FIRST CARRIER
Heigh-ho! an it be not four by the day, I’ll be hanged: Charles’ wain is over the new chimney, and yet our horse not packed.—What, ostler!

    OSTLER
[Within] Anon, anon.

    FIRST CARRIER
I prithee, Tom, beat Cut’s saddle, put a few flocks in the point; poor jade, is wrung in the withers out of all cess.

    SECOND CARRIER
Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog, and that is the next way to give poor jades the bots: this house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died.

    FIRST CARRIER
Poor fellow, never joyed since the price of oats rose; it was the death of him.

    SECOND CARRIER
I think this be the most villanous house in all London road for fleas: I am stung like a tench.

    FIRST CARRIER
Like a tench! by the mass, there is ne’er a king christen could be better bit than I have been since the first cock.

    SECOND CARRIER
Why, they will allow us ne’er a jordan, and then we leak in your chimney; and your chamber-lie breeds fleas like a loach.

    FIRST CARRIER
What, ostler! come away and be hanged!

    SECOND CARRIER
I have a gammon of bacon and two razors of ginger, to be delivered as far as Charing-cross.

    FIRST CARRIER
God’s body! the turkeys in my pannier are quite starved.—What, ostler!—A plague on thee! hast thou never an eye in thy head? canst not hear? An ’twere not as good deed as drink, to break the pate on thee, I am a very villain.—Come, and be hanged!—hast thou no faith in thee?

    GADSHILL
Good morrow, carriers. What’s o’clock?

    FIRST CARRIER
I think it be two o’clock.

    GADSHILL
I pray thee lend me thy lantern, to see my gelding in the stable.

    FIRST CARRIER
Nay, by God, soft; I know a trick worth two of that, i’ faith.

    GADSHILL
I pray thee, lend me thine.

    SECOND CARRIER
Ay, when? can’st tell?—Lend me thy lantern, quoth he?—marry, I’ll see thee hanged first.

    GADSHILL
Sirrah carrier, what time do you mean to come to London?

    SECOND CARRIER
Time enough to go to bed with a candle, I warrant thee.—Come, neighbour Mugs, we’ll call up the gentleman: they will along with company, for they have great charge.

    GADSHILL
What, ho! chamberlain!

    CHAMBERLAIN
[Within] At hand, quoth pick-purse.

    GADSHILL
That’s even as fair as—at hand, quoth the chamberlain; for thou variest no more from picking of purses than giving direction doth from labouring; thou layest the plot how.

    CHAMBERLAIN
Good morrow, Master Gadshill. It holds current that I told you yesternight:—there’s a franklin in the wild of Kent hath brought three hundred marks with him in gold: I heard him tell it to one of his company last night at supper; a kind of auditor; one that hath abundance of charge too, God knows what. They are up already, and call for eggs and butter; they will away presently.

    GADSHILL
Sirrah, if they meet not with Saint Nicholas’ clerks, I’ll give thee this neck.

    CHAMBERLAIN
No, I’ll none of it: I pray thee keep that for the hangman; for I know thou worshippest St. Nicholas as truly as a man of falsehood may.

    GADSHILL
What talkest thou to me of the hangman? if I hang, I’ll make a fat pair of gallows; for if I hang, old Sir John hangs with me, and thou knowest he is no starveling. Tut! there are other Trojans that thou dreamest not of, the which for sport sake are content to do the profession some grace; that would, if matters should be looked into, for their own credit sake, make all whole. I am joined with no foot-land rakers, no long-staff sixpenny strikers, none of these mad mustachio purple-hued malt-worms; but with nobility and tranquillity, burgomasters and great oneyers, such as can hold in, such as will strike sooner than speak, and speak sooner than drink, and drink sooner than pray: and yet, zounds, I lie; for they pray continually to their saint, the commonwealth; or rather, not pray to her, but prey on her, for they ride up and down on her and make her their boots.

    CHAMBERLAIN
What, the commonwealth their boots? will she hold out water in foul way?

    GADSHILL
She will, she will; justice hath liquored her. We steal as in a castle, cocksure; we have the receipt of fern-seed,—we walk invisible.

    CHAMBERLAIN
Nay, by my faith, I think you are more beholding to the night than to fern-seed for your walking invisible.

    GADSHILL
Give me thy hand: thou shalt have a share in our purchase, as I am a true man.

    CHAMBERLAIN
Nay, rather let me have it, as you are a false thief.

    GADSHILL
Go to; homo is a common name to all men. Bid the ostler bring my gelding out of the stable. Farewell, you muddy knave.