W. Small. Then are we all pair'd: I and my lass;
You and your wife; the lawyer and his wench;
And, father, fall you aboard of the widow:
But then my brother——
T. Small. Faith, I am a fool.
W. Small. That's all one: if God had not made
Some elder brothers fools, how should witty
Younger brothers be maintain'd?
Strike up, music; let's have an old song:
Since all my tricks have found so good success,
We'll sing, dance, dice, and drink down heaviness.
FOOTNOTES:
[429] [Meaning that she will throw something on his head.]
[430] [Edits., Do not, I know you cannot.]
[431] Sword.
[432] [Edits., To.]
[433] The shaking of the sheets was a dance. A double-entendre is designed here, and the same is often to be found in old plays. See "How to choose a good Wife from a bad," 1602; Massinger's "City Madam," act ii. sc. 1; "A Woman kill'd with Kindness," act i. sc. 1.
[434] The copy of 1636 makes nonsense of these two lines, thus—