Part 5
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (_holding up foot to which flag is tied_). Is this a gourd or is it not a gourd?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Of a surety it is a flag.
(_Holding up his foot with flag._)
And if this be not a gourd, keep thy silence.
[_The First Countryman stares at the flag, placing his finger on his closed lips._]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Then it hath indeed happened!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. What hath happened?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. The dreadful thing foretold by the citizens. I am not I! Thou art not thou!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (_trembling with fear_). How can that be?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. I know not. I only know that it is.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (_weeping_). I cannot think I am not myself!
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (_weeping_). Thou needst must think it, whether thou wouldst or no.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Dost thou indeed think thou art some other person?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. If I were myself, would not the gourd still be around my ankle?
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Then who art thou? And who am I?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Alas! I know not.
[_Enter the_ WAGS.]
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (_joyfully_). Here come those who will know whether we are ourselves!
[_The Wags pretend not to know the Countrymen who are bowing before them. They pass on._]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Stop, good sirs!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. A word with thee!
[_The Wags stop._]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Dost thou not know us?
FIRST WAG. I have not that pleasure.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Thou didst talk with us but yester-eve!
SECOND WAG. Some mistake, I fear, my good man.
[_The Wags start off._]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (_weeping_). Wait! I pray thee, wait!
(_The Wags stop._)
Canst thou not tell us who we are?
FIRST WAG. Do you not know yourselves?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Alas! we are not ourselves.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Thou wouldst know us were we as we were once.
SECOND WAG. Perhaps those flags will solve the riddle.
FIRST WAG. True enough; let us look at them.
[_The Countrymen remove flags and hand them to Wags, who look at them intently._]
SECOND WAG (_mysteriously_). Can it be?
FIRST WAG. It is! It is!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Eh?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Eh?
SECOND WAG (_to Countrymen_). Your pardon! I do crave your pardon!
FIRST WAG (_taking a ring from his finger; turning to Second Countryman_). Please to accept this ring. I shall then know I am forgiven for not recognizing you at first.
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (_accepting ring; putting it on the first finger of his right hand_). Why, yes, I forgive thee.
SECOND WAG (_to First Countryman, taking off his gold chain_). Please to accept this chain. By that I shall know I too am forgiven.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (_accepting chain; putting it on_). Thou art forgiven. Now tell me what great person I have become.
SECOND WAG (_gravely_). Jest with us no more!
FIRST WAG. We go now to announce your arrival to the Lord Mayor.
SECOND WAG. Presently, we will return. Await us here.
[_They go, laughing aside._]
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Dost thou know, I have always felt that I was really a great person. Hast thou not always noticed something unusual about me?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. I cannot say that I have. There is, however, certainly something wonderful about me. I have noticed it for a long time. Hast thou not felt it when in my company?
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. I have not.
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (_indignantly_). Thou hast not?
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Never! thou silly goose!
[_The Second Countryman snatches First Countryman's chain and throws it over the wall._]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Mind how thou callest me names, thou booby!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (_tearing off Second Countryman's ring and throwing it over the wall_). Silly goose!
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. I will now depart for my home. I do not desire thy company.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. I likewise will return, and likewise I wish to journey alone.
[_They take up their blankets and discover the gourds._]
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Eh?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Eh?
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Let us tie them around our ankles. We may then discover whether we are ourselves.
[_They tie the gourds around their ankles._]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (_joyfully_). I am myself!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (_joyfully_). And I am myself!
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Come, let us journey back together.
[_They go out. Pause. Enter the_ WAGS. _They remain at entrance, not knowing Countrymen have gone._]
FIRST WAG (_whispering_). Do you think the musicians should follow them?
SECOND WAG (_whispering_). No, they should follow the music. What a joke it is!
[_They look around and discover that the Countrymen have gone._]
FIRST WAG (_sadly_). My ring!
SECOND WAG (_sadly_). My chain!
THE MAN AND THE ALLIGATOR
## SCENE I
TIME: _the morning after the cyclone_. PLACE: _The Man's garden_.
* * * * *
THE MAN. THE ALLIGATOR.
