ACT III., SCENE I.

_+Bright+, +Newcut+, +Plotwell+, +Roseclap+, hanging out the picture of a strange fish._[221]

+Bright.+ 'Fore Jove, the captain fox'd[222] him rarely.

+Rose.+ O sir, He is used to it: this is the fifth fish now That he hath shown thus. One got him twenty pound.

+New.+ How, Roseclap?

+Rose.+ Why the captain kept him, sir, A whole week drunk, and show'd him twice a-day.

+New.+ It could not be like this.

+Rose.+ Faith, I do grant This is the strangest fish. Yon I have hung His other picture in the fields, where some Say 'tis an o'ergrown porpoise; others say 'Tis the fish caught in Cheshire; one, to whom The rest agree, said 'twas a mermaid.

+Plot.+ 'Slight! Roseclap shall have a patent of him. The birds Brought from Peru, the hairy wench,[223] the camel, The elephant, dromedaries, or Windsor Castle, The woman with dead flesh, or she that washes, Threads needles, writes, dresses her children, plays O' th' virginals with her feet, could never draw People like this.

+New.+ O, that his father were At home to see him!

+Plot.+ Or his mother come, Who follows strange sights out of town, and went To Brentford to a motion.

+Bright.+ Bid the captain hasten, Or he'll recover, and spoil all.

+Rose.+ They're here!