SCENE III.[2212

_Enter a_ Serving-man.

_Serv._ Let me see now, the sign of the Last in Tower Street. Mass, yonder ’s the house. What, haw! Who ’s within?

_Enter_ RALPH.

_Ralph._ Who calls there? What want you, sir? 5

_Serv._ Marry, I would have a pair of shoes made for a gentlewoman against to-morrow morning. What, can you do them?

_Ralph._ Yes, sir, you shall have them. But what length ’s her foot? 10

_Serv._ Why you must make them in all parts like this shoe; but, at any hand, fail not to do them, for the gentlewoman is to be married very early in the morning.

_Ralph._ How? by this shoe must it be made? By this? Are you sure, sir, by this? 16

_Serv._ How, by this? Am I sure, by this? Art thou in thy wits? I tell thee, I must have a pair of shoes dost thou mark me? A pair of shoes, two shoes, made by this very shoe, this same (20) shoe, against to-morrow morning by four a clock. Dost understand me? Canst thou do ’t?

_Ralph._ Yes, sir, yes—I—I—I can do ’t. By this shoe, you say? I should know this shoe. Yes, sir, yes, by this shoe, I can do ’t. Four (25) a clock, well. Whither shall I bring them?

_Serv._ To the sign of the Golden Ball in Watling Street; enquire for one Master Hammon, a gentleman, my master.

_Ralph._ Yea, sir; by this shoe, you say? 30

_Serv._ I say, Master Hammon at the Golden Ball; he ’s the bridegroom, and those shoes are for his bride.

_Ralph._ They shall be done by this shoe. Well, well. Master Hammon at the Golden Shoe—I would say, the Golden Ball; very well, very 36 well. But I pray you, sir, where must Master Hammon be married?

_Serv._ At Saint Faith’s Church, under Paul’s. But what ’s that to thee? Prithee, dispatch those shoes, and so farewell. _Exit._ 41

_Ralph._ By this shoe, said he. How am I amaz’d At this strange accident! Upon my life, This was the very shoe I gave my wife, When I was prest for France; since when, alas! I never could hear of her. It is the same, 46 And Hammon’s bride no other but my Jane.

_Enter_ FIRK.

_Firk._ ’Snails,[2213] Ralph, thou hast lost thy part of three pots, a countryman of mine gave me to breakfast. 50

_Ralph._ I care not; I have found a better thing.

_Firk._ A thing? Away! Is it a man’s thing, or a woman’s thing?

_Ralph._ Firk, dost thou know this shoe?

_Firk._ No, by my troth; neither doth that (56) know me! I have no acquaintance with it, ’t is a mere stranger to me.

_Ralph._ Why, then I do; this shoe, I durst be sworn, Once covered the instep of my Jane. 60 This is her size, her breadth, thus trod my love; These true-love knots I prickt. I hold my life, By this old shoe I shall find out my wife.

_Firk._ Ha, ha! Old shoe, that wert new! How a murrain came this ague-fit of foolishness (65) upon thee?

_Ralph._ Thus, Firk: even now here came a serving-man; By this shoe would he have a new pair made Against to-morrow morning for his mistress, That ’s to be married to a gentleman. 70 And why may not this be my sweet Jane?

_Firk._ And why may’st not thou be my sweet ass? Ha, ha!

_Ralph._ Well, laugh and spare not! But the truth is this: Against to-morrow morning I ’ll provide 75 A lusty crew of honest shoemakers, To watch the going of the bride to church. If she prove Jane, I ’ll take her in despite From Hammon and the devil, were he by. If it be not my Jane, what remedy? 80 Hereof I am sure, I shall live till I die, Although I never with a woman lie. _Exit._

_Firk._ Thou lie with a woman to build nothing but Cripplegates! Well, God sends fools fortune, and it may be, he may light upon 85 his matrimony by such a device; for wedding and hanging goes by destiny. _Exit._