WIT.
Now, sirs, which sings best?
SIMPLICITY.
Tush, your copesmates shall not judge.
Friend, what say you? which of us sings best?
[To one of the auditory.
WILL. To say truth, there's but a bad choice. How will you sell the ballad you sang, for I'll not buy the voice?
SIMPLICITY.
Why wilt thou not buy my voice?
WILL. Because it will cost me more money to buy sallet-oil to keep it from rusting, than it is worth. But, I pray ye, honest man, what's this?
SIMPLICITY.
Read, and thou shalt see.
WILL.
I cannot read.
SIMPLICITY.
Not read, and brought up in London! Went'st thou never to school?
WILL.
Yes, but I would not learn.
SIMPLICITY.
Thou wast the more fool. If thou cannot read, I'll tell thee. This is
Tarlton's picture. Didst thou never know Tarlton?[239]