* * * * *
[_The_ MAN _enters the garden carrying his big stick and small net. The garden has been almost destroyed by the_ ALLIGATOR, _who still wallows among the beds._]
MAN. There should be enough apples on the ground to fill my net. 'T was a fierce storm last night!
(_He looks about; sees the Alligator; shows indignation._)
Thou--within my garden!
ALLIGATOR (_meekly_). Be not angry with me, O master! By accident I--
MAN (_indignantly_). Accident! Thou hast wallowed among my flowers by accident, hast thou?
ALLIGATOR. It is true; not of my own will came I hither.
MAN (_more indignantly_). Thou hast broken my fruit trees by accident, I suppose!
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). It was not of my own intentions, I assure you. I--
MAN (_interrupting_). Thou art this moment crushing my strawberry plants beneath thy great body! I've a mind to beat thee with my big stick!
ALLIGATOR. Do not beat me, O master! The cyclone is at fault.
MAN (_surprised_). The cyclone?
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). Aye, it blew me here from the river last night.
MAN. Ha, ha! A likely story!
ALLIGATOR. I speak the truth. A great waterspout lifted me out of the river. Then a fierce wind caught me and blew me about as if I were a feather. Finally, I was dropped here within thy garden.
MAN (_only half convinced_). Well, there's no cyclone to blow thee back. Wilt thou be good enough to walk thyself out?
ALLIGATOR. Alas! I can scarcely move me. I fear some of my ribs are broken.
MAN. Nonsense! Out with thee!
ALLIGATOR. But see how the wind has crippled me! It has even blown some of my claws loose--
MAN (_interrupting_). I am sorry for thee, but thou canst not remain here.
ALLIGATOR. I will go now, if thou wilt help me.
MAN (_surprised_). _I_ help thee?
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). I will be so grateful to thee!
MAN. Oh, I know how grateful thou canst be! The other animals have told me that!
ALLIGATOR. What say they?
MAN. That thou art the most cruel of all the animals--that thou never dost any one a favor--
ALLIGATOR (_interrupting_). Nonsense! No one could be more grateful for favors than I! I'll prove it to thee!
MAN. Prove it? How?
ALLIGATOR. If thou wilt help me to the river, I'll show thee where to find the biggest fish.
MAN. Well--that's something--
ALLIGATOR. And when thou wouldst cross the river, I'll carry thee.
MAN. Of a surety, that's good of thee! Perhaps, after all, thou art not so black as thou art painted. I'll help thee this time.
ALLIGATOR. Thanks to thee, master. I will never forget thy kindness; I will always be thy friend.
MAN. Why, I am glad to help thee. Now how am I to get thee to the river?
ALLIGATOR. Carry me, please, O master!
MAN. What! carry thee?
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). I'll get into thy net.
MAN. Thou get into my small net!
ALLIGATOR. Only hold thy net open!
MAN (_holding his net open_). I tell thee, thou canst never get in!
ALLIGATOR. See how I fold my arms! My legs go under--so! Now I roll myself up and up and up! And now I am in--all in!
MAN. Well, seeing is believing!
ALLIGATOR. Please to tie up thy net, master, that I may not fall out.
MAN (_tying net_). 'T is done!
(_Throwing net over shoulder._)
Thou art heavy!
ALLIGATOR. I know, it will be hard work for thee, but some day thou wilt see how grateful I am.
[_The Man goes, carrying the Alligator over his shoulder and his big stick in his hand._]
## SCENE II
TIME: _the afternoon of the same day_. PLACE: _the river bank_.
* * * * *
THE MAN. THE ALLIGATOR. THE WOLF. THE LEOPARD. THE RABBIT.
* * * * *
[_Enter the_ MAN _carrying the_ ALLIGATOR _over his shoulder. He stops, throws down his big stick and places the Alligator carefully on the bank._]
MAN. Our journey is ended, brother.
(_Untying net._)
Now then, roll thyself out!
(_The Alligator comes out of the net._)
Well, how dost thou feel now?
