MOPSA Is it true, think you?
AUTOLYCUS Very true, and but a month old.
DORCAS Bless me from marrying a usurer!
AUTOLYCUS Here's the midwife's name to't, one Mistress
Tale-porter, and five or six honest wives that were
present. Why should I carry lies abroad?
MOPSA Pray you now, buy it.
Clown Come on, lay it by: and let's first see moe
ballads; we'll buy the other things anon.
AUTOLYCUS Here's another ballad of a fish, that appeared upon
the coast on Wednesday the four-score of April,
forty thousand fathom above water, and sung this
ballad against the hard hearts of maids: it was
thought she was a woman and was turned into a cold
fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that
loved her: the ballad is very pitiful and as true.
DORCAS Is it true too, think you?
AUTOLYCUS Five justices' hands at it, and witnesses more than
my pack will hold.
Clown Lay it by too: another.
AUTOLYCUS This is a merry ballad, but a very pretty one.
MOPSA Let's have some merry ones.
AUTOLYCUS Why, this is a passing merry one and goes to
the tune of 'Two maids wooing a man:' there's
scarce a maid westward but she sings it; 'tis in
request, I can tell you.
MOPSA We can both sing it: if thou'lt bear a part, thou
shalt hear; 'tis in three parts.
DORCAS We had the tune on't a month ago.
AUTOLYCUS I can bear my part; you must know 'tis my
occupation; have at it with you.
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