ACT II., SCENE I.

_+Aurelia+, +Dorcas+._

+Aur.+ Why, we shall have you get in time the turn- Up of your eyes, speak in the nose, draw sighs Of an ell long, and rail at discipline. Would I could hear from Bannswright! Ere I'll be tortur'd With your preciseness thus, I'll get dry palms With starching, and put on my smocks myself.

+Dor.+ Surely you may, and air 'em too: there have been Very devout and holy women that wore No shift at all.

+Aur.+ Such saints, you mean, as wore Their congregations, and swarm'd with Christian vermin. You'll hold clean linen heresy?

+Dor.+ Surely, yes, Clean linen in a surplice: that and powders Do bring dry summers, make the sickness rage, And the enemy prevail. It was reveal'd To Mistress Scruple and her husband, who Do verily ascribe the German war And the late persecutions to curling, False teeth, and oil of talc.[194]

+Aur.+ Now she is in, A lecturer will sooner hold his peace Than she.

+Dor.+ And surely, as Master Scruple says----

+Aur.+ That was her schoolmaster; one that cools a feast With his long grace, and sooner eats a capon, Than blesses it.

+Dor.+ And proves it very well, Out of a book that suffer'd martyrdom[195] By fire in Cheapside; since amulets and bracelets, And love-locks, were in use, the price of sprats, Jerusalem artichokes, and Holland cheese, Is very much increased: so that the brethren-- Botchers I mean, and such poor zealous saints As earn five groats a week under a stall, By singing psalms, and drawing up of holes, Can't live in their vocation, but are fain To turn----

+Aur.+ Old breeches.

+Dor.+ Surely, teachers and prophets.