ALLIGATOR. Much better, thanks to thee; but I'm very hungry and I find I'm still quite weak. I pray thee help me down the bank, O master!
MAN (_helping the Alligator down the bank_). Now, then, thou art close to the water.
[_He turns to go._]
ALLIGATOR. Just a little farther, please. I am still so weak!
MAN. Then I'll help thee into the water.
(_He helps the Alligator into the water._)
Now thou art in; and now I will depart.
[_He turns to go._]
ALLIGATOR (_seizing the Man's leg_). Not yet!
MAN. Let go of my leg!
ALLIGATOR. Why?
MAN (_indignantly_). Why! Why!
ALLIGATOR (nodding_). Why and wherefore?
MAN. Thou art hurting me!
ALLIGATOR. It will soon be over.
MAN. What dost thou mean?
ALLIGATOR. What I have just spoken.
MAN. Why dost thou look at me so?
ALLIGATOR (_slowly_). Because--I--mean--to--eat--thee.
MAN. Eat me!
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). Eat thee.
MAN. Me?
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). Thee.
MAN. Thou didst promise to be my friend.
ALLIGATOR. I was only fooling thee.
MAN. But I helped thee out of trouble.
ALLIGATOR. No matter--I mean to eat thee.
MAN. Is that the way to repay a favor--by doing a wrong?
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). That's the way of all the animals.
MAN. Thou art surely mistaken--not all the animals--
ALLIGATOR (_interrupting_). There's not one of them remembers a favor or a friend when hungry.
MAN. I cannot think that! Suppose we ask the first animal that comes to drink?
ALLIGATOR. Ask any of them--I know what they will say.
[_Enter the_ WOLF. _He comes down the bank to drink._]
MAN. Wolf, I would question thee.
WOLF (_gruffly_). Well?
MAN. How dost thou repay the one who doth thee a favor?
WOLF (_gruffly, as before_). By doing him a wrong.
[_The Wolf drinks and goes._]
ALLIGATOR. Ha, ha, ha! Just what I said! Now I shall eat thee forthwith!
MAN. I can't believe that every animal would so answer.
ALLIGATOR. I don't intend waiting for thee to find out.
MAN. I pray thee wait till the next animal comes to drink!
ALLIGATOR (_impatiently_). Have I not told thee of my hunger?
MAN. Listen! Some animal comes through the forest now.
[_Enter the_ LEOPARD. _He comes down to drink._]
Leopard, I would question thee.
LEOPARD (_curtly_). Well?
MAN. How dost thou repay the one who doth thee a favor?
LEOPARD (_curtly, as before_). By doing him a wrong.
[_He drinks and goes._]
ALLIGATOR. Ha, ha, ha! It is just as I said! I will now eat thee forthwith!
MAN. I pray thee--
ALLIGATOR (_interrupting_). It is now all over with thee!
MAN (_calling_). Help! help!
[_Enter the_ RABBIT.]
RABBIT. A word with thee, Ally dear!
ALLIGATOR. I shall be busy for a few minutes, Brother Rabbit.
RABBIT (_going down bank quickly_). Who is this thou art about to dine upon? Why, 't is the Man!
MAN. How dost thou repay a favor, Brother Rabbit?
RABBIT. Why dost thou ask?
MAN. I found the Alligator in my garden this morning. He had destroyed my plants, my fruits, and--
ALLIGATOR (_interrupting_). I was blown in by the cyclone last night.
MAN. He said he had been hurt and begged me to help him to the river. He promised me his friendship if I would do so.
ALLIGATOR. Ha, ha, ha! I told him I'd show him where to find the biggest fish.
RABBIT. And now thou wilt not?
ALLIGATOR. But I will. He'll find it after he is _inside_ of me. Ha, ha!
RABBIT. Ha, ha! A good joke!
ALLIGATOR. I told him I'd carry him across the river. I didn't explain he'd go _inside_. Ha, ha!
RABBIT. What a joker thou art, Ally dear!
(_He turns to the Man._)
But how didst thou get him here?
MAN. I carried him in this small net.
RABBIT (_looking surprised_). Thou art trying to fool me!
