O. LUS. I would not, for an angel, lose the jest.
FUL. Here's right the dunghill cock that finds a pearl.
To talk of wit to these, is as a man
Should cast out jewels to a herd of swine—[aside.]
Why, in the last words did consist the jest.
O. LUS. Ay, in the last words? ha, ha, ha!
It was an excellent admired jest—
To them that understood it.
Enter YOUNG MASTER ARTHUR, with two cups of wine.
JUS. It was, indeed; I must, for fashion's sake,
Say as they say; but otherwise, O, God! [Aside.
Good Master Arthur, thanks for our good cheer.
Y. ART. Gentlemen, welcome all; now hear me speak—
One special cause that mov'd me lead you hither,
Is for an ancient grudge that hath long since
Continued 'twixt my modest wife and me:
The wrongs that I have done her I recant.
In either hand I hold a sev'ral cup,
This in the right hand, wife, I drink to thee,
This in the left hand, pledge me in this draught,
Burying all former hatred; so, have to thee. [He drinks.
MRS ART. The welcom'st pledge that yet I ever took:
Were this wine poison, or did taste like gall,
The honey-sweet condition of your draught
Would make it drink like nectar: I will pledge you,
Were it the last that I should ever drink.
Y. ART. Make that account: thus, gentlemen, you see
Our late discord brought to a unity.
AMIN. Ecce, quam bonum et quam jucundum
Est habitare fratres in unum.
O. ART. My heart doth taste the sweetness of your pledge,
And I am glad to see this sweet accord.