_Coc._ But brother,[112] brother, you must think of your
sins and iniquities; you have been a broacher of profane
vessels; you have made us drink of the juice of the whore
of Babylon: for whereas good ale, perrys, bragots,[113]
cyders, and metheglins, was the true ancient British and
Troyan drinks, you ha' brought in Popish wines, Spanish
wines, French wines, _tam Marti quam Mercurio_, both muscadine
and malmsey, to the subversion, staggering, and
sometimes overthrow of many a good Christian. You
ha' been a great jumbler; O remember the sins of your
nights! for your night works ha' been unsavoury in the
taste of your customers. 115
_Mul._ I confess, I confess; and I forgive as I would
be forgiven. Do you know one Cocledemoy?
_Coc._ O very well. Know him!--an honest man he is,
and a comely; an upright dealer with his neighbours,
and their wives speak good things of him. 120
_Mul._ Well, wheresoe'er he is, or whatsoe'er he is, I'll
take it on my death he's the cause of my hanging. I
heartily forgive him, and if he would come forth he
might save me; for he only knows the why and the
wherefore.
_Coc._ You do, from your hearts and midrifs and entrails,
forgive him then? you will not let him rot in rusty irons,
procure him to be hang'd in lousy linen without a song,
and after he is dead piss on his grave?
_Mul._ That hard heart of mine has procured all this;
but I forgive as I would be forgiven. 131
_Coc._ [_Discovering himself_] Hang toasts, my worshipful
Mulligrub. Behold thy Cocledemoy, my fine vintner;
my castrophomical fine boy; behold and see!
_Tyse._ Bliss o' the blessed, who would but look for
two knaves here?
_Coc._ No knave, worshipful friend, no knave; for observe,
honest Cocledemoy restores whatsoever he has
got, to make you know that whatsoever he has done,
has been only _euphoniæ gratia_--for wit's sake. I
acquit this vintner, as he has acquitted me; all has
been done for emphasis of wit, my fine boy, my worshipful
friends.
_Tyse._ Go, you are a flatt'ring knave. 143
_Coc._ I am so; 'tis a good thriving trade; it comes
forward better than the seven liberal sciences, or the
nine cardinal virtues; which may well appear in this,
you shall never have flattering knave turn courtier.
And yet I have read of many courtiers that have turned
flattering knaves.
_Sir Hub._ Was't even but so? why, then all's well. 150
_Mul._ I could even weep for joy.
_Mistress Mul._ I could weep too, but God knows for
what!
_Tyse._ Here's another tack to be given--your son and
daughter.
_Sir Hub._ Is't possible? heart, ay, all my heart; will
you be joined here?
_Tyse._ Yes, faith, father; marriage and hanging are
spun both in one hour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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