The play abounds with
allusions to the "Indian weed."

"_Silenus._--Kawosha comes in majestie,
Was never such a God as he;
He's come from a far countrie
To make our nose a chimney.

_Kawosha._--The wine takes the contrary way
To get into the hood;
But good tobacco makes no stay
But seizeth where it should.
More incense hath burned at
Great Kawoshae's foote
Than to Silen and Bacchus, both,
And take in Jove to boote.

_Silenus._--The worthies they were nine tis true,
And lately Arthur's knights I knew;
But now are come up Worthies new,
The roaring boys Kawoshae's crew.

_Kawosha._--Silenus toppes the barrel, but
Tobacco toppes the braine
And makes the vapors fire and soote,
That mon revise againe.
Nothing but fumigation
Doth charm away ill sprites,
Kawosha and his nation
Found out these holy rites."

The writers of this period abound in allusions to tobacco and its use.
The poets and dramatists found in it a fertile field for the display
of their satire, and from 1600 to 1650 stage plays introduced many
characters as either tobacco drinkers or sellers. It had now become
so great a custom and had increased so fast after the importation of
Virginia tobacco that it afforded them no insignificant theme for the
display of their genius.[41] The plays of Jonson, Decker, Rowland,
Heywood, Middleton, Fields, Fletcher, Hutton, Lodge, Sharpham,
Marston, Lilly (court poet to Elizabeth), the Duke of Newcastle and
others are full of allusions to the plant and those who indulged in
its use. Shakespeare,[42] however, does not once allude to its use,
and his silence on this then curious custom has provoked much
conjecture and inquiry. Some affirm that he wrote to please royalty,
but if so why did he not condemn the custom to appease the wrath of a
sapient king. Others say he kept silence because he was the friend of
Raleigh, and though he would have gladly held up the great smoker and
his favorite indulgence, feared to add to the popularity of the custom
by displeasing his royal master. Another class affirm that as the
stories of his plays are