Wife . Ay, and beat him well; he’s an unhappy boy.

Boy . Sir, you must pardon; the plot of our play lies contrary; and ’twill hazard the spoiling of our play.

Cit . Plot me no plots! I’ll ha’ Ralph come out; I’ll make your house too hot for you else.

Boy . Why, sir, he shall; but if any thing fall out of order, the gentlemen must pardon us.

Cit . Go your ways, goodman boy! [Exit Boy .] I’ll hold him a penny, he shall have his bellyful of fighting now. Ho, here comes Ralph! no more!]

SCENE V.— Another part of the Forest .

Enter Ralph, Mistress Merrythought, Michael,
Tim, and George.

Ralph . What knight is that, squire? ask him if he keep
The passage, bound by love of lady fair,
Or else but prickant.

Hum . Sir, I am no knight,
But a poor gentleman, that this same night
Had stolen from me, on yonder green,
My lovely wife, and suffered (to be seen
Yet extant on my shoulders) such a greeting,
That whilst I live I shall think of that meeting.

Cit . No more, wife, no more.]

Ralph . Where is the caitiff-wretch hath done this deed?
Lady, your pardon; that I may proceed
Upon the quest of this injurious knight.—And
thou, fair squire, repute me not the worse,
In leaving the great venture of the purse
And the rich casket, till some better leisure.

Hum . Here comes the broker hath purloined my treasure.

Enter Jasper and Luce.

Ralph . Go, squire, and tell him I am here,
An errant knight-at-arms, to crave delivery
Of that fair lady to her own knight’s arms.
If he deny, bid him take choice of ground,
And so defy him.

Tim . From the Knight that bears
The Golden Pestle, I defy thee, knight,
Unless thou make fair restitution
Of that bright lady.

Jasp . Tell the knight that sent thee,
He is an ass; and I will keep the wench,
And knock his head-piece.

Ralph . Knight, thou art but dead,
If thou recall not thy uncourteous terms.

[Wife . Break’s pate, Ralph; break’s pate, Ralph, soundly!]

Jasp . Come, knight; I am ready for you. Now your Pestle

[Snatches away his pestle .

Hum . Nay, an my noble knight be down so soon,
Though I can scarcely go, I needs must run. [Exit .

[Wife . Run, Ralph, run, Ralph; run for thy life, boy;
Jasper comes, Jasper comes!] [Exit Ralph .