But my new marriage nips me near, Ateukin,
For Dorothea may not brook th' abuse.

ATEU. These lets are but as moths against the sun, Yet not so great; like dust before the wind, Yet not so light. Tut, pacify your Grace: You have the sword and sceptre in your hand; You are the king, the state depends on you; Your will is law. Say that the case were mine: Were she my sister whom your Highness loves, She should consent, for that our lives, our goods, Depend on you; and if your queen repine, Although my nature cannot brook of blood, And scholars grieve to hear of murderous deeds, But if the lamb should let the lion's way, By my advice the lamb should lose her life. Thus am I bold to speak unto your Grace, Who am too base to kiss your royal feet, For I am poor, nor have I land nor rent, Nor countenance here in court, but for my love, Your Grace shall find none such within the realm. K. OF SCOTS. Wilt thou effect my love, shall she be mine?

ATEU. I'll gather moly-rocus, and the herbs That heal* the wounds of body and the mind; I'll set out charms and spells, nought + shall be left To tame the wanton if she shall rebel :

Give me but tokens of your Highness' trust.

K. OF SCOTS. Thou shalt have gold, honour, and wealth enough;

Win my love, and I will make thee great.

ATEU. These words do make me rich, most noble I am more proud of them than any wealth. [prince ; Grace suppose I flatter you,

Did not your

heal] The 4to. "heales."

+ nought] The 4to. "nought else."

Believe me, I would boldly publish this;
Was never eye that saw a sweeter face,
Nor never ear that heard a deeper wit:
O God, how I am ravish'd in your worth!

K. OF SCOTS. Ateukin, follow me; love must have ATEU. I'll kiss your Highness' feet, march when [Exeunt.

you please.

Enter SLIPPER, NANO, and ANDREW, with their bills, ready written, in their hands.

AND. Stand back, sir; mine shall stand highest. SLIP. Come under mine arm, sir, or get a footstool; or else, by the light of the moon, I must come to it.

NANO. Agree, my masters; every man to his height; though I stand lowest, I hope to get the best master.

AND. Ere I will stoop to a thistle, I will change turns; as good luck comes on the right hand as the left here's for me, and me, and mine. But tell me, fellows, till better occasion come, do you seek masters?

AMBO. We do.

AND. But what can you do worthy preferment?
NANO. Marry, I can smell a knave from a rat.
SLIP. And I can lick a dish before a cat.

AND. And I can find too fools unsought,-how like you that? But in earnest, now tell me of what trades are you two?

SLIP. How mean you that, sir, of what trade? Marry, I'll tell you, I have many trades: the honest trade when I needs must; the filching trade, when time serves; the cozening trade, as I find occasion. And I have more qualities; I cannot abide a full cup unkissed, a fat capon uncarved, a full purse unpicked, nor a fool to prove a justice as you do.

AND. Why, sot, why callest thou me fool? NANO. For examining wiser than thyself. AND. So do* many more than I in Scotland. NANO. Yea, those are such as have more authority than wit, and more wealth than honesty.

SLIP. This is my little brother with the great wit; ware him. But what canst thou do, tell me, that art so inquisitive of us?

AND. Any thing that concerns a gentleman to do, that can I do.

SLIP. So you are of the gentle trade?

AND. True.

SLIP. Then, gentle sir, leave us to ourselves, for here comes one as if he would lack a servant ere he went. [Andrew stands aside.

Enter ATEUKIN.

ATEU. Why, so, Ateukin, this becomes thee best,
Wealth, honour, ease, and angels in thy chest:
Now may I say, as many often sing,

No fishing to the sea, nor service to a king.
Unto this high promotion+ doth belong
Means to be talk'd of in the thickest throng.
And first, to fit the humours of my lord,
Sweet lays and lines of love I must record;
And such sweet lines and love-lays I'll indite,
As men may wish for, and my lieget delight.
And next a train of gallants at my heels,
That men may say, the world doth run on wheels;
For men of art that rise by indirection

To honour and the favour of their king,

Must use all means to save what they have got,
And win their favours whom he never knew.

*do] The 4to. "doth."

+ promotion] The 4to. " promotions."
liege] The 4to. "leech."

If

any frown to see my fortunes such,

A man must bear a little, not too much.

But in good time, these bills portend, I think,
That some good fellows do for service seek. [Read.
If any gentleman, spiritual or temporal, will en-
tertain out of his service a young stripling of the age
of thirty years, that can sleep with the soundest,
eat with the hungriest, work with the sickest, lie
with the loudest, face with the proudest, &c., that
can wait in a gentleman's chamber, when his master
is a mile off, keep his stable when 'tis empty, and
his purse when 'tis full, and hath many qualities
worse than all these, let him write his name and go
his way, and attendance shall be given.

By my faith a good servant: which is he?
SLIP. Truly, sir, that am I.

ATEU. And why doest thou write such a bill? are all these qualities in thee?

SLIP. O Lord, ay, sir, and a great many more, some better, some worse some richer, some poorer. Why, sir, do you look so? do they not please you?

ATEU. Truly, no, for they are nought, and so art thou: if thou hast no better qualities, stand by.

SLIP. O sir, I tell the worst first; but, and you lack a man, I am for you; I'll tell you the best qualities I have.

ATEU. Be brief then.

SLIP. If you need me in your chamber, I can keep the door at a whistle; in your kitchen, turn the spit, and lick the pan, and make the fire burn; but if in the stable

ATEU. Yea, there would I use thee.

SLIP. Why there you kill me, there am I,* and turn me to a horse and a wench, and I have no peer.

am I] Something seems wanting here.

I

ATEU. Art thou so good in keeping a horse? pray thee tell me how many good qualities hath a horse?

SLIP. Why so, sir; a horse hath two properties of a man, that is a proud heart, and a hardy stomach; four properties of a lion, a broad breast, a stiff docket, hold your nose, master,—a wild countenance, and four good legs; nine properties of a fox, nine of a hare, nine of an ass, and ten of a woman. ATEU. A woman! why, what properties of a woman hath a horse?

SLIP. O master, know you not that? draw your tables, and write what wise I speak. First, a merry countenance; second, a soft pace; third, a broad forehead; fourth, broad buttocks; fifth, hard of ward; sixth, easy to leap upon; seventh, good at long journey; eighth, moving under a man; ninth, alway busy with the mouth; tenth, ever chewing on the bridle.

ATEU. Thou art a man for me: what's thy name? SLIP. An ancient name, sir, belonging to the chamber and the night gown: guess you that? ATEU. What's that? Slipper?

SLIP. By my faith, well guessed; and so 'tis indeed. You'll be my master?

ATEU. I mean so.

SLIP. Read this first.

ATEU. Pleaseth it any gentleman to entertain a servant of more wit than stature, let them subscribe, and attendance shall be given.

What of this?

SLIP. He is my brother, sir; and we two were born together, must serve together, and will die together, though we be both hanged.

ATEU. What's thy name?

NANO. Nano.

ATEU. The etymology of which word is a dwarf.