SCENE III. ［The same.］
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?
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?
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?
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 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 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?
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 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.
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 press'd for France; since when, alas!
I never could hear of her. It is the same,
And Hammon's bride no other but my Jane.
Enter FIRK
Firk. 'Snails〖A corruption of “God's nails.”〗 Ralph, thou hast lost thy part of three pots, a countryman of mine gave me to breakfast.
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 know me! I have no acquaintance with it, 'tis a mere stranger to me.
Ralph. Why, then I do; this shoe, I durst be sworn,
Once covered the instep of my Jane.
This is her size, her breadth, thus trod my love;
These true-love knots I pricked. 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 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.
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
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?
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 Cripple-gates! Well, God sends fools fortune, and it may be, he may light upon his matrimony by such a device; for wedding and hanging goes by destiny. Exit.