Y. Love. It shall be so; we'll have it all in drink: Let meat and lodging go; they're transitory, And show men merely mortal. | Then we'll have wenches, every one his wench, | 120 | And every week a fresh one,--we'll keep No powder'd flesh. All these we have by warrant, Under the title of "things necessary"; here upon this place I ground it, "the obedience of my | people and all necessaries." Your opinions, gentlemen? | 125 | Capt. 'Tis plain and evident that he meant wenches. Sav. Good sir, let me expound it. Capt. Here be as sound men as yourself, sir. Poet. This do I hold to be the interpretation of it: | in this word "necessary" is concluded all that be helps | 130 | to man; woman was made the first, and therefore here the chiefest. Y. Love. Believe me, 'tis a learned one: and by these words, "the obedience of my people," you, steward, | being one, are bound to fetch us wenches. | 135 | Capt. He is, he is. Y. Love. Steward, attend us for instructions. Sav. But will you keep no house, sir? Y. Love. Nothing but drink; three hundred pounds in drink. | Sav. Oh, miserable house, and miserable I | 140 | That live to see it! Good sir, keep some meat. Y. Love. Get us good whores; and for your part, I'll board you In an ale-house! you shall have cheese and onions. Sav. [Aside.] What shall become of me, no chimney smoking? | Well, prodigal, your brother will come home. [Exit. | 145 | Y. Love. Come, lads, I'll warrant you for wenches. Three hundred pounds in drink. [Exeunt omnes. ____________________ | 122 | powder'd flesh] i. e. salt meat, as opposed to fresh. William Basse Tom o' Bedlam says the Man in the Moon "Eats powder'd beef, turnip and carrot." | | 139 | drink] QQ1, 2: the rest drink, Sir. | | 144 | no chimney smoking] This suggest that the steward has been wont to make a good thing in perquisites. | | 147 | drink ]Exeunt omnes] The sixth and two subsequent quartos add, after Loveless' last word, "Omnes. O brave Loveless!" and all the modern editors except Dyce follow them : but the authority of Q6 is quite inadequate. | -380- |