1681I haue seru'd Prince Florizell, and in my time wore three

1682pile, but now I am out of seruice.

1691My Trafficke is sheetes: when the Kite builds, looke to

1692lesser Linnen. My Father nam'd me Autolicus, who be-

1693ing (as I am) lytter'd vnder Mercurie, was likewise a

1694snapper-vp of vnconsidered trifles: With Dye and drab,

1695I purchas'd this Caparison, and my Reuennew is the silly

1696Cheate. Gallowes, and Knocke, are too powerfull on

1697the Highway. Beating and hanging are terrors to mee:

1698For the life to come, I sleepe out the thought of it. A

1699prize, a prize.

1701Clo. Let me see, euery Leauen-weather toddes, euery

1702tod yeeldes pound and odde shilling: fifteene hundred

1703shorne, what comes the wooll too?

1704Aut. If the sprindge hold, the Cocke's mine.

1705Clo. I cannot do't without Compters. Let mee see,

1706what am I to buy for our Sheepe-shearing-Feast? Three

1707pound of Sugar, fiue pound of Currence, Rice: What

1708will this sister of mine do with Rice? But my father hath

1709made her Mistris of the Feast, and she layes it on. Shee

1710hath made-me four and twenty Nose-gayes for the shea-

1711rers (three-man song-men, all, and very good ones) but

1712they are most of them Meanes and Bases; but one Puri-

1713tan amongst them, and he sings Psalmes to horne-pipes.

1714I must haue Saffron to colour the Warden Pies, Mace:

1715Dates, none: that's out of my note: Nutmegges, seuen;

1716a Race or two of Ginger, but that I may begge: Foure

1717pound of Prewyns, and as many of Reysons o'th Sun.

1718Aut. Oh, that euer I was borne.

1719Clo. I'th' name of me.

1720Aut. Oh helpe me, helpe mee: plucke but off these

1721ragges: and then, death, death.

1722Clo. Alacke poore soule, thou hast need of more rags

1723to lay on thee, rather then haue these off.

1724Aut. Oh sir, the loathsomnesse of them offend mee,

1725more then the stripes I haue receiued, which are mightie

1726ones and millions.

1727Clo. Alas poore man, a million of beating may come

1728to a great matter.

1729Aut. I am rob'd sir, and beaten: my money, and ap-

1730parrell tane from me, and these detestable things put vp-

1731on me.

1732Clo. What, by a horse-man, or a foot-man?

1733Aut. A footman (sweet sir) a footman.

1734Clo. Indeed, he should be a footman, by the garments

1735he has left with thee: If this bee a horsemans Coate, it

1736hath seene very hot seruice. Lend me thy hand, Ile helpe

1737thee. Come, lend me thy hand.

1738Aut. Oh good sir, tenderly, oh.

1739Clo. Alas poore soule.

1740Aut. Oh good sir, softly, good sir: I feare (sir) my

1741shoulder-blade is out.

1742Clo. How now? Canst stand?

1743Aut. Softly, deere sir: good sir, softly: you ha done

1744me a charitable office.

1745Clo. Doest lacke any mony? I haue a little mony for

1746thee.

1747Aut. No, good sweet sir: no, I beseech you sir: I haue

1748a Kinsman not past three quarters of a mile hence, vnto

1749whome I was going: I shall there haue money, or anie

1750thing I want: Offer me no money I pray you, that killes

1751my heart.

1752Clow. What manner of Fellow was hee that robb'd

1753you?

1754Aut. A fellow (sir) that I haue knowne to goe about

1755with Troll-my-dames: I knew him once a seruant of the

1756Prince: I cannot tell good sir, for which of his Ver-

1757tues it was, but hee was certainely Whipt out of the

1758Court.

1759Clo. His vices you would say: there's no vertue whipt

1760out of the Court: they cherish it to make it stay there;

1761and yet it will no more but abide.

1762Aut. Vices I would say (Sir.) I know this man well,

1763he hath bene since an Ape-bearer, then a Processe-seruer

1764(a Bayliffe) then hee compast a Motion of the Prodigall

1765sonne, and married a Tinkers wife, within a Mile where

1766my Land and Liuing lyes; and (hauing flowne ouer ma-

1767ny knauish professions) he setled onely in Rogue: some

1768call him Autolicus.

1769Clo. Out vpon him: Prig, for my life Prig: he haunts

1770Wakes, Faires, and Beare-baitings.

1771Aut. Very true sir: he sir hee: that's the Rogue that

1772put me into this apparrell.

1773Clo. Not a more cowardly Rogue in all Bohemia; If

1774you had but look'd bigge, and spit at him, hee'ld haue

1775runne.

1776Aut. I must confesse to you (sir) I am no fighter: I am

1777false of heart that way, & that he knew I warrant him.

1778Clo. How do you now?

1779Aut. Sweet sir, much better then I was: I can stand,

1780and walke: I will euen take my leaue of you, & pace soft-

1781ly towards my Kinsmans.

1782Clo. Shall I bring thee on the way?

1783Aut. No, good fac'd sir, no sweet sir.

1784Clo. Then fartheewell, I must go buy Spices for our

1785sheepe-shearing. Exit.

1786Aut. Prosper you sweet sir. Your purse is not hot e-

1787nough to purchase your Spice: Ile be with you at your

1788sheepe-shearing too: If I make not this Cheat bring out

1789another, and the sheere

rs proue sheepe, let me be vnrold,

1790and my name put in the booke of Vertue.