JOHN
That is stale too.
THIRD GENTLEMAN
Or burn the assembly's catechism?
FOURTH GENTLEMAN
Or drink the king's health, every man standing upon his head naked?
JOHN (to Lovel)
We have here some pleasant madness.
THIRD GENTLEMAN Who shall pledge me in a pint bumper, while we drink to the king upon our knees?
LOVEL
Why on our knees, Cavalier?
JOHN (smiling) For more devotion, to be sure. (To a servant.) Sirrah, fetch the gilt goblets.
(The goblets are brought. They drink the king's health, kneeling. A shout of general approbation following the first appearance of the goblets.)
JOHN We have here the unchecked virtues of the grape. How the vapours curl upwards! It were a life of gods to dwell in such an element: to see, and hear, and talk brave things. Now fie upon these casual potations. That a man's most exalted reason should depend upon the ignoble fermenting of a fruit, which sparrows pluck at as well as we!
GRAY (aside to Lovel)
Observe how he is ravished.