RALPH. Comes not sir squire again? GEOR...

RALPH. Comes not sir squire again?

GEORGE. Right courteous knight,

 Your squire doth come, and with him comes the lady,

 For and the Squire of Damsels, as I take it.

[Enter Tim, Mistress Merrythought and Michael.]

RALPH. Madam, if any service or devoir

 Of a poor errant knight may right your wrongs,

 Command it; I am prest to give you succour;

 For to that holy end I bear my armour.

MIST. Alas, sir, I am a poor gentlewoman,

 and I have lost my money in this forest!

RALPH. Desert, you would say, lady; and not lost

 Whilst I have sword and lance. Dry up your tears,

 Which ill befit the beauty of that face,

 And tell the story, if I may request it,

 Of your disastrous fortune.

MIST. Out, alas! I left a thousand pound,

 a thousand pound, e'en all the money I had

 laid up for this youth, upon the sight of your

 mastership; you looked so grim, and, as I may

 say it, saving your presence, more like a giant

 than a mortal man.

RALPH. I am as you are, lady; so are they;

 All mortal. But why weeps this gentle squire?

MIST. Has he not cause to weep, do you

 think, when he hath lost his inheritance?

RALPH. Young hope of valour, weep not; I am here

 That will confound thy foe, and pay it dear

 Upon his coward head, that dares deny

 Distressèd squires and ladies equity.

 I have but one horse, on which shall ride

 This fair lady behind me, and before

 This courteous squire: fortune will give us more

 Upon our next adventure. Fairly speed

 Beside us, squire and dwarf, to do us need!

[Exeunt.]

CIT. Did not I tell you, Nell, what your man

 would do? by the faith of my body, wench,

 for clean action and good delivery, they may

 all cast their caps at him.

WIFE. And so they may, i'faith; for I dare speak.

 it boldly, the twelve companies of London

 cannot match him, timber for timber. Well,

 George, an he be not inveigled by some of

 these paltry players, I ha' much marvel: but,

 George, we ha' done our parts, if the boy

 have any grace to be thankful.

CIT. Yes, I warrant thee, duckling.

[Beaumont, Francis, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Act 2, Sc. 3.]