Cit . Let him come now and despatch this, and I’ll trouble you no more.

Boy . Will you give me your hand of that?

Wife . Give him thy hand, George, do; and I’ll kiss him. I warrant thee, the youth means plainly.

Boy . I’ll send him to you presently.

Wife . [Kissing him .] I thank you, little youth.

[Exit Boy .]

SCENE IV.— Before a Barber’s Shop , Waltham .

Enter RALPH, Host, TIM, and GEORGE.

Wife . Oh, Ralph’s here, George!—God send thee good luck, Ralph!]

Host . Puissant knight, yonder his mansion is.
Lo, where the spear and copper basin are!
Behold that string, on which hangs many a tooth,
Drawn from the gentle jaw of wandering knights!
I dare not stay to sound; he will appear.

[Exit .

Ralph . Oh, faint not, heart! Susan, my lady dear,
The cobbler’s maid in Milk Street, for whose sake
I take these arms, oh, let the thought of thee
Carry thy knight through all adventurous deeds;
And, in the honour of thy beauteous self,
May I destroy this monster Barbarossa!—
Knock, squire, upon the basin, till it break
With the shrill strokes, or till the giant speak.

[Tim knocks upon the basin

Enter Barber.

[Wife . Oh, George, the giant, the giant!—Now, Ralph, for thy life!]

Bar . What fond unknowing wight is this, that dares
So rudely knock at Barbarossa’s cell,
Where no man comes but leaves his fleece behind?

Ralph . I, traitorous caitiff, who am sent by fate
To punish all the sad enormities
Thou hast committed against ladies gent
And errant knights. Traitor to God and men,
Prepare thyself; this is the dismal hour
Appointed for thee to give strict account
Of all thy beastly treacherous villanies.

Bar . Fool-hardy knight, full soon thou shalt aby
This fond reproach: thy body will I bang;

[Takes down his pole .

Ralph . Saint George for me!

[They fight .

Bar . Gargantua for me!