the company. I had nothing left for it but to fall fast asleep,
which I did with all speed. "Come," said he, "resolve upon it,
we will make a wedding at the next town. We will wake this
pleasant companion who has fallen asleep, to be the brideman"
(and giving the quaker a clap on the knee) he concluded "This sly
saint, who I'll warrant, understands what's what as well as you
or I, widow, shall give the bride as father." The quaker, who
happened to be a man of smartness, answered, "Friend, I take it
in good part that thou hast given me the authority of a father
over this comely and virtuous child; and I must assure thee, that
if I have the giving her, I shall not bestow her on thee. Thy
mirth, friend, savoureth of folly: Thou art a person of a light
mind; thy drum is a type of thee, it soundeth because it is
empty. Verily, it is not from thy fulness, but thy emptiness
that thou hast spoken this day. Friend, friend, we have hired
this coach in partnership with thee, to carry us to the great
city; we cannot go any other way. This worthy mother must hear
thee if thou wilt needs utter thy follies; we cannot help it,
friend, I say: if thou wilt, we must hear thee; but if thou wert
a man of understanding, thou wouldst not take advantage of thy
courageous countenance to abash us children of peace. Thou art,
thou sayest, a soldier; give quarter to us, who cannot resist
thee. Why didst thou fleer at our friend, who feigned himself
asleep? He said nothing; but how dost thou know what he
containeth? If thou speakest improper things in the hearing of
this virtuous young virgin, consider it as an outrage against a
distressed person that cannot get from thee: 'To speak
indiscreetly what we are obliged to hear, by being hasped up with
thee in this publick vehicle, is in some degree assaulting on the
high road."