Page 796 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

COUNTESS

Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.

CLOWN
I am out o’friends, madam, and I hope to have friends for my wife’s sake.

COUNTESS
Such friends are thine enemies, knave. [40]

CLOWN
Y’are shallow, madam; e’en 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 [45] and blood; he 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 [50] old Poysam the papist, howsome’er
their hearts are severed in religion, their heads are both one: they may jowl
horns together like any deer i’th’herd.

COUNTESS

Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave? [55]

CLOWN

A prophet I, madam, and I speak the truth the next way:
For I the ballad will repeat
Which men full true shall find:
Your marriage comes by destiny, [60]

Your cuckoo sings by kind.

COUNTESS

Get you gone, sir. I’ll talk with you more anon.

STEWARD
May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to you: of her I am to
speak.