MAN. No, Brother Rabbit, it is quite true.
ALLIGATOR (_nodding_). Yes, it is true.
RABBIT. But, Ally, try as thou mightst, thou couldst not so much as get thy head into that net.
[Illustration: "HELP! HELP!"]
ALLIGATOR. But I tell thee I did!
RABBIT. Ha, ha, ha! That's too funny!
ALLIGATOR (_angrily_). I do not like thy manners, young man.
RABBIT. But it's such a joke! Ho, ho, ho!
ALLIGATOR. Cease thy laughing or I shall eat thee some day!
RABBIT. I laugh because I must laugh! Ha, ha, ho, ho!
ALLIGATOR. Thou wilt not believe it, eh?
RABBIT. Well, not unless I see it.
MAN. We can prove it to thee, Brother Rabbit.
RABBIT. Oh, that's good too! Ha, ha, ho!
ALLIGATOR. Dost thou think we cannot?
RABBIT. Of course thou canst not! If thou couldst, thou wouldst.
ALLIGATOR. And we will! Get thy net ready, Man.
MAN. But how? Thou art holding my leg.
ALLIGATOR (_freeing the Man; turning to the Rabbit_). We'll show thee just how it was done, young man.
RABBIT. Seeing is believing.
[_The Man brings his net; opens it._]
ALLIGATOR. See! I put my legs under--so! Then I fold my arms--so! Now I roll myself up and up and up. And now I am in--all in!
RABBIT. As I live--thou art! Well, seeing is believing. But how couldst thou remain within the net? It is quite open.
ALLIGATOR. Tie it up, Man. Show him exactly how we did it.
MAN (_tying net_). I tied it tight--like this, Brother Rabbit.
RABBIT. Is it quite tight?
ALLIGATOR. Let him try the knot, Man.
RABBIT (_trying knot_). Most truly, it is tight.
(_Turning to the Alligator._)
Thou dost look as if thou couldst not move, Ally dear.
ALLIGATOR. Of a surety--I cannot.
RABBIT. Well, Brother Man, now that thou hast him, don't be foolish enough to let him go. Get thy big stick and beat him to death.
ALLIGATOR (_surprised_). Eh?
MAN (_not heeding the Alligator_). That is just what I will do, that I will! Thanks to thee for helping me, Brother Rabbit.
ALLIGATOR. Have pity!
RABBIT (_not heeding the Alligator_). No thanks are necessary, Brother Man. I haven't forgotten the good turnips thou didst give me last winter when the ground was covered with snow. Some of us know how to return favor for favor.
THE SONG IN THE HEART
## SCENE I
TIME: _once upon a time_. PLACE: _in the house of the poor Spinner_.
* * * * *
THE DAME. ISABEL, _her daughter_. FLAT-FOOT } HANGING-LIP } _the Three Great-Aunts_. BROAD-THUMB } THE QUEEN.
* * * * *
[_The living-room in the Dame's cottage is seen. The_ DAME _and the_ THREE GREAT-AUNTS _are spinning._ ISABEL _sits at her spinning-wheel, but has stopped work and looks out of the open door._]
DAME (_sharply_). Isabel! You gaze without!
ISABEL (_nodding_). Upon those great trees, mother. How beautiful they are! How like sentinels they stand at our door guarding us!
FLAT-FOOT (_growling_). What nonsense! You'd better be spinning.
ISABEL (_not heeding_). Mother, see you that old oak! See how proudly it lifts its head up into the sky! 'T is the king of the forest!
HANGING-LIP (_growling_). I never heard such foolish talk!
ISABEL (_not heeding_). Mother, a song has come to me,--'t is a song to the beautiful trees. Let me stop to write it down, while my heart is full of it.
BROAD-THUMB (_to the Dame_). Do not permit it, sister! She should be working. She can scarcely spin at all.
DAME (_showing much feeling_). Isabel! Isabel! Not a maid in the village thinks of anything but spinning.
ISABEL. Mother, let me stop! Soon the song will leave me. I may ne'er hear it again.
