_Free._ Cocledemoy, perceiving none in the room but
the blind harper (whose eyes Heaven had shut up from
beholding wickedness), unclasps a casement to the
street very patiently, pockets up three bowls unnaturally,
thrusts his wench forth the window, and himself
most preposterously, with his heels forward, follows:
the unseeing harper plays on, bids the empty dishes and
the treacherous candles much good do them. The
drawer returns, but, out alas! not only the birds, but
also the neast of goblets, were flown away. Laments
are raised---- 42
_Tys._ Which did not pierce the heavens.
_Free._ The drawers moan, mine host doth cry, the
bowls are gone.
_Mul._ _Hic finis Priami!_
_Mal._ Nay, be not jaw-fall'n, my most sharking Mulligrub.
_Free._ 'Tis your just affliction; remember the sins of
the cellar, and repent, repent! 50
_Mul._ I am not jaw-fall'n, but I will hang the coney-catching
Cocledemoy; and there's an end of't.
[_Exit._
_Caq._ Is it a right stone? it shows well by candle-light.
_Free._ So do many things that are counterfeit, but I
assure you this is a right diamond.
_Caq._ Might I borrow it of you? it will not a little
grace my finger in visitation of my mistress.
_Free._ Why, use it, most sweet Caqueteur, use it.
_Caq._ Thanks, good sir; 'tis grown high night:
gentles, rest to you.
[_Exit._
_Tys._ A torch! Sound wench, soft sleep, and sanguine
dreams to you both. On, boy! 62
_Free._ Let me bid you good rest.
_Mal._ Not so, trust me, I must bring my friend home:
I dare not give you up to your own company; I fear
the warmth of wine and youth will draw you to some
common house of lascivious entertainment.
_Free._ Most necessary buildings, Malheureux; ever
since my intention of marriage, I do pray for their
continuance. 70
_Mal._ Loved sir, your reason?
_Free._ Marry, lest my house should be made one. I
would have married men love the stews as Englishmen
loved the Low Countries: wish war should be maintain'd
there, lest it should come home to their own doors.
What, [not] suffer a man to have a hole to put his head
in, though he go to the pillory for it! Youth and appetite
are above the club of Hercules.
_Mal._ This lust is a most deadly sin, sure.
_Free._ Nay, 'tis a most lively sin, sure. 80
_Mal._ Well, I am sure, 'tis one of the head sins.
_Free._ Nay, I am sure it is one of the middle sins.
_Mal._ Pity 'tis grown a most daily vice.
_Free._ But a more nightly vice, I assure you.
_Mal._ Well, 'tis a sin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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