FISH. Honest, good fellow, what's that? If it be a day fits you, search out of the calendar, and nobody look after it.

PER. May see the sea hath cast upon your coast –

2. FISH. What a drunken knave was the sea to cast thee in our way!

PER.

A man whom both the waters and the wind,

In that vast tennis-court, hath made the ball

For them to play upon, entreats you pity him.

He asks of you that never us'd to beg.

1. FISH. No, friend, cannot you beg? Here's them in our country of Greece gets more with begging than we can do with working.

2. FISH. Canst thou catch any fishes then?

PER. I never practic'd it.

2. FISH. Nay then thou wilt starve sure; for here's nothing to be got now-a-days unless thou canst fish for't.

PER.

What I have been I have forgot to know,

But what I am, want teaches me to think on:

A man throng'd up with cold, my veins are chill

And have no more of life than may suffice

To give my tongue that heat to ask your help;

Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,

For that I am a man, pray you see me buried.

1. FISH. Die, keth 'a? Now gods forbid't, and I have a gown here! Come put it on, keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we'll have flesh for [holidays], fish for fasting-days, and, moreo'er, puddings and flapjacks, and thou shalt be welcome.

PER. I thank you, sir.

2. FISH. Hark you, my friend. You said you could not beg?

PER. I did but crave.

2. FISH. But crave? Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall scape whipping.

PER. Why, are [your] beggars whipt then?

2. FISH. O, not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipt, I would wish no better office than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go draw up the net.

 

[Exit with Third Fisherman.]

 

PER [Aside.] How well this honest mirth becomes their labor!

1. FISH. Hark you, sir; do you know where ye are?

PER. Not well.

1. FISH.