FLAT-FOOT (_to the Dame_). Sister, she will bring you to shame.
HANGING-LIP. Already the village folk laugh at her!
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye! They call her "the Dreamer." I myself have heard them.
ISABEL. I care not what they call me!
DAME (_raising her voice_). Nay, but I care. I'll not have you different from other folk.
HANGING-LIP. _We_ were never seen gazing upon trees!
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye! _We_ never heard songs within _us_!
FLAT-FOOT (_nodding_). Aye! _We_ think only of our work!
ISABEL. What's your work may not be mine!
DAME (_decidedly_). There's no other work for a maid than spinning.
ISABEL (_sighing_). I like it not! Though every other maid in all the world did love to spin, I'd say the same--I like it not!
DAME (_to Flat-foot; showing alarm_). Sister, close the door, that none without may hear such words.
[_Flat-foot rises, but is too late. The_ QUEEN _enters from the street._]
QUEEN (_showing displeasure_). How now! What's all this noise? I heard it from the street!
[_All are frightened; Isabel weeps._]
DAME (_bowing_). 'T will not happen again, your Majesty.
QUEEN (_looking at Isabel_). Have they beaten you, my child?
ISABEL (_still sobbing_). N--o--, your Majesty.
QUEEN (_to the Dame_). Tell me why your daughter weeps.
DAME (_more frightened_). She weeps because--because--
[_She stops in confusion._]
QUEEN. Well--well?
DAME. Because--because--I will not let her spin.
QUEEN (_showing surprise_). Because you will not let her spin?
DAME (_nodding_). Yes, your Majesty.
QUEEN. Why, this is most strange.
DAME (_nodding_). Would I but let her, she'd spin from morn till night, and from then on till morn again.
QUEEN. I see how it can be so. There's nothing I like better than spinning.
DAME. She weeps whenever I make her leave off.
QUEEN. 'T is because she loves it! I am never more pleased than when the wheels are whirring.
DAME. But stop she must, for to-day at least. There is no more flax.
QUEEN. I have rooms full of flax. Let your daughter come to my castle. She may spin there as much as she pleases.
DAME (_now, most frightened_). I--I fear she would be a trouble to you.
QUEEN. Why, no! In fact, I am so pleased with your daughter's industry I will have my son marry her.
DAME (_so frightened she can scarcely breathe_). O your Majesty--
QUEEN (_interrupting_). But first she must spin all my flax. There are three rooms full of it--from top to bottom.
ISABEL (_showing alarm_). Three rooms full!
QUEEN (_nodding_). Aye, my dear, and when you have spun it all, you shall become a princess!
(_Turning to the Dame._)
Bring your daughter to my castle to-morrow.
DAME (_bowing_). Yes, your Majesty.
QUEEN (_going_). To-morrow, mind you.
DAME (_bowing_). Yes, your Majesty.
[_All bow to the Queen, who goes._]
ISABEL. Mother, how could you tell the Queen I love to spin?
DAME. Think you I'd let the truth be known? I'd not shame myself so!
ISABEL. I could not spin three rooms of flax in three hundred years.
DAME. Alas! alas! What shall we do?
FLAT-FOOT (_to Hanging-lip and Broad-thumb_). Sisters, let us speak together.
[_The three Great-Aunts whisper together for a moment._]
HANGING-LIP. Isabel, we will help you--
FLAT-FOOT (_interrupting_). On one condition!
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye,--on a certain condition!
ISABEL. What do you mean?
HANGING-LIP. We'll spin the flax for you--
FLAT-FOOT (_interrupting_). On one condition.
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye,--on a certain condition!
DAME. You speak in riddles, sisters.
HANGING-LIP. 'T is this--if Isabel will invite us to her wedding, we'll spin the flax.
FLAT-FOOT. That's the condition.
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye,--that's the certain condition.
ISABEL. 'T will be deceiving the Queen and the Prince, both.
DAME. There's no other way to mend things. Go now! Since you are so soon to be a princess, I'll give you leave to write down your song.
ISABEL (_sadly_). The song is no longer in my heart.
