CHURMS. Faith, little news; but here's a letter which Master Gripe desired me to deliver you: and though it stand not with my reputation to be a carrier of letters, yet, not knowing how much it might concern you, I thought it better something to abase myself, than you should be anyways hindered.
PLOD-ALL.
Thanks, good sir; and I'll in and read it.
[Exeunt PLOD-ALL and his son. Manet CHURMS.
CHURMS.
Thus men of reach must look to live:
I cry content, and murder where I kiss.
Gripe takes me for his faithful friend,
Imparts to me the secrets of his heart;
And Plod-all thinks I am as true a friend
To every enterprise he takes in hand,
As ever breath'd under the cope of heaven:
But damn me if they find it so.
All this makes for my [own] avail;
I'll ha' the wench myself, or else my wits shall fail.
Enter LELIA and NURSE, gathering of flowers.
LELIA.
See how the earth this fragrant spring is clad,
And mantled round in sweet nymph Flora's robes:
Here grows th'alluring rose, sweet marigolds
And the lovely hyacinth. Come, nurse, gather:
A crown of roses shall adorn my head,
I'll prank myself with flowers of the prime;
And thus I'll spend away my primrose-time.
NURSE. Rufty-tufty, are you so frolic? O, that you knew as much as I do; 'twould cool you.
LELIA.
Why, what knowest thou, nurse I prythee, tell me.
NURSE. Heavy news, i' faith, mistress: you must be matched, and married to a husband. Ha, ha, ha, ha! a husband, i' faith.
LELIA.
A husband, nurse? why, that's good news, if he be a good one.