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A DANCER
First my fear: then my courtesy: last, my speech. My fear, is your
displeasure: my courtesy, my duty: and my speech, to beg your pardons. If
you look for a good speech now, you undo me: for what I have to say, is of
mine own making: and what (indeed) I should say, will (I doubt) prove mine own
marring. But to the purpose, and so to the venture. Be it known to you (as
it is very well) I was lately here in the end of a displeasing play, to pray
your patience for it, and to promise you a better: I did mean (indeed) to pay you
with this, which if (like an ill venture) it come unluckily home, I break;
and you, my gentle creditors lose. Here I promised you I would be, and here
I commit my body to your mercies: bate me some, and I will pay you some, and
(as most debtors do) promise you infinitely. If my tongue cannot entreat you
to acquit me: will you command me to use my legs? and yet that were but
light payment, to dance out of your debt: But a good conscience, will make
any possible satisfaction, and so will I. All the gentlewomen here, have
forgiven me, if the gentlemen will not, then the gentlemen do not agree with
the gentlewomen, which was never seen before, in such an assembly. One word
more, I beseech you: If you be not too much cloyed with fat meat, our humble
author will continue the story (with Sir John in it) and make you merry, with
fair Katharine of France: where (for anything I know) Falstaff shall die of
a sweat, unless already he be killed with your hard opinions: for Oldcastle
died a martyr, and this is not the man. My tongue is weary when my legs are
too, I will bid you good night; and so kneel down before you: but (indeed)
to pray for the queen.