| | of, keepe his stable when tis emptie, and his purse when tis full, and hath man qualities woorse then all these, let him write | his name and goe his way, and attendance shall be giuen. | 460 | Ateu. By my faith, a good seruant: which is he? Slip. Trulie, sir, that am I. Ateu. And why doest thou write such a bill? Are all these qualities in thee? | Slip. O Lord, I, sir, and a great many more, some better, | 465 | some worse, some richer, some porer. Why, sir, do you looke so? do they not please you? Ateu. Trulie, no, for they are naught, and so art thou: if thou hast no better qualities, stand by. | Slip. O, sir, I tell the worst first; but, and you lack a man, | 470 | I am for you: Ile tell you the best qualities I haue. Ateu. Be breefe, then. Slip. If you need me in your chamber, I can keepe the doore at a whistle; in your kitchen, turne the spit, and licke the | pan, and make the fire burne; but if in the stable,-- | 475 | Ateu. Yea, there would I vse thee. Slip. Why, there you kill me, †there am I,† and turne me to a horse and a wench, and I haue no peere. Ateu. Art thou so good in keeping a horse? I pray thee tell | me how many good qualities hath a horse? | 480 | Slip. Why, so, sir: a horse hath two properties of a man, that is, a proude heart, and a hardie stomacke; foure properties of a Lyon, a broad brest, a stiffe docket,--hold your nose, master,--a wild countenance, and 4 good legs; nine | properties of a Foxe, nine of a Hare, nine of an Asse, and | 485 | ten of a woman. Ateu. A woman! why, what properties of a woman hath a Horse? Slip. O, maister, know you not that? Draw your tables, and write what wise I speake. First, a merry countenance; second, | a soft pace; third, a broad forehead; fourth, broad buttockes; | 490 | fift, hard of warde; sixt, easie to leape vpon; seuenth, good at long iourney; eight, mouing vnder a man; ninth, always busie with the mouth; tenth, euer chewing on the bridle. Ateu. Thou art a man for me: whats thy name? | Slip. An auncient name, sir, belonging to the chamber and the | 495 | night gowne: gesse you that. ____________________ | 447 | there am I a per se conj. Mitford | | 461-529 | Q prints as verse | -102- | |