_Coc._ List then:--a bawd; first for her profession or
vocation, it is most worshipful of all the twelve companies;
for, as that trade is most honourable that sells
the best commodities--as the draper is more worshipful
than the pointmaker, the silkman more worshipful than
the draper, and the goldsmith more honourable than
both, little Mary, so the bawd above all: her shop has
the best ware; for where these sell but cloth, satins, and
jewels, she sells divine virtues, as virginity, modesty, and
such rare gems; and those not like a petty chapman, by
retail, but like a great merchant, by wholesale; wa, ha,
ho! And who are her customers? Not base corn-cutters
or sowgelders, but most rare wealthy knights,
and most rare bountiful lords, are her customers. Again,
whereas no trade or vocation profiteth but by the loss
and displeasure of another--as the merchant thrives not
but by the licentiousness of giddy[20] and unsettled youth;
the lawyer, but by the vexation of his client; the physician,
but by the maladies of his patient--only my
smooth-gumm'd bawd lives by others' pleasure, and
only grows rich by others' rising. O merciful gain, O
righteous in-come! So much for her vocation, trade,
and life. As for their death, how can it be bad, since
their wickedness is always before their eyes, and a
death's[21] head most commonly on their middle-finger?
To conclude, 'tis most certain they must needs both live
well and die well, since most commonly they live in
Clerkenwell,[22] and die in Bride-well. _Dixi, Mary._ 158
_Enter_ FREEVILL _and_ MALHEUREUX.
_Free._ Come along, yonder's the preface or exordium
to my wench, the bawd. Fetch, fetch! What! Mr.
Cocledemoy, is your knaveship yet stirring? Look to it,
Mulligrub lies[23] for you.
_Enter_ COCLEDEMOY.
_Coc._ The more fool he; I can lie for myself, worshipful
friend. Hang toasts! I vanish. Ha! my fine boy,
thou art a scholar, and hast read Tully's _Offices_, my fine
knave. Hang toasts!
_Free._ The vintner will toast you, and he catch you.
_Coc._ I will draw the vintner to the stoop, and when
he runs low, tilt him. Ha! my fine knave, art going to
thy recreation? 170
_Free._ Yes, my capricious rascal.
_Coc._ Thou wilt look like a fool then, by and by.
_Free._ Look like a fool, why?
_Coc._ Why, according to the old saying: a beggar
when he is lousing of himself, looks like a philosopher;
a hard-bound philosopher, when he is on the stool, looks
like a tyrant; and a wise man, when he is in his belly
act, looks like a fool. God give your worship good rest!
grace and mercy keep your syringe straight, and your
lotium unspilt. 180
_Enter_ FRANCESCHINA.
_Free._ See, sir, this is she.
_Mal._ This?
_Free._ This.
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