NURSE

Madam? I know not Madam; shall I see? Marry the Gods forbid Lady. I hope not Madam, I should be sorry they should. For the Hope's that I have yet as old as I am, Shall I go call your Shoemaker? A little stay may make me look too late. But you may let him know his fault, And heel mend it another time. Venus bless us, what cross measures are in your head! Ene as you please, Madam, both either, or neither. I think not Madam, 'tis some young Prentice Your old shoemaker of Feversham hath God. I have seen a worse face in better clothes. He would do well if he knew the true length Of your foot Madam. I will: If you doubt call me back. Exit Nurse. Come sir, you must answer a default to my Lady. And why was the creak of shoes first devised sir? Were thy Parents of this profession? He speaks well, sure there is some hard characters which I Understand not: I Like not these shoes, you must make and easier partly? Shall I call the shoemaker again Lady? Nay I know not Madam. Madam why chide you me? I will not love your shoemaker. Does he not make your shoes? therefore your shoemaker: But think not Lady I can be so base being so near your presence, To love such a groom, if but for your credit sake. Yet that's no president for me, I have known Ladies remove Their stable grooms into their bedchambers, and lower offices then That too: o'twas a policy, and hereafter may be in fashion for Great Ladies to match with their inferiors, because the woman Adding no dignity to the man, nor losing her own, still keeps Supremacy, he waits as dutiful on her trencher as when He was her servant. Twenty of mine own knowledge, that I have seen in my days. my closet, then thou shalt tell me some, if thou P again, if I find president I'll Follow it, (I'll else begin my self,) if there be none Let after Ladies coat me down for one. Exeunt. Good faith I am weary Madam, I never knew my tongue Would tire before: you have not let me close mine eyes to night. But I am old, when I was young, love would have kept me waking. A Scriveners son, no better verily, there's many Bonds yet in Room canceled, where he's subscri'd a public notary. Not at all Madam, nay I could come nearer were I sure it Would not offend your Grace. As I have herd great Maximinus Father, your Father's Father Madam, was but even a Smith, that with his labour Hammered out his living. It's now my every morning's work to watch the coming of Your shoemaker: pray Venus my Lady tread not her shoes awry, She changes her shoes so often. Exit Nurse. Anon sweet mouse. Yet more work for your Shoemaker, well, well, You play the wag, and I the lie must tell. I fear me there's a shoe wrings her i'th instep, of my young Shoemakers making: such fellows as he cannot choose but be slippery companions; for first they know the length of a Ladies foot, and then they have such tricks to smooth her shoe, and tickle her sole; as I protest, if I were a Shoemaker my self, it would make my teeth water: what a sweet thing it is, to have a round sweet, plump, de licate Calve of a Ladies leg lie rolling on his thigh, while he lies smoothing her fine silk stocking, slips his hand to her garters, and sometime higher byr'lady; I have been served so my self: there's ma nigh a Gallant, I can tell you, would give all the shoes in's shop to have a shoemakers office in a morning: Well, well, I say nothing, but I suspect something: Pity of me, she's as broad behind as I am, and round enough before: I doubt me he has made her a pair of short-heeled shoes with a turn-over: Come sweet Mouse, have you given instructions to your Shoemaker? Why what a fellow art thou, canst not find a Last to fit her yet? Out of my way Sir: o my heart! The matter say ye? pray let me gape alittle; was out of my wits before with fear, and now for joy. O my heart, I think in my conscience I have not so much wind left in my belly as will blow out a Candle: The Princess, the Princess Sir. Oh my sweet Lambkin's found, And come to Court too. A pretty handsome stripling by my Holydame; Her own Shoemaker belike, poor duckling: She was wandering, and he met with her; And belike she had worn out her shoes, and he fitted her finely: So drew on her shoes first, and drew her to Court after; And he and all the Company of the Gentle Craft Sir, Brings her home most sumptuously. This is the youth that doubles they: Oh my sweet Honey- uckle, have I found thee again? Nay, I was asleep when 'twas done i'faith. That's well: You must be careful sirrah, you must take true measure, And fit her to ahaire, I charge you. Mistress! gods me; I am a Madam sir knave, though I am a Nurse, I can tell you: Go too, learn your duty, and you shall work to me too: when you have done with my Lady, you shall take up my leg too: Come sweet honey. Exit. Fie, fie, fie, I have not so much wit left As to tell ye where I am my self, Oh my side, Pray let me breath a little; When this hurly burly began i'th' Court, She ran, and I ran; she hailed, and I pulled; She cried, and I roared; but her fear being Stronger than my old bones, away whipped she Out at the Court-gates, and I fell in a found, Stark dead y'faith; had not a Gentleman Usher Come by and clapped me soundly, I'de been Passed telling Tales by this time. O my Back.