Enter FLAVIUS,
MURELLUS, a CARPENTER, a
COBBLER, and certain other
COMMONERS over the stage
FLAVIUS and MURELLUS enter and speak
to a CARPENTER, a COBBLER, and some
other commoners.
FLAVIUS
Hence! Home, you idle creatures get you home!
Is this a holiday? What, know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not walk
Upon a laboring day without the sign
5
Of your profession?—Speak, what trade art thou?
FLAVIUS
Get out of here! Go home, you lazy men. What, is today a holiday?
Don't you know that working men aren't supposed to
walk around on a workday without wearing their work clothes? You
there, speak up. What's your occupation?
CARPENTER
Why, sir, a carpenter.
CARPENTER
I'm a carpenter, sir.
MURELLUS
Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
—You, sir, what trade are you?
MURELLUS
Where are your leather apron and your ruler? What are you doing,
wearing your best clothes? And you, sir, what's
your trade?
COBBLER
10
Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you
would say, a cobbler.
COBBLER
Well, compared to a fine workman, you might call me a mere
cobbler.
MURELLUS
But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.
MURELLUS
But what's your trade? Answer me
straightforwardly.
COBBLER
A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience,
which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.
COBBLER
It is a trade, sir, that I practice with a clear conscience. I am
a mender of worn soles.
MURELLUS
15
What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?
MURELLUS
What trade, boy? You insolent rascal, what trade?
COBBLER
Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be
out, sir, I can mend you.
COBBLER
Sir, please, don't be angry. But if your soles are worn
out, I can mend you.
MURELLUS
What mean'st thou by that? “Mend”
me, thou saucy
fellow?
MURELLUS
What do you mean by that? “Mend” me, you
impertinent fellow?!
