Adam. Faith, sir, but I remember a word that my mistress your bed-fellow spoke.
Rasni. What was that, fellow?
Adam. O, sir, a word of comfort, a precious word—"And let him want no drink."
Rasni. Her word is law; and thou shalt want no drink. [Drink given to Adam.
Adam. Then, sir, this devil came upon me, and would not be persuaded, but he would needs carry me to hell. I proffered him a cup of ale, thinking, because he came out of so hot a place, that he was thirsty; but the devil was not dry, and therefore the more sorry was I. Well, there was no remedy but I must with him to hell: and at last I cast mine eye aside; if you knew what I spied you would laugh, sir; I looked from top to toe, and he had no cloven feet. Then I ruffled up my hair, and set my cap on the one side, and, sir, grew to be a justice of peace to the devil: at last in a great fume, as I am very choleric, and sometimes so hot in my fustian fumes that no man can abide within twenty yards of me, I start up, and so bombasted the devil, that, sir, he cried out and ran away.
Alvi. This pleasant knave hath made me laugh my fill.
Rasni, now Alvida begins her quaff,
And drinks a full carouse unto her king.
Rasni. A pledge, my love, as hearty as great Jove
Drunk when his Juno heav'd a bowl to him.—
Frolic, my lords; let all the standards walk,[119]
Ply it till every man hath ta'en his load.—
How now, sirrah, what cheer? we have no words of you.
Adam. Truly, sir, I was in a brown study about my mistress.
Alvi. About me! for what?
Adam, Truly, mistress, to think what a golden sentence you did speak: all the philosophers in the world could not have said more:—"What, come, let him want no drink." O, wise speech!
Alvi. Villains, why skink you unto this fellow?
He makes me blithe and merry in my thoughts:
Heard you not that the king hath given command,
That all be drunk this day within his court
In quaffing to the health of Alvida?
[Drink given to Adam.