HODGE

What, fellow Ralph! Mistress, look here - Jane’s husband! Why,

how now - lame? Hans, make much of him: he’s a brother of

our trade, a good workman, and a tall soldier.

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LACY

You be welcome, broder.

MARGERY

Perdie, I knew him not. How dost thou, good Ralph? I am glad

to see thee well.

RALPH

I would God you saw me, dame, as well

As when I went from London into France.

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MARGERY

Trust me, I am sorry, Ralph, to see thee impotent. Lord, how the

wars have made him sunburnt! The left leg is not well; ’twas a

fair gift of God the infirmity took not hold a little higher,

considering thou camest from France - but let that pass.

RALPH

I am glad to see you well, and I rejoice

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To hear that God hath blessed my master so

Since my departure.

MARGERY

Yea truly, Ralph, I thank my maker - but let that pass.

HODGE

And, sirrah Ralph, what news, what news in France?

RALPH

Tell me, good Roger, first, what news in England?

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How does my Jane? When didst thou see my wife?

Where lives my poor heart? She’ll be poor indeed

Now I want limbs to get whereon to feed.

HODGE

Limbs? Hast thou not hands, man? Thou shalt never see a

shoemaker want bread, though he have but three fingers on a

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hand.

RALPH

Yet all this while I hear not of my Jane.

MARGERY

O Ralph, your wife! Perdie, we know not what’s become of her.

She was here a while, and because she was married grew more

stately than became her. I checked her, and so forth. Away she

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flung, never returned, nor said bye nor bah; and Ralph, you

know: ka me, ka thee. And so as I tell ye - Roger, is not Firk

come yet?

HODGE

No, forsooth.

MARGERY

And so indeed we heard not of her; but I hear she lives in

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London - but let that pass. If she had wanted, she might have

opened her case to me or my husband, or to any of my men; I

am sure there’s not any of them, perdie, but would have done

her good to his power. Hans, look if Firk be come.

LACY

Yaw, ick sal, vro. Exit LACY

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MARGERY

And so, as I said. But Ralph, why dost thou weep? Thou

knowest that naked we came out of our mother’s womb, and

naked we must return, and therefore thank God for all things.

HODGE

No, faith, Jane is a stranger here. But Ralph, pull up a good

heart - I know thou hast one. Thy wife, man, is in London. One

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told me he saw her a while ago, very brave and neat. We’ll ferret

her out, an’ London hold her.

MARGERY

Alas, poor soul, he’s overcome with sorrow. He does but as I do,

weep for the loss of any good thing. But Ralph, get thee in; call

for some meat and drink. Thou shalt find me worshipful

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towards thee.

RALPH

I thank you, dame. Since I want limbs and lands,

I’ll trust to God, my good friends, and to my hands. Exit