PRATLE

Lord, lord, what pretty imps you are in your majorities! No insooth gossip Mag-py it is one of us, heavens bless thee baby, and a well appointed imp it is. No, no, Mistress Barren, and Infant smiling, and a Lambs bleating is a sign of fertility it is so in Artimedorus; you frowned when you were born, and thats the reason you are so sterill; Artimedorus says so in his fourth book. None nose. Had it be manchild, their had be three evident signs of and whoremaster; a Roman Nose, Cherry Lip, and a bald Pare, for so Artimedorus in his Problems. I surely Gossip Mag-py, and it is a great sign of frugality if the Stars, and Planets be concordant, for says Artime dorus; if it be born under Venus, it will be fair as you are, if under Solemnizing, Rich as you are, and if under Mere curry. I surely Gossip, and stop their wrinkles with too, and says Artimedorus, in his third book of his Moderns, if born under Castor, and Pollux, store of children. You speak broad Gossip, it's Pollux. Insooth Gossip, she has given you a veny; Good lack mistress Ursula, where have you negotiated Your self; you should have be present, and have Negotiated your self about the Maxims, and principles Of childbearing; what? you had a Mother? No matter for the father; we talk of the surer side, you may be sure to know your mother, when your mother hardly knows your father; it's a very facetious point, as Artime dorus in his book of dreams sets it down. Off with your hat sir, you come not here without re verence, see if the little infidel smile not on him, buss, buss, it. Bless the baby, it has sufficient if it live to be of the sages. Bless the baby—it has—ey marry has it! Bless the baby, it has a purse, and no money in't yet, but it may have, and it please the destinies. Look how it smiles. Bless us daughter say not so! I hope you will not partly in a trance, nor steal away in a qualm; come, come what should be your reason? An't be a dream, let me come too it; was it a sor rowfull dream? Artimedorus says there be diverse kind of meats engender dreams; as Beans, long Peason-Lentills, Coleworts, Garlic, Onions, and the Like; Leeks, Chestnuts, and other opening Roots, as Rad-dish, Carrets, Skirrets, Parsnips; now there is some flesh is provoca tive too; as the Heart, the Boar, the old Hare, and Beef; and then of fowls, as the Crane, Duck, Drake, Goose, and Bustard; if you tasted any of these they will engender dreams. But a very true one; look you Artimedorus in his third book of his Moderns says to dream of Flowers is very good to a woman in childbed; it argues she shall soon enjoy her husband; to walk on the Seas specifies to a man, delight, but to a woman a dissolute life, for the Sea is Like a harlot, a glicery face, and a broken heart. Come, come, do you sleep? we'll watch; by this good drink; Gossip Mag-py, I was almost dry. So, so, she sleeps, come fit round, and lets have a Carouse to the little infidel. By this good liquour, it is so. Twins daughter that rule most the sign being in Virgo, look you Gossip Barren, could you once dream of soar eyes you should be sure of children? By this diet-bread Artimedorus says so; mark Mistress Ursula, to dream to have Lice, either in head or body, in some quantity signifies a proper man well appointed; and by this drink I dreamed my husband when he came first a wooing; came i'th likeness of a Kentish twindle Pippen; that is just, as if two stones grew together, no sooner was I married, but I had two sons presently just as Artimedorus says by this diet-bread. You begin to be sleepy; I can prescribe you a medi cine of Poppy, Mandragora, and other drowsy Sirrops; heida all a sleep? if my charge sleeps, let me rest, for by this drink i'm heavy too— Heigho; what's the matter Mistress Ursula! Dispatch every one several ways some to fields some to'th waterside; las it's but a fit, 'twill be over presently—away away severally. We traced her through the Snow, step, by step, Until we came unto the River side, Where Like a cunning Hare she had indented To cozen her persuers, and cozened her self For drowned we found her on the River side Nigh Colic Ferry.