1st Sear. ’Tis Adam, the smith’s man.  How, now, Adam?

     Adam. Trouble me not; thou shalt take no manner of food, but fast
     and pray.

     1st Sear. How devoutly he sits at his orisons!  But stay, methinks
     I feel a smell of some meat or bread about him.

     2nd Sear. So thinks me too.  You, Sirrah, what victuals have you
     about you?

     Adam. Victuals!  O horrible blasphemy!  Hinder me not of my prayer,
     nor drive me not into a choler.  Victuals? why heardest thou not the
     sentence, thou shalt take no food, but fast and pray?

     2nd Sear. Troth, so it should be; but, methinks, I smell meat
     about thee.

     Adam. About me, my friends? these words are actions in the case. 
     About me? no! no! hang those gluttons that cannot fast and pray.

     1st Sear. Well, for all your words we must search you.

     Adam. Search me? take heed what you do! my hose are my castles;
     ’tis burglary if you break ope a slop; no officer must lift up an
     iron hatch; take heed, my slops are iron.

     2nd Sear. O, villain!  See how he hath gotten victuals—­bread,
     beef and beer, where the king commanded upon pain of death none
     should eat for so many days, not the sucking infant.

     Adam. Alas!  Sir, this is nothing but a modicum non nocet ut
     medicus daret; why, Sir, a bit to comfort my stomach.

     1st Sear. Villain! thou shalt be hanged for it.

     Adam. These are your words, I shall be hanged for it; but first
     answer me this question, how many days have we to fast still?

     2nd Sear. Five days.

     Adam. Five days! a long time; then I must be hanged.

     1st Sear. Ay, marry must thou.

Adam. I am your man, I am for you, Sir, for I had rather be hanged than abide so long a fast.  What! five days!  Come, I’ll untruss.  Is your halter, and the gallows, the ladder, and all such furniture in readiness.

     1st Sear. I warrant thee thou shalt want none of these.

     Adam. But hear you, must I be hanged?

     1st Sear. Ay, marry.

     Adam. And for eating of meat.  Then, friends, know ye by these
     presents, I will eat up all my meat, and drink up all my drink, for
     it shall never be said, I was hanged with an empty stomach.

It has been supposed that Greene was very indelicate in his language, as well as reckless in his life.  But we cannot find in his plays anything very offensive, considering the date at which he wrote, and in the tract called “Greene’s Funeralls,” we read:—­

   His gadding Muse, although it ran of love,
   Yet did he sweetly morralize his song;
   Ne ever gaue the looser cause to laugh
   Ne men of judgement for to be offended.