e, to whistle
off these secrets, but you must be tittle-tattling before all our
guests? 'tis well they are whispering. Clamour your tongues, and
not a word more.

MOPSA.
I have done. Come, you promised me a tawdry lace, and a pair
of sweet gloves.

CLOWN.
Have I not told thee how I was cozened by the way, and lost
all my money?

AUTOLYCUS.
And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore it
behoves men to be wary.

CLOWN.
Fear not thou, man; thou shalt lose nothing here.

AUTOLYCUS.
I hope so, sir; for I have about me many parcels of charge.

CLOWN.
What hast here? ballads?

MOPSA.
Pray now, buy some: I love a ballad in print a-life; for then
we are sure they are true.

AUTOLYCUS.
Here's one to a very doleful tune. How a usurer's wife was
brought to bed of twenty money-bags at a burden, and how she
long'd to eat adders' heads and toads carbonadoed.

MOPSA.
Is it true, think you?

AUTOLYCUS.
Very true; and but a month old.

DORCAS.
Bless me from marrying a usurer!

AUTOLYCUS.
Here's the midwife's name to' t, one Mistress Taleporter,
and five or six honest wives that were present. Why should I
carry lies abroad?

MOPSA.
Pray you now, buy it.

CLOWN.
Come on, lay it by; and let's first see more ballads; we'll
buy the other things anon.

AUTOLYCUS.
Here's another ballad, of a fish that appeared upon the coast
on Wednesday the fourscore of April, forty thousand fathom
above water, and sung this ballad against the hard hearts of
maids: it was thought she was a woman, and was turned into a
cold fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that loved
her. The ballad is very pitiful, and as true.

DORCAS.
Is it true too, think you?

AUTOLYCUS.
Five justices' hands at it; and witnesses more than my pack
will hold.

CLOWN.
Lay it by too: another.

AUTOLYCUS.
This is a merry ballad; but a very pretty one.

MOPSA.
Let's have some merry ones.

AUTOLYCUS.
Why, this is a passing merry one, and goes to the tune of 'Two
maids wooing a man.' There's scarce a maid westward but she sings
it: 'tis in request, I can tell you.

MOPSA.
We can both sing it: if thou'lt bear a part, thou shalt hear;
'tis in three parts.

DORCAS.
We had the tune on't a month ago.

AUTOLYCUS.
I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my occupation: have at it
with you.

[SONG.]

AUTOLYCUS.
Get you hence, for I must go
Where it fits not you to know.

DORCAS.
Whither?

MOPSA.
O, whi