English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Spurious and doubtful works
CORPORAL.
A Corporal, a Commander, one of spirit, that is able to blow
you up all dry with your Books at your Girdles.
SIMON.
We are not taught to believe that, sir, for we know the
breath of man is weak.
[Corporal breathes upon Frailty.]
FRAILTY.
Foh, you lie, Nicholas; for here’s one strong enough. Blow
us up, quatha: he may well blow me above twelve-score off
an him. I warrant, if the wind stood right, a man might
smell him from the top of Newgate, to the Leads of Ludgate.
CORPORAL.
Sirrah, thou Hollow-Book of Max-candle—
NICHOLAS.
Aye, you may say what you will, so you swear not.
CORPORAL.
I swear by the—
NICHOLAS.
Hold, hold, good Corporal Oath; for if you swear once, we
shall all fall down in a swoon presently.
CORPORAL.
I must and will swear: you quivering Cocks-combs, my Captain
is imprisoned, and by Vulcan’s Leather Cod-piece point—
NICHOLAS.
O Simon, what an oath was there.
FRAILTY.
If he should chance to break it, the poor man’s Breeches
would fall down about his heels, for Venus allows him but
one point to his hose.
CORPORAL.
With these my Bully-Feet I will thump ope the Prison doors,
and brain the Keeper with the begging Box, but I’ll see my
honest sweet Captain Idle at liberty.
NICHOLAS.
How, Captain Idle? my old Aunt’s son, my dear Kinsman, in
Capadochio?
CORPORAL.
Aye, thou Church-peeling, thou Holy-paring, religious outside,
thou! if thou hadst any grace in thee, thou would’st visit
him, relieve him, swear to get him out.
NICHOLAS.
Assure you, Corporal, indeed-lam tis the first time I heard
on’t.
CORPORAL.
Why do’t now, then, Marmaset: bring forth thy yearly-wages,
let not a Commander perish!
SIMON.
But, if he be one of the wicked, he shall perish.
NICHOLAS.
Well, Corporal, I’ll e’en them along with you, to visit my
Kinsman: if I can do him any good, I will,—but I have
nothing for him. Simon Saint Mary Ovaries and Frailty, pray
make a lie for me to the Knight my Master, old Sir Godfrey.
CORPORAL.
A lie? may you lie then?
FRAILTY.
O, aye, we may lie, but we must not swear.
SIMON.
True, we may lie with our Neighbor’s wife, but we must not
swear wedid so.
CORPORAL.
Oh, an excellent Tag of religion!
NICHOLAS.
Oh Simon, I have thought upon a sound excuse; it will go
currant: say that I am gone to a Fast.
SIMON.
To a Fast? very good.
NICHOLAS.
Aye, to a Fast, say, with Master Fullbelly the Minister.
SIMON.
Master Fullbelly? an honest man: he feeds the flock well,
for he’s an excellent feeder.
[Exit Corporal, Nicholas.]
FRAILTY.
Oh, aye, I have seen him eat up a whole Pig, and afterward
fall to the pittitoes.
[Exit Simon and Frailty.]
SCENE IV.
The Prison, Marshalsea.
[Enter Captain Idle at one door, and later Pye-board and old
soldier at the other. George Pye-board, speaking within.]
PYE.
Pray turn the key.
SKIRMISH.
Turn the key, I pray.
CAPTAIN.
Who should those be? I almost know their voices.—
O my friends!
[Entering.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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