English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Accut_. Marrie thus, there are[316] great revels & shews preparde to
beautifie the nuptials of _Lentulus_, and _Tully_, in which the
Cittizens have the least share; now, would but you and some others that
I shall collect,
Joyne hands with me in some queint jest,
Our shew shall deserve grace, and brave the rest.
_Host_, I have thee, brave spirit, tha'rt of the true seede of _Troy_,
lets be merrie and wise, merrie hearts live long; mine Host, my brave
Host, with his neighbor _Cornutus_ shall bee two of the Maskers, and the
Morrice shall be daunc'd.
_Cor_. Not so, mine Host. I dare not doe so, t'will distemper my wife,
my house will be unquiet; mum, mum, I know the world, well enough.
_Host_. Thou shall goe, saies mine Host, merrie hearts live long;
welcome, bullie! mine Host shall make one, so shall my _Cornutus_, for
if I say the word the mouse shall be dun.
_Enter Bos with Porters_.
_Porters_. Save ye mine Host, heeres a parcell of Corne was directed to
be delivered at your house.
_Host_. What ware, my little Atlas, what ware is it?
2 _Por_. I know not, but i'me sure tis as heavie as a horse and--
1 _Por_. I thinke, tis a barrel of oyle, for it spurg'd at my backe.
_Bos_. It was oyle, for I drew the Tap.
_Grac_. What, _Bos_, what mak'st thou heere?
_Acc_. Oh, _chara_[317] _deum soboles, magnum bovis incrementum_.
_Bos_, art there, there?
_Bos_. As sure as you are there, Signior.
_Grac_. _Bos_, will ye not forsake your Cabbin?
_Bos_. Oh sir, he that has not a tilde house must bee glad of a thatch
house. May I crave a suite of you, signior?
_Grac_. What suit, _Bos_?
_Bos_. What you please, beggars must not chuse.
_Accut_. _Bos_ is growne misticall, hee's too dark.
_Bos_. I speake _Hebrew_ indeede, like _Adam_ and _Eve_, before they fel
to spinning; not a rag.
_Grac_. What, naked, _Bos_?
_Bos_. As ye see, will ye heare my suite, signior?
_Gra_. Drunk, & his cloathes stoln, what theef would do it?
_Bos_. Any theefe, sir, but no true[318] man.
_Gra_. Wel, _Bos_, to obtaine a suit at my handes, and to doe some
pennance for your fault, you shall heere maintaine an argument in the
defence of drunkennes. Mine Host shall heere it, ile be your opponent,
_Acutus_ moderator: wilt thou doe it?
_Host_. A mad merrie grig;[319] all good spirits; wilt thou doe it,
_Bos_?
_Bos_. Ile doo't.
_Grac_. Seate yee, heres my place; now, _Bos_, propound.
_Bos_. Drunkenness is a vertue.
_Gra_. Your proofe.
_Bos_. Good drink is full of vertue,
Now full of good drink is drunke;
_Ergo_, to be drunke is to be vertuous.
_Grac_. I deny it: good drinke is full of vice,
Drinke takes away the sences,
Man that is sencelesse is vitious;
_Ergo_, good drinke is full of vice.
_Bos_. I deny it still: good drinke makes good bloud,
Good blood needes no Barber,
_Ergo_, tis good to drinke good drinke.
_Accu_. Hee holdes ye hard, _Graccus_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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