Enter another Boy .

2nd Boy . Sir, I can get no bread for supper.

Mer . Hang bread and supper! let’s preserve our mirth, and
we shall never feel hunger, I’ll warrant you. Let’s have
a catch, boys; follow me, come.

[ They sing .

Mer . So, boys; enough. Follow me: Let’s change our place,
and we shall laugh afresh.

[ Exeunt .

[ Wife . Let him go, George; ’a shall not have any countenance
from us, nor a good word from any i’ the company, if I
may strike stroke in’t.

Cit . No more ’a sha’not, love. But, Nell, I will have Ralph
do a very notable matter now, to the eternal honour and
glory of all grocers.—Sirrah! you there, boy! Can none
of you hear?

Enter Boy .

Boy . Sir, your pleasure?

Cit . Let Ralph come out on May-day in the morning, and
speak upon a conduit, with all his scarfs about him, and
his feathers, and his rings, and his knacks.

Boy . Why, sir, you do not think of our plot; what will
become of that, then?

Cit . Why, sir, I care not what become on’t: I’ll have him
come out, or I’ll fetch him out myself; I’ll have
something done in honour of the city: besides, he hath been
long enough upon adventures. Bring him out quickly;
or, if I come in amongst you—

Boy . Well, sir, he shall come out, but if our play miscarry,
sir, you are like to pay for’t.

Cit . Bring him away then!

[ Exit Boy .

Wife . This will be brave, i’faith! George, shall not he dance
the morris too, for the credit of the Strand?

Cit . No, sweetheart, it will be too much for the boy. Oh,
there he is, Nell! he’s reasonable well in reparel: but he
has not rings enough.]

Enter RALPH, dressed as a May-lord .

Ralph . London, to thee I do present the merry month of May;
Let each true subject be content to hear me what I say:
For from the top of conduit-head, as plainly may appear,
I will both tell my name to you, and wherefore I came here.
My name is Ralph, by due descent though not ignoble I
Yet far inferior to the stock of gracious grocery;
And by the common counsel of my fellows in the Strand,
With gilded staff and crossed scarf, the May-lord here I stand.
Rejoice, oh, English hearts, rejoice! rejoice, oh, lovers dear!
Rejoice, oh, city, town, and country! rejoice, eke every shere!
For now the fragrant flowers do spring and sprout in seemly sort,
The little birds do sit and sing, the lambs do make fine sport;
And now the