Wine, Beere, Ale, and Tobacco 



Contending for Superiority.* 



Sugar and Nutmegge from seuerall doores meete. 



Sugar. Nutmegge? 



Nut. Sugar? well met, how chance you waite not vpon your 

 Maister, where's Wine now? 



Sug. Oh sometimes without Sugar, all the while he's well if I bee 

 in his company, tis but for fashion sake, I waite vpon him into a 

 roome now and then, but am not regarded : marrie when hee is ill, hee 

 makes much of mee, who but Sugar? but to my remembrance I haue 

 not beene in his presence this fortnight, I hope shortly hee will not 

 know me, though he meete me in his drinke. 10 



Nut. Thou hast a sweete life in the meane time Sugar. 



Sug. But thou art tied to more attendance Nutmegge vpon your 

 Maister Beere. 



Nut. Faith no, I am free now and then, though I bee his Prentice 

 still, Nutmegge hath more friends to trust to then Beere: I can be 

 welcome to wine thy master sometimes, and to the honest Countrey 

 man Ale too. But now I talke of Ale, when didst see his man prethee? 



Sug. Who, Tost? 



Nut. The same. 



Sug. I meete him at Tauerne euery day. 20 



Nut. When shall thou, and he, and I, meete and be merry ouer a 

 Cuppe? 



Sug. He tell thee Nutmegge, I doe not care much for his company, 

 he's such a chollericke peece, I know not what he's made of, but his 

 quarrelling comes home to him, for hee's euery day cut for it, I maruell 

 how he scapes, this morning he had a knife thrust into him 



Nut. Indeed he wUl be very hot sometimes. 



Sug. Hot? I, tiU he looke blacke ith' face agen, besides, if he take 

 an opinion ther's no turning him, hee'l be burnt first. I did but by 



* Wine, Beere, etc. Ed. 1629, Wine, Beere, and Ale, Together by the Eares. 

 1 Sugar and Nutmegge from several] doores meete. Omitted Ed. 1658. 



23 



