HODGE

Go, Hans, make haste again. Come, who lacks work?

FIRK

I, master, for I lack my breakfast. ‘Tis munching time, and past.

HODGE

Is’t so? Why then, leave work, Ralph. To breakfast. Boy, look to

the tools. Come, Ralph; come, Firk.

SERVINGMAN

Let me see, now . . . the sign of the Last in Tower Street. Mass,

yonder’s the house. [Calls] What haw! Who’s within?

RALPH

Who calls there? What want you, sir?

SERVINGMAN

Marry, I would have a pair of shoes made for a gentlewoman

against tomorrow morning. What, can you do them?

5

RALPH

Yes, sir, you shall have them. But what length’s her foot?

SERVINGMAN

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?

10

By this?

SERVINGMAN

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

tomorrow morning by four o’clock. Dost understand me? Canst

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thou do’t?

RALPH

Yes, sir, yes. Ay, ay, I can do it. - By this shoe, you say? I should

know this shoe. Yes, sir, yes, by this shoe. I can do’t. Four o’clock;

well. Whither shall I bring them?

SERVINGMAN

To the sign of the Golden Ball in Watling Street. Enquire for

20

one Master Hammon, a gentleman, my master.

RALPH

Yea, sir. By this shoe, you say.

SERVINGMAN

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

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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?

SERVINGMAN

At Saint Faith’s Church, under Paul’s. But what’s that to thee?

Prithee, dispatch those shoes; and so farewell. Exit

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RALPH

By this shoe, said he. How am I amazed

At this strange accident! Upon my life,

This was the very shoe I gave my wife

When I was pressed for France; since when, alas,

I never could hear of her. It is the same,

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And Hammon’s bride no other but my Jane.