Cac. Nor bonds, nor fetters, captain: 
  My money is my own; I make no doubt on’t.

  Juan. What dost thou do with it?

  Cac. Put it to pious uses—­
  Buy wine—­

  Juan. Are you for the wars, Sir?

  Cac. I am not poor enough to be a soldier,
  Nor have I faith enough to ward a bullet;
  This is no living for a trench, I take it.

  Juan. You have said wisely.

  Cac. Had you but money

  You’d swear it, colonel.  I’d rather drill at home
  A hundred thousand crowns, and with more honour,
  Than exercise ten thousand fools with nothing;
  A wise man safely feeds, fools cut their fingers.

The prurient coarseness of Fletcher is due to the peculiar licentiousness of the period.  In his plays, although kissing is sometimes provocative of jealousy, it is generally regarded, even by persons of rank, as of less importance than it is now by boys and girls, who play “Kiss in the ring.”  In “Rule a wife and have a wife” Margarita says to the Duke

  “I may kiss a stranger,
   For you must be so now.”

This lady is desirous of obtaining a very easy husband, who will let her do whatever she likes.  A friend says she has found one for her in Leon, who is forthwith introduced.  Margarita puts some questions to him to ascertain his docility, and then says—­

  “Let me try your kisses—­
   How the fool shakes!—­I will not eat you, Sir. 
   Beshrew my heart, he kisses wondrous manly! 
   You must not look to be my master, Sir,
   Nor talk i’ th’ house as though you wore the breeches,
   No, nor command in anything. . .  You must not be saucy,
   No, nor at any time familiar with me;
   Scarce know me when I call not.”

After trying and approving his kisses again, she tells him that he is not to start or be offended if he sees her kissing anyone else.  He is to keep in the cellar, when not wanted.  The proposed husband promises to be most obedient and accommodating in everything, but as soon as he is accepted and the ceremony performed, he appears in a totally different character.  He informs his wife, in whose magnificent house he goes to live—­

    You’ve nothing to do here, Madam,
    But as a servant to sweep clean the lodgings,
    And at my farther will to do me service.
    Margarita (to her servants.) Get me my coach!
    Leon. Let me see who dare get it
  Till I command; I’ll make him draw your coach
  And eat your couch, (which will be hard duty).

On Cacafogo making some slighting remark, this gentle individual exclaims—­

  “Peace! dirt and dunghill! 
   I will not lose mine anger on a rascal;
   Provoke me more,—­I will beat thy blown body
   Till thou rebound’st again like a tennis-ball.”

In “Monsieur Thomas” we have the following jovial passage—­