Enter Lampriscus with a pot of honny.
But here comes Lampriscus, my discontented neighbour. How 185 now, neighbour, you looke towarde the ground as well as I; you muse on something.
Lamp. Neighbour on nothing, but on the matter I so often mooved to you: if you do any thing for charity, helpe me; if for neighborhood or brotherhood, helpe me: never was one so combered as is 190 poore Lampryscus: and to begin, I pray receive this potte of honny to mend[1052] your fare.
Old man. Thankes, neighbor, set it downe; Honny is alwaies welcome to the Beare. And now, neighbour, let me heere the cause of your comming. 195
Lampriscus. I am (as you knowe, neighbour) a man unmaried, and lived so unquietly with my two wives, that I keepe every yeare holy the day wherein I buried them both: the first was on Saint Andrewes day, the other on Saint Lukes.[1053]
Old man. And now, neighbour, you of this country say, your 200 custome is out: but on with your tale, neighbour.
Lamp. By my first wife, whose tongue wearied me alive, and sounded in my eares like the clapper of a great bell, whose talke was a continuall torment to all that dwelt by her, or lived nigh her, you have heard me say I had a handsome daughter. 205
Old man. True, neighbour.
Lampr. Shee it is that afflictes me with her continuall clamoures, and hangs on me like a burre: poore shee is, and proude shee is; as poore as a sheepe new shorne, and as proude of her hopes, as a peacock of her taile well growne. 210
Old man. Well said, Lampryscus, you speake it like an Englishman.