_1st Sold._ I will even awaken him with a prick of my sword.

_Host._ Nay! he is strong in the word. [_To William._]
Preach something, if thou beest wise.

_Will._ What the devil!--

_3rd Sold._ Ay! uplift thy voice against Beelzebub.

_Host._ Thou couldst talk fast enough just now.

_Will._ Gurton! for this I will undo thee.
Newborn! thou didst just now water thine ale. Hezekiah!
thou dissemblest, which is more than thy wife used
to do; for she feared thee not.

_Host._ I pity thee, and will say no more.

_1st Sold._ Here is a stool, let him mount thereon.

_Will._ These be ignorant knaves. I will practice
on them. It may come to good. [_Mounts the stool._] The
Lord leadeth his people through the wilderness to
salvation, crinkeldom cum crankeldom. [_Mutters to himself._]

_Soldiers._ Hum!

_Will._ Of all thirsts, there be none like that after
righteousness.--[_Mutters to himself._]

_Soldiers._ Hum!

_Will._ [Aside.] For strong ale, which I think hath
to do with the conversion of this Gurton. [_Mutters
to himself._]

_1st Sold._ Lift thy voice higher, that we stumble
not in the dark.

_Will._ [_Aside._] I would I could remember a
text--anything will do--[_Aloud._] The General Cromwell
hath, they say, a red nose, and doth never spit white,
which I look upon as a great sign, as was the burning
bush to Moses!

_2nd Sold._ Ha! Blasphemest thou?

_3rd Sold._ He scoffeth!

_4th Sold._ Down with him.

_Host._ O fool! There will be blood spilt!

[_They drag WILLIAM down (the HOST vainly
endeavouring to interfere) and buffet him; as
Sin-Despise draws his sword, the trumpets
sound outside to saddle._]

[_Enter HARRISON, R.S.E._]

_Har._ Why dally ye? Away! Smite hip and thigh.
To horse, to horse! what ho! Zerubbabel!
Mount, mount, I say, for bloody Goring's near--
To saddle, ho!

[_They immediately fall into line, and leave
quickly, L. The trumpets are still heard
sounding. Exeunt all but HOST and WILLIAM, who
arranges his collar and adjusts himself._]

_Host._ [Breathless.] What thinkest thou of this?

_Will._ Think! what of? Thy late wife's virtue?
I would she were here.

_Host._ These be now your civil wars: didst
mark? he said all should have been paid. Now, with them
that were here, there were some fourscore and ten
quarts that might have been drunk, had they staid
an hour or so; and now to ride off thirsty to be killed.

_Will._ Well, it