DAME. 'T is well. Now listen--you must never let the Prince know about your songs. He'd send you from the castle.
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Besides, 't would bring great shame upon us, for we are a family of spinners.
FLAT-FOOT (_nodding_). Aye, aye!
HANGING-LIP (_nodding_). Aye, aye!
## SCENE II
TIME: _one week later_. PLACE: _the Queen's castle_.
* * * * *
THE QUEEN. THE PRINCE. ISABEL. THE THREE GREAT-AUNTS.
* * * * *
[_The_ THREE GREAT-AUNTS _are working at the last heap of flax in the third room._ ISABEL _watches them anxiously._]
ISABEL. Think you to finish before the Queen comes?
FLAT-FOOT (_nodding as she treads the wheel_). Aye, if treading the wheel will do it!
HANGING-LIP (_nodding, as she moistens the thread over her lip_). Aye, if moistening the thread will do it!
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding, as she presses the thread with her thumb_). Aye, if pressing the thread will do it!
ISABEL. 'T is to-day she brings the Prince.
FLAT-FOOT. Another minute and we'll have finished.
ISABEL. Should they come suddenly, you know where to hide--behind those curtains there.
THREE GREAT-AUNTS (_nodding_). Aye, we know!
[_A noise is heard in the distance._]
ISABEL. Some one comes!
(_She runs to the door, opens it, and looks out._)
The Prince comes down the stairs! Quick, aunts, quick!
FLAT-FOOT (_rising_). Well, 't is finished!
ISABEL (_looking into hall_). Now comes the Queen! To the curtains, quick!
[_The three Great-Aunts hide behind the curtains, just as the_ QUEEN _and the_ PRINCE _enter._]
QUEEN. Well, have you finished?
ISABEL (_pointing to a pile of thread_). There's the last of it, your Majesty.
QUEEN (_looking at thread_). Spun in the finest style, too! Prince, but a week ago these rooms were filled with flax. Now look at them.
PRINCE (_looking about_). Empty, as if flax had never been here. 'T is wonderful how one maid could do so much!
QUEEN. 'T is most wonderful!
PRINCE. The wedding shall take place to-day. Isabel, come now with us.
ISABEL (_thoughtfully_). No, no! I cannot!
PRINCE. You cannot?
QUEEN. You cannot! What do you mean?
ISABEL (_to the Queen_). Let me go home, your Majesty!
QUEEN. Go home!
ISABEL. I am not worthy--
PRINCE (_interrupting_). Nonsense! That you are poor is nothing to me.
QUEEN (_going_). Come, the wedding bells shall ring at once!
ISABEL. Your Majesty--I--I--did not spin the flax.
QUEEN. What! You did not spin the flax?
PRINCE. What is this?
ISABEL. I deceived you--I can scarcely spin at all.
QUEEN. But this pile of thread here--
ISABEL. 'T was spun by another.
PRINCE. Another?
ISABEL. Yes, Prince.
QUEEN. You shall marry that one then, my son!
(_To Isabel._)
As for you, return to your hovel!
(_Isabel turns to go._)
Stay!
(_Isabel stops._)
Who is the wonderful spinner? Tell us where to find her.
ISABEL. Here, your Majesty.
QUEEN. Hidden away, I suppose?
ISABEL (_nodding_). Yes, your Highness, behind those curtains.
QUEEN. Go, my son, and draw the curtains. You shall be the first to look upon your bride.
[_The Prince draws the curtains and sees the three Great-Aunts, who sit in a row. They smile and smile upon the Prince, who stands looking at them in astonishment._]
FLAT-FOOT. You'd never be sorry to take me for your bride, my lord.
PRINCE (_not heeding_). Why is your foot so flat?
FLAT-FOOT. From treading the wheel! From treading the wheel!
HANGING-LIP. You'd never be sorry to take me for your bride, my lord.
PRINCE (_not heeding_). Why is your lip so long?
HANGING-LIP. From moistening the thread! From moistening the thread!
BROAD-THUMB. You'd never be sorry to take me for your bride, my lord.