ALL. Oh!
CORPORAL. Why, Nicholas Saint-Tantlings, Simon Saint Mary Ovaries, ha's the De'el possest you, that you swear no better? you half-Christned Catomites, you ungod-mothered Varlets, do's the first lesson teach you to be proud, and the second to be Cocks-combs? proud Cocks-combs! not once to do duty to a man of Mark!
FRAILTY. A man of Mark, quatha! I do not think he can shew a Begger's Noble.
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.]
Ya're welcome to a smelling Room here. You newly took leave of the air; ist not a strange savour?
PYE. As all prisons have: smells of sundry wretches, Who, tho departed, leave their scents behind 'em. By Gold, Captain, I am sincerely sorry for thee.
CAPTAIN. By my troth, George, I thank thee; but pish,--what must be, must be.
SKIRMISH. Captain, what do you lie in for? ist great? what's your offence?
CAPTAIN. Faith, my offence is ordinary,--common: A High-way; and I fear me my penalty will be ordinary and common too: a halter.
PYE. Nay, prophecy not so ill; it shall go h