MOLUS

This difference: there of a little I had somewhat, here of a great deal nothing, there did I wear Panto pheles on my legs, here do I bear them in my hands. I think indeed a piece of beafe as big as a mouse, serves a great company of such cats. But what else? You courtiers be mad fellows, we silly souls are only plodders at Ergo, whose wits are clasped up with our books, & so full of learning are we at home, that wescarce know good manners when we come a broad, Cunning in nothing but in making small things great by figures, pulling on with the sweat of our stum die a great shoe upon a little foot, burning out one Can ̄ dle in seeking for and other, raw worldlings in matters of substance passing wranglers about shadows. These be the golden days. You are gross witted, master courtier. I meant times which were prophesied golden for plenty of all things, sharpness of wit, excellency in knowledge, policy in government, for, Why, it is no argument. Cryticus comes in good time, I shall not be a lone. What news Cryticus? Now thou talkest of Frays, I pray thee what is that, whereof they talk so commonly in court, vam lour, the stab, the Pistol, for the which every man that dareth is so much honoured? What is the end? If it be but death that brings all this come mendation, I account him as valiant that is killed with a surfeit, as with a sword. If I venture upon a full stomach to eat a rasher on the coals, a carbonado, drink a carouse, swallow all things that may procure sickness or death, am not I as valiant to die so in a house, as the other in a field? Me thinks that Epicures are as desperate as soldiers, and cooks provide as good weapons as cutlers? I will die for it, what greater valour? I will stand upon this point: if it be valour to dare die, he is valiant howsoever he dieth. I hope you have found those, which are honest. Cryticus, you shall see me by learning to prove Calipho to be the deiull. Calipho, I will prove thee to be the devil. The devil is black. Thou art black. Therefore thou art the devil. It is the conclusion, thou must not deny it. Thou seest he hath no reason. I will reason with thee now from a place. Like master, Like man. But thy master hath horns. Therefore thou hast horns, and ergo a devil, All men that have horns, are. But what dost thou answer? What? Then will I say thou art a scholar. I, but I deny your Antecedent. There is no reasoning with these Mechanical dolts, whose wits are in their hands, not in their heads. Than shall we have sweet music. But come, I will not break of. I am in the depth of my learning driven to a muse, how this lent I shall scamble in the court, that was wont to fast so oft in the University. Then is he a deaf God. For venture non habet aures. But thy back is thy God. How prove you that? Then would the satchel that hangs at your God, id est, your back, were full of meat to stuff my God, hoc est, my belly. Does not the horse travel best, that sleepeth with his head in the manger? Good wits will apply. But what cheer is there here this Lent? I can eat none, it is wind. I must eat none, they are fire. It is against the old verse, Caseus est nequam. Yea, but if a man hath nothing else to eat, what shall it digest? So shall I not incur the fulsome & unmanner lie sin of surfeiting. But here comes Calipho. How? It is true, and the same time did Mars make a full point, that Vulcan's head was made a Parenthesis. Is Venus yet come home? I must go by too, or else my master will not go by me: but meet me full with his fist. Therefore, if we shall sing, give me my partly quickly: for if I tarry long, I shall cry my part woefully. A mouse? unproperly spoken.