Omnes. Ev’n so, an’t please your imperial devilship; whilst we drank and fought against the Turks, our wives whor’d with the Christians. O wives! wives!
Lucif. Away with these into the hottest, for their carcasses are so soak’d with liquor, that they’ll put out an ordinary fire. You, the next, speak.
[They are carry’d off, others brought on.
Dutch Ghost. Gads sacrament, I am a member, or rather two members, of the Hogen-Mogen common-wealth of Europe. Two members, I say; for I am a member governed, and a member governing; for the people with us, and in all such common-wealths, are both subjects and masters, govern laws, and govern’d by the same.
Lucif. Your country’s name then is contradiction. Is it not?
Ghost. Contradiction to monarchy, tho’ set up by some monarchs to spite others. But to your question, old tarpaulin: Whilst I was getting money and drinking punch and brandy, to hearten me for the noble combats of snick or snee, or some illustrious sea-fight, or some generous undertaking at the island of Formosa, (for a true Dutchman never fights without his head full of brandy) my wife made it fly like sooterkins at home; at last she made me turn bankrupt, and cheat my creditors, and so dying, I came with a full sail and brisk gale into your port.
Lucif. You, the rest, speak.
Omnes. For our wives, O Sooterkin Hagan, our wives, whose broad-built bulk the boisterous billows bear.
Lucif. Away with them into the den of anarchy and confusion, below the founders of Babel.
[They are carry’d off, and abundance of English bands come forward.