[74] I.e., think you?
[75] Old ed. “Enter the Drawer in the tavern before.”
[76] A sneer at those who purchased the honour of knighthood from King James. As he spoke the words the actor mimick’d James’ Scotch accent.
[77] Old ed. “stale.”
Goldsmiths’ Row.
Enter Touchstone.
To. Ha, sirrah! thinks my knight adventurer we can no point of our compass? Do we not know nor-north-east, north-east-and-by-east, east-and-by-north? nor plain eastward? Ha! have we never heard of Virginia? nor the Cavallaria? nor the Colonoria? Can we discover no discoveries? Well, mine errant Sir Flash, and my runagate Quicksilver, you may drink drunk,[79] crack cans, hurl away a brown dozen of Monmouth caps[80] or so, in sea ceremony to your bon voyage; but for reaching any coast, save the coast of Kent or Essex, with this tide, or with this fleet, I’ll be your warrant for a Gravesend toast. There’s that gone afore will stay your admiral,[81] and vice-admiral and rear-admiral, were they all (as they are) but one pinnace, and under sail, as well as a remora,[82] doubt it not; and from this sconce,[83] without either powder or shot. Work upon that now. Nay, and you’ll show tricks, we’ll vie[84]
with you a little. My daughter, his lady, was sent eastward by land, to a castle of his, i’ the air (in what region I know not), and, as I hear, was glad to take up her lodging in her coach, she and her two waiting-women, her maid, and her mother, like three snails in a shell, and the coachman a-top on ’hem, I think. Since they have all found the way back again by Weeping Cross;[85] but I’ll not see ’hem. And for two on ’hem, madam and her malkin, they are like to bite o’ the bridle for William, as the poor horses have done all this while that hurried ’hem, or else go graze o’ the common. So should my Dame Touchstone too; but she has been my cross these thirty years, and I’ll now keep her to fright away sprites, i’faith. I wonder I hear no news of my son Golding. He was sent for to the Guildhall this morning betimes, and I marvel at the matter; if I had not laid up comfort and hope in him, I should grow desperate of all. See! he is come i’ my thought. How now, son? What news at the Court of Aldermen? 35