Mul. ’Tis well,—’tis very well.
Mistress Mul. And will’d me to come and eat it with you at the goldsmith’s?
Mul. O, ay, ay, ay,—art in thy right wits? 160
Mistress Mul. Do you hear?—make a fool of somebody else; and you make an ass of me, I’ll make an ox of you,—do ye see?
Mul. Nay, wife, be patient; for, look you, I may be mad, or drunk, or so; for my own part, though you can bear more than I, yet I can do well. I will not curse nor cry,[75] but Heaven knows what I think. Come, let’s go hear some music; I will never more say my prayers. Let’s go hear some doleful music. Nay, if Heaven forget to prosper knaves, I’ll go no more to the synagogue. Now I am discontented, I’ll turn sectary; that is fashion.
[Exeunt.
[67] Tradesmen were frequently accused of using their wives as lures to attract customers. We shall hear more of this subject when we reach the satires.
[68] For the benefit of cappers an act was passed in 1571 that caps of wool (“statute-caps”) should be worn by citizens on the Sabbath and on holidays.
[69] “Bear a brain”—keep a shrewd memory.
[70] Old eds. “Garnish.”