MAN. Blanche, blab it out; thou sayest very true;
I think thou beginnest at length to preach:
This thing to me is strange and new,
To hear such a fool young men to teach.
MAID. A fool! mine own Long-tongue! why, call'st thou me fool!
Though now in the kitchen I waste the day,
Yet in times past I went to school,
And of my Latin primer I took assay.
MAN. Masters, this woman did take such assay,
And then in those days so applied her book,
That one word thereof she carried not away,
But then of a scholar was made a cook.
I dare say she knoweth not how her primer began,
Which of her master she learned then.
MAID. I trow it began with _Domine labia, aperies_.
MAN. What, did it begin with _butter de peas_?
MAID. I tell thee again, with _Domine, labia aperies_,
If now to hear it be thine ease.
MAN. How, how, with, _my madam lay in the pease_?
MAID. I think thou art mad! with _Domine, labia aperies_.
MAN. Yea, marry, I judged it went such ways;
It began with, _Dorothy, lay up the keys!_
MAID. Nay then, good night; I perceive by this gear,
That none is so deaf as who will not hear;
I spake as plainly as I could devise,
Yet me understand thou canst in no wise!
MAN. Why, yet once again, and I will better listen,
And look upon thee how thy lips do open.
MAID. Well, mark then, and hearken once for all,
Or else hear it again thou never shall;
My book, I say, began with _Domine, labia aperies_.
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