s of King
Rasni's amours, of the thirsty career of a drunken blacksmith, and of
the prophet Jonah--his disobedience, strange sea-journey, mission in
Nineveh and subsequent ill-temper being set forth in full. Vainglorious
Rasni talks like Alphonsus, and his ladies are even less charming than
Iphigena. Ramilia boasts as outrageously as her brother, and is only
prevented by sudden death from an incestuous union with him; Alvida,
after poisoning her first husband to secure Rasni, shamelessly attempts
to woo the King of Cilicia. Quite the most successful character, perhaps
the most amusing of all Greene's clowns, is Adam, the blacksmith. His
loyal defence of his trade against derogatory aspersions, his rare
drunkenness, his detection and beating of the practical joker who comes
disguised as a devil to carry him off like a Vice on his back, his
tactful replenishings of his cup at the king's table, and his
dissemblings to avoid being discovered in possession of food during the
fast are most entertaining. Poor fellow, he ends on the gallows, but
goes to his death with a stout heart and a full stomach. No better
example is needed of the prose which Greene puts into the mouths of his
low characters than that which Adam uses. The following incident occurs
during the fast proclaimed by Rasni after Jonah's denunciations:

_Adam_ (_alone_). Well, Goodman Jonas, I would you had never come
from Jewry to this country; you have made me look like a lean rib
of roast beef, or like the picture of Lent painted upon a
red-herring-cob. Alas, masters, we are commanded by the
proclamation to fast and pray! By my faith, I could prettily so-so
away with praying; but for fasting, why, 'tis so contrary to my
nature that I had rather suffer a short hanging than a long
fasting. Mark me, the words be these, 'Thou shalt take no manner of
food for so many days'. I had as lief he should have said, 'Thou
shalt hang thyself for so many days'. And yet, in faith, I need not
find fault with the proclamation, for I have a buttery and a pantry
and a kitchen about me; for proof, _ecce signum_! This right slop
(_leg of his garments_) is my pantry--behold a manchet [_Draws it
out_]; this place is my kitchen, for, lo, a piece of beef [_Draws
it out_]: O, let me repeat that sweet word again! for, lo, a piece
of beef! This is my buttery; for see, see, my friends, to my great
joy, a bo