Cris.  I thank you, gentlemen, I’ll do my best.

Her.  Let that best be good, sir, you were best.

Gal.  O, this contention is excellent!  What is’t you sing, sir?

Cris.  If I freely may discover, sir; I’ll sing that.

Ovid.  One of your own compositions, Hermogenes.  He offers you vantage enough.

Cris.  Nay, truly, gentlemen, I’ll challenge no man.—­I can sing but one staff of the ditty neither.

Gal.  The better:  Hermogenes himself will be entreated to sing the other.

Crispinussings.

If I freely may discover
What would please me in my lover,
I would have her fair and witty,
Savouring more of court than city;
A little proud, but full of pity: 
Light and humorous in her toying,
Oft building hopes, and soon destroying,
Long, but sweet in the enjoying;
Neither too easy nor too hard: 
All extremes I would have barr’d.

Gal.  Believe me, sir, you sing most excellently.

Ovid.  If there were a praise above excellence, the gentleman highly deserves it.

Her.  Sir, all this doth not yet make me envy you; for I know I sing better than you.

Tib.  Attend Hermogenes, now.

Hermogenes, accompanied.

She should be allow’d her passions,
So they were but used as fashions;
Sometimes froward, and then frowning,
Sometimes sickish and then swowning,
Every fit with change still crowning. 
Purely jealous I would have her,
Then only constant when I crave her: 
’Tis a virtue should not save her. 
Thus, nor her delicates would cloy me,
Neither her peevishness annoy me.

Jill.  Nay, Hermogenes, your merit hath long since been ’both known and admired of us.

Her.  You shall hear me sing another.  Now will I begin.

Gal.  We shall do this gentleman’s banquet too much wrong, that stays for us, ladies.

Jul.  ’Tis true; and well thought on, Cornelius Gallus.

Her.  Why, ’tis but a short air, ’twill be done presently, pray stay:  strike, music.

Ovid.  No, good Hermogenes; we’ll end this difference within.

Jul.  ’Tis the common disease of all your musicians, that they know no mean. to be entreated either to begin or end.

Alb.  Please you lead the way, gentles.

All.  Thanks, good Albius.
[Exeunt all but Albius. 
Alb.  O, what a charm of thanks was here put upon me!  O Jove, what a setting forth it is to a man to have many courtiers come to his house!  Sweetly was it said of a good old housekeeper, I had, rather want meat, than want guests, especially, if they be courtly guests.  For, never trust me, if one of their good legs made in a house be not worth all the good cheer a man can make them.  He that would have fine guests, let him have a fine wife! he that would have a fine wife, let him come to me.
[Re-enter Crispinus. 
Cris.  By your kind leave, master Albius.