IGNORANCE. Stay yet a while, and let us hear more communication.
PERV. DOC. I cannot, by God's soul, if I might have all this nation. Shall I suffer a knave thus to rail and prate? Nay then, I pray God, the devil break my pate! I will be revenged, ere he depart away-- Ah, sirrah, you have made a fair speak here to-day, Do you look for any reward for your deed? It were good to beat thee, till thy head bleed, Or to scourge thee well-favouredly at a cart's tail, To teach such an whoreson to blaspheme and rail At such holy mysteries and matters so high, As thou speakest of now, and rail'dst at so lately!
NEW CUS. What mean ye, sir, or to whom do you speak? Art you minded on me your anger to wreak, Which have not offended, as far as I know?
PERV. DOC. I speak to thee, knave; thou art mad, I trow. What meanest thou to rail right now so contemptuously At the chiefest secrets of all divinity?
NEW CUS. Verily I railed not, so far as I can tell, I spake but advisedly, I know very well; For I will stand to it, whatsoever I said.
PERV. DOC. Wilt thou so? but I will make thee well apaid,[11] To recant thy words, I hold thee a pound, Before thou depart hence out of this ground.
NEW CUS. No, that shall you not do, if I die therefore.
PERV. DOC. Thou shalt see anon, go to, prattle no more, But tell me the effect of the words which were said.
NEW CUS. To recite them again, I am not afraid: I said that the mass, and such trumpery as that, Popery, purgatory, pardons, were flat Against God's word and primitive constitution, Crept in through covetousness and superstition Of late years, through blindness, and men of no knowledge; Even such as have been in every age.
PERV. DOC. Now, precious whoreson, thou hast made a lie; How canst thou prove that, tell me by and by.
NEW CUS. It needeth small proof; the effect doth appear. Neither this is any place for to argue here. And, as for my saying, I hold the negative: It lieth you upon to prove the affirmative; To show that such things were used in antiquity, And then I can easily prove you the contrary.
PERV. DOC. Standest thou with me on school points? dost thou so indeed? Thou hadst best to prove me whether I can read; Thinkest thou I have no logic, indeed thinkest thou so? Yes, prinkocks, that I have; for forty years ago I could smatter in a Duns[12] prettily, I do not jest; Better I am sure than a hundred of you, whosoever is the best.