SCENE III.--_Harleston Fair.
_Enter_ MARGARET _and_ JOAN; THOMAS, RICHARD, _and other Clowns; and_ LACY _disguised in country apparel._
_Thom._ By my troth, Margaret, here's a weather is able to make a man call his father "whoreson": if this weather hold, we shall have hay good cheap, and butter and cheese at Harleston will bear no price.
_Mar._ Thomas, maids when they come to see the fair Count not to make a cope[189] for dearth of hay: When we have turn'd our butter to the salt, And set our cheese safely upon the racks, Then let our fathers price it as they please. We country sluts of merry Fressingfield Come to buy needless naughts to make us fine, And look that young men should be frank this day, And court us with such fairings as they can. Phœbus is blithe, and frolic looks from heaven, As when he courted lovely Semele, Swearing the pedlers shall have empty packs, If that fair weather may make chapmen buy.
_Lacy._ But, lovely Peggy, Semele is dead, And therefore Phœbus from his palace pries, And, seeing such a sweet and seemly saint, Shows all his glories for to court yourself.
_Mar._ This is a fairing, gentle sir, indeed, To soothe me up with such smooth flattery; But learn of me, your scoff's too broad before.-- Well, Joan, our beauties must abide their jests; We serve the turn in jolly Fressingfield.
_Joan._ Margaret, a farmer's daughter for a farmer's son: I warrant you, the meanest of us both Shall have a mate to lead us from the church. [LACY _whispers_ MARGARET _in the ear._ But, Thomas, what's the news? what, in a dump? Give me your hand, we are near a pedler's shop; Out with your purse, we must have fairings now.
_Thom._ Faith, Joan, and shall: I'll bestow a fairing on you, and then we will to the tavern, and snap off a pint of wine or two.
_Mar._ Whence are you, sir? of Suffolk? for your terms Are finer than the common sort of men.
_Lacy._ Faith, lovely girl, I am of Beccles by, Your neighbour, not above six miles from hence, A farmer's son, that never was so quaint But that he could do courtesy to such dames. But trust me, Margaret, I am sent in charge, From him that revell'd in your father's house, And fill'd his lodge with cheer and venison, 'Tirèd in green: he sent you this rich purse, His token that he help'd you run your cheese, And in the milkhouse chatted with yourself.
_Mar._ To me? you forget yourself.
_Lacy._ Women are often weak in memory.
_Mar._ O, pardon, sir, I call to mind the man: 'Twere little manners to refuse his gift, And yet I hope he sends it not for love; For we have little leisure to debate of that.
_Joan._ What, Margaret! blush not: maids must have their loves.
_Thom._ Nay, by the mass, she looks pale as if she were angry.
_Rich._ Sirrah, are you of Beccles? I pray, how doth Goodman Cob? my father bought a horse of him.--I'll tell you, Margaret, 'a were good to be a gentleman's jade, for of all things the foul hilding could not abide a dung-cart.
_Mar._ [_aside_]. How different is this farmer from the rest, That erst as yet have pleas'd my wandering sight! His words are witty, quicken'd with a smile, His courtesy gentle, smelling of the court; Facile and debonair in all his deeds; Proportion'd as was Paris, when, in grey, He courted Œnon in the vale by Troy. Great lords have come and pleaded for my love: Who but the Keeper's lass of Fressingfield? And yet methinks this farmer's jolly son Passeth the proudest that hath pleas'd mine eye. But, Peg, disclose not that thou art in love, And show as yet no sign of love to him, Although thou well wouldst wish him for thy love: Keep that to thee till time doth serve thy turn, To show the grief wherein thy heart doth burn.-- Come, Joan and Thomas, shall we to the fair?-- You, Beccles man, will not forsake us now?
_Lacy._ Not whilst I may have such quaint girls as you.
_Mar._ Well, if you chance to come by Fressingfield, Make but a step into the Keeper's lodge; And such poor fare as woodmen can afford, Butter and cheese, cream and fat venison, You shall have store, and welcome therewithal.
_Lacy._ Gramercies, Peggy; look for me ere long. [_Exeunt._
ACT THE SECOND