[Let him sit down and pull out his vittails.]
HUMBER.
Was ever land so fruitless as this land?
Was ever grove so graceless as this grove?
Was ever soil so barren as this soil?
Oh no: the land where hungry Fames dwelt May no wise equalize this cursed land;No, even the climate of the torrid zone Brings forth more fruit than this accursed grove.
Ne'er came sweet Ceres, ne'er came Venus here;Triptolemus, the god of husbandmen, Ne'er sowed his seed in this foul wilderness.
The hunger-bitten dogs of Acheron, Chased from the ninefold Puriflegiton, Have set their footsteps in this damned ground.
The iron hearted Furies, armed with snakes, Scattered huge Hydras over all the plains, Which have consumed the grass, the herbs, the trees;Which have drunk up the flowing water springs.
[Strumbo, hearing his voice, shall start up and put meat in his pocket, seeking to hide himself.]
Thou great commander of the starry sky, That guidest the life of every mortal wight, From the inclosures of the fleeting clouds Fain down some food, or else I faint and die:
Pour down some drink, or else I faint and die.
O Jupiter, hast thou sent Mercury In clownish shape to minister some food?
Some meat! some meat! some meat!