Part 4 (1/2)

_Host._ Thou couldst talk fast enough just now.

_Will._ Gurton! for this I will undo thee.

Newborn! thou didst just now water thine ale. Hezekiah!

thou dissemblest, which is more than thy wife used to do; for she feared thee not.

_Host._ I pity thee, and will say no more.

_1st Sold._ Here is a stool, let him mount thereon.

_Will._ These be ignorant knaves. I will practice on them. It may come to good. [_Mounts the stool._] The Lord leadeth his people through the wilderness to salvation, crinkeldom c.u.m crankeldom. [_Mutters to himself._]

_Soldiers._ Hum!

_Will._ Of all thirsts, there be none like that after righteousness.--[_Mutters to himself._]

_Soldiers._ Hum!

_Will._ [Aside.] For strong ale, which I think hath to do with the conversion of this Gurton. [_Mutters to himself._]

_1st Sold._ Lift thy voice higher, that we stumble not in the dark.

_Will._ [_Aside._] I would I could remember a text--anything will do--[_Aloud._] The General Cromwell hath, they say, a red nose, and doth never spit white, which I look upon as a great sign, as was the burning bush to Moses!

_2nd Sold._ Ha! Blasphemest thou?

_3rd Sold._ He scoffeth!

_4th Sold._ Down with him.

_Host._ O fool! There will be blood spilt!

[_They drag WILLIAM down (the HOST vainly endeavouring to interfere) and buffet him; as Sin-Despise draws his sword, the trumpets sound outside to saddle._]

[_Enter HARRISON, R.S.E._]

_Har._ Why dally ye? Away! Smite hip and thigh.

To horse, to horse! what ho! Zerubbabel!

Mount, mount, I say, for b.l.o.o.d.y Goring's near-- To saddle, ho!

[_They immediately fall into line, and leave quickly, L. The trumpets are still heard sounding. Exeunt all but HOST and WILLIAM, who arranges his collar and adjusts himself._]

_Host._ [Breathless.] What thinkest thou of this?

_Will._ Think! what of? Thy late wife's virtue?

I would she were here.

_Host._ These be now your civil wars: didst mark? he said all should have been paid. Now, with them that were here, there were some fourscore and ten quarts that might have been drunk, had they staid an hour or so; and now to ride off thirsty to be killed.

_Will._ Well, it might have been worse, for they might have drunk it, and departed in that military haste which precludes payment.