d sits and wearily twits,
The woods with perjury:
But the cuckoo-knave sings hold his stave,
(Ever the spring comes merrily)
And "O poor fool!" sings he--
For this is the way in the world to live,
To mock when a friend hath no more to give,
Whether in hall or tree!

[_The villagers retire severally._]

[_Enter WILLIAM, L._]

_Will._ So this publican hath ceased to be a sinner!
To think now of old sophisticate Gurton being called
Hezekiah Newborn. Gadso, he babbles of salvation
like the tap his boy left running this morning to see
the troop of cavaliers go by. Yet I marked the
unregenerate Gurton swore round ere Newborn found his
voice to upbraid sourly as becomes a saint. He hath
been more civil since I heard him. O Newborn,
how utterly shalt thou be damned!

[_Enter HOST._]

_Host._ The Lord be with thee, young man. It did
seem to me that thou wert discoursing aloud in
prayer. Doth thy master desire any creature-comfort?

_Will._ Master Gurton! thy belly hath kept pace
with thy righteousness.

_Host._ Ha! Who told thee my carnal name? I
prithee abstain. It doth remind me of the bonds of
the flesh.

_Will._ Simply, thou art known to me. I am William
Nutbrown.

_Host._ Nay! What, mine own friend Will, that had
his bastard fathered on me? Why, he was a youth!

_Will._ He was! A youth of promise. Behold the
fulfilment in these legs, this manly bosom!

_Host._ O wonderful! and to think I knew thee not!
But thou art horribly, and as it were most monstrously
improved? Will Nutbrown! to be sure--and whence
comest thou?

_Will._ From the land of beccaficos, mine old
Newborn! but thou understandest not--thou hast merely
observed the increase of local timber and the decay of
pigeon-houses. Thy sole chronicle hath been the ripe
birth of undistinguishable curly-headed village
children, and the green burial of undistinguished village
bald old men hath been thine only lesson. Thou hast
simply acquired amazement at the actions of the man
of experience. Doth a quart measure still hold a quart?

_Host._ Alas! more--I will tell thee of it. These be
sore times for us. You must know there hath been a
Parliament commission of inquiry into weights and
measures, and last Michaelmas a year, no! let me
see--well, marry! there came down--

_Will._ Well, well, thou shalt finish anon.

_Host._ It went nigh to kill me.

_Will._ Thou shalt tell me all hereafter.

_Host._ Damnation!