And then are we told, with rich Hudibrastic humour, that Ralph, the ex-tailor, was like Æneas the Pious, for—
“This sturdy squire, he had, as well
As the bold Trojan knight, seen hell;”
which locality, as connected with the handicraftsman, is described as being the place where tailors deposit their perquisites.
We have digressed a little from Snipsnap, the English tailor, whom Beaumont and Fletcher have placed with other thoroughly English artisans in the piece already named, ‘The Faithful Friends.’ Snipsnap holds his profession to be above that of a soldier, but yet modestly excuses himself from fighting, on the score that, although a tailor, he is not a gentleman. Being provoked, however, he knocks down the rude offender, and has a thorough contempt for the constable,—a contempt in the entertaining of which he is so well justified by the logical remark of Blacksnout:—
“A constable’s
An ass. I’ve been a constable myself.”
The bravery of Snipsnap is a true bravery: he is conscious of the peril in which he stands as a soldier, and, ere going into action, bethinks him of old prophecies that he should be slain; but when he pictures to himself the public scorn that ever follows cowardice, and that, if he and his fellows be poltroons, every wench in Rome will fling dirt at them as they pass by, saying, “There are the soldiers who durst not draw their blades,” then is the heroic soul fired, and Snipsnap exclaims:—
“But they shall find we dare, and strike home too: