`` Nay , then , shall I call you girl , good Richard ? '' asked Matcham . `` Never a girl for me , '' returned Dick . `` I do abjure the crew of them ! '' `` Ye speak boyishly , '' said the other . `` Ye think more of them than ye pretend . '' `` Not I , '' said Dick , stoutly . `` They come not in my mind . A plague of them , say I ! Give me to hunt and to fight and to feast , and to live with jolly foresters . I never heard of a maid yet that was for any service , save one only ; and she , poor shrew , was burned for a witch and the wearing of men 's clothes in spite of nature . '' Master Matcham crossed himself with fervour , and appeared to pray . `` What make ye ? '' Dick inquired . `` I pray for her spirit , '' answered the other , with a somewhat troubled voice . `` For a witch 's spirit ? '' Dick cried . `` But pray for her , an ye list ; she was the best wench in Europe , was this Joan of Arc . Old Appleyard the archer ran from her , he said , as if she had been Mahoun . Nay , she was a brave wench . ''
`` Well , but , good Master XXXXX , '' resumed Matcham , `` an ye like maids so little , y ' are no true natural man ; for God made them twain by intention , and brought true love into the world , to be man 's hope and woman 's comfort . ''
Appleyard Dick Europe Joan Mahoun Richard archer foresters shrew wench