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EPIG. 21.

[Soto can proue, such as are drunke by noone]

Soto can proue, such as are drunke by noone,
Are long-liu'd men: the pox he can as soone.
Nay, heare his reason ere you do condemne,
And if you finde it foolish, hisse and hemme.
He sayes, Good blood is euen the life of man;
I graunt him that: (say you) well go-to than.
More drinke, the more good blood. O thats a lie;
The more you drinke, the sooner drunke, say I.
Now he protestes you do him mightie wrong,
Swearing a man in drinke, is three men strong:
And he will pawne his head against a pennie,
One right madd drunke, wil brawle and fight with anie.
Well, you reply that argument is weake,
How can a drunkard brawle, that cannot speake?
Or how can he vse weapon in his hand,
Which can not guide his feete to goe or stande?
Harke what an oath the drunken slaue doth sweare
He is a man by that, a man may heare.
And when you see him stagger, reele, and winke,
He is a man and more; I by this drinke.