'POTHECARY. Now if I wist this wish no sin,
I would to God I might begin.
'PARDONER. I am content that thou lie first.
PALMER. Even so am I; now[485] say thy worst.
Now let us hear, of all thy lies,
The greatest lie thou mayst devise.
And in the fewest words thou can.
'POTHECARY. Forsooth, ye be[486] an honest man.
PEDLAR. There said ye much, but yet no lie.
PARDONER. Now lie ye both, by Our Lady.
Thou liest in boast of his honesty,
And he hath lied in affirming thee.
'POTHECARY. If we both he, and ye say true,
Then of these lies your part adieu!
And if ye win, make none avaunt,
For you are sure of one ill servant.
You may perceive by the words he gave,
He taketh your maship[487] but for knave.
But who told truth[488] or lied indeed,
That will I know, ere[489] we proceed.
Sir, after that I first began
To praise you for an honest man,
When ye affirmed it for no lie:[490]
Now, by your[491] faith, speak even truly;
Thought ye your affirmation true?
PALMER. Yea, marry, for I would ye knew,
I think myself an honest man.
'POTHECARY. What thought ye in the contrary then?
PARDONER. In that I said the contrary,
I think from truth I did not vary.