_Clo._ 'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow.
_Clo._ No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor, though many of the rich are damned: but, if I may have your ladyship's good will to go to the world, Isbel the woman and I will do as we may.
_Clo._ I do beg your good will in this case.
_Clo._ In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no heritage: and I think I shall never have the blessing of God till I have issue o' my body; for they say barnes are 25 blessings.
_Count._ Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry.
_Clo._ My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives.
_Count._ Is this all your worship's reason? 30
_Clo._ Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons, such as they are.
_Clo._ I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry that 35 I may repent.
_Count._ Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.
_Clo._ I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake.
_Count._ Such friends are thine enemies, knave. 40
_Clo._ You're shallow, madam, in great friends; for the knaves come to do that for me, which I am aweary of. He that ears my land spares my team, and gives me leave to in the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my drudge: he that comforts my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood; he 45 that cherishes my flesh and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my flesh and blood is my friend: ergo, he that kisses my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to be what they are, there were no fear in marriage; for young Charbon the puritan and old Poysam the papist, howsome'er 50 their hearts are severed in religion, their heads are both one; they may joul horns together, like any deer i' the herd.
_Count._ Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave?
_Clo._ A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the 55 next way:
For I the ballad will repeat, Which men full true shall find; Your marriage comes by destiny, Your cuckoo sings by kind. 60
_Count._ Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon.
_Stew._ May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to you: of her I am to speak.
_Count._ Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her; Helen I mean. 65