Enter Mistress Touchstone, Gertrude, Mildred, and Sindefy.
God save your ladyship—save your good ladyship! Your ladyship is welcome from your enchanted castle, so are your beauteous retinue. I hear your knight
errant is travelled on strange adventures. Surely, in my mind, your ladyship hath fished fair, and caught a frog, as the saying is.
Mist. T. Speak to your father, madam, and kneel down. 121
Ge. Kneel? I hope I am not brought so low yet; though my knight be run away, and has sold my land, I am a lady still.
To. Your ladyship says true, madam; and it is fitter and a greater decorum, that I should curtsey to you that are a knight’s wife, and a lady, than you be brought o’ your knees to me, who am a poor cullion[90] and your father.
Ge. Law!—my father knows his duty. 130
Mist. T. O child!
To. And therefore I do desire your ladyship, my good Lady Flash, in all humility, to depart my obscure cottage, and return in quest of your bright and most transparent castle, however presently concealed to mortal eyes. And as for one poor woman of your train here, I will take that order, she shall no longer be a charge unto you, nor help to spend your ladyship; she shall stay at home with me, and not go abroad, nor put you to the pawning of an odd coach-horse or three wheels, but take part with the Touchstone. If we lack, we will not complain to your ladyship. And so, good madam, with your damosel here, please you to let us see your straight backs in equipage; for truly here is no roost for such chickens as
you are, or birds o’ your feather, if it like your ladyship. 146