worse then bad, I prithee leave him,

1571And let not once thy heart to think on him.

1572Luce. Do not perswade me once to such a thought,

1573Imagine yet, that he is worse then nought:

1574Yet one lovers time may all that ill undo,

1575That all his former life did run into.

1576Therefore, kind sister, do not disclose my estate,

1577If e're his heart doth turn, 'tis n'ere too late.

1578Del. Well, seeing no counsel can remove your mind,

1579I'le not disclose you, that art wilfull blind.

1580Luce. Delia, I thank you, I now must please her eyes,

1581My sister Frances, neither fair nor wise.