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Cynthia's Revels, a play by Ben Jonson |
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Act 5 Scene 2 |
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_ SCENE II. ANOTHER ROOM IN THE SAME [ENTER ASOTUS AND AMORPHUS.] ASO. No more, if you love me, good master; you are incompatible to live withal: send me for the ladies! AMO. Nay, but intend me. ASO. Fear me not; I warrant you, sir. AMO. Render not yourself a refractory on the sudden. I can allow, well, you should repute highly, heartily, and to the most, of your own endowments; it gives you forth to the world the more assured: but with reservation of an eye, to be always turn'd dutifully back upon your teacher. ASO. Nay, good sir, leave it to me. Trust me with trussing all the points of this action, I pray. 'Slid, I hope we shall find wit to perform the science as well as another. AMO. I confess you to be of an apted and docible humour. Yet there are certain punctilios, or (as I may more nakedly insinuate them) certain intrinsecate strokes and wards, to which your activity is not yet amounted, as your gentle dor in colours. For supposition, your mistress appears here in prize, ribanded with green and yellow; now, it is the part of every obsequious servant, to be sure to have daily about him copy and variety of colours, to be presently answerable to any hourly or half-hourly change in his mistress's revolution -- ASO. I know it, sir. AMO. Give leave, I pray you -- which, if your antagonist, or player against you, shall ignorantly be without, and yourself can produce, you give him the dor. ASO. Ay, ay, sir. AMO. Or, if you can possess your opposite, that the green your mistress wears, is her rejoicing or exultation in his service; the yellow, suspicion of his truth, from her height of affection: and that he, greenly credulous, shall withdraw thus, in private, and from the abundance of his pocket (to displace her jealous conceit) steal into his hat the colour, whose blueness doth express trueness, she being not so, nor so affected; you give him the dor. ASO. Do not I know it, sir? AMO. Nay, good -- swell not above your understanding. There is yet a third dor in colours. ASO. I know it too, I know it. AMO. Do you know it too? what is it? make good your knowledge. ASO. Why it is -- no matter for that. AMO. Do it, on pain of the dor. ASO. Why; what is't, say you? AMO. Lo, you have given yourself the dor. But I will remonstrate to you the third dor, which is not, as the two former dors, indicative, but deliberative: as how? as thus. Your rival is, with a dutiful and serious care, lying in his bed, meditating how to observe his mistress, dispatcheth his lacquey to the chamber early, to know what her colours are for the day, with purpose to apply his wear that day accordingly: you lay wait before, preoccupy the chamber-maid, corrupt her to return false colours; he follows the fallacy, comes out accoutred to his believed instructions; your mistress smiles, and you give him the dor. ASO. Why, so I told you, sir, I knew it. AMO. Told me! It is a strange outrecuidance, your humour too much redoundeth. ASO. Why, sir, what, do you think you know more? AMO. I know that a cook may as soon and properly be said to smell well, as you to be wise. I know these are most clear and clean strokes. But then, you have your passages and imbrocatas in courtship; as the bitter bob in wit; the reverse in face or wry-mouth; and these more subtile and secure offenders. I will example unto you: Your opponent makes entry as you are engaged with your mistress. You seeing him, close in her ear with this whisper, "Here comes your baboon, disgrace him"; and withal stepping off, fall on his bosom, and turning to her, politely, aloud say, Lady, regard this noble gentleman, a man rarely parted, second to none in this court; and then, stooping over his shoulder, your hand on his breast, your mouth on his backside, you give him the reverse stroke, with this sanna, or stork's-bill, which makes up your wit's bob most bitter. ASO. Nay, for heaven's sake, teach me no more. I know all as well -- 'Slid, if I did not, why was I nominated? why did you choose me? why did the ladies prick out me? I am sure there were other gallants. But me of all the rest! By that light, and, as I am a courtier, would I might never stir, but 'tis strange. Would to the lord the ladies would come once! [ENTER MORPHIDES.] MORP. Signior, the gallants and ladies are at hand. Are you ready, sir? AMO. Instantly. Go, accomplish your attire: [EXIT ASOTUS.] Cousin Morphides, assist me to make good the door with your officious tyranny. CITIZEN. [WITHIN.] By your leave, my masters there, pray you let's come by. PAGES. [WITHIN.] You by! why should you come by more than we? CITIZEN'S WIFE. [WITHIN.] Why, sir! because he is my brother that plays the prizes. MORP. Your brother! CITIZEN. [WITHIN.] Ay, her brother, sir, and we must come in. TAILOR. [WITHIN.] Why, what are you? CITIZEN. [WITHIN.] I am her husband, sir. TAILOR. [WITHIN.] Then thrust forward your head. AMO. What tumult is there? MORP. Who's there? bear back there! Stand from the door! AMO. Enter none but the ladies and their hang-byes. -- [ENTER PHANTASTE, PHILAUTIA, ARGURION, MORIA, HEDON, AND ANAIDES, INTRODUCING TWO LADIES.] Welcome beauties, and your kind shadows. HED. This country lady, my friend, good signior Amorphus. ANA. And my cockatrice here. AMO. She is welcome. [THE CITIZEN, AND HIS WIFE, PAGES, ETC., APPEAR AT THE DOOR.] MORP. Knock those same pages there; and, goodman coxcomb the citizen, who would you speak withal? WIFE. My brother. AMO. With whom? your brother! MORP. Who is your brother? WIFE. Master Asotus. AMO. Master Asotus! is he your brother? he is taken up with great persons; he is not to know you to-night. [RE-ENTER ASOTUS HASTILY.] ASO. O Jove, master! an there come e'er a citizen gentlewoman in my name, let her have entrance, I pray you: it is my sister. WIFE. Brother! CIT. [THRUSTING IN.] Brother, master Asotus! ASO. Who's there? WIFE. 'Tis I, brother. ASO. Gods me, there she is! good master, intrude her. MORP. Make place! bear back there! [ENTER CITIZEN'S WIFE.] AMO. Knock that simple fellow there. WIFE. Nay, good sir, it is my husband. MORP. The simpler fellow he. -- Away! back with your head, sir! [PUSHES THE CITIZEN BACK.] ASO. Brother, you must pardon your non-entry: husbands are not allow'd here, in truth. I'll come home soon with my sister: pray you meet us with a lantern, brother. Be merry, sister: I shall make you laugh anon. [EXIT.] PHA. Your prizer is not ready, Amorphus. AMO. Apprehend your places; he shall be soon, and at all points. ANA. Is there any body come to answer him? shall we have any sport? AMO. Sport of importance; howsoever, give me the gloves. HED. Gloves! why gloves, signior? PHI. What's the ceremony? AMO. [DISTRIBUTING GLOVES.] Beside their received fitness, at all prizes, they are here properly accommodate to the nuptials of my scholar's 'haviour to the lady Courtship. Please you apparel your hands. Madam Phantaste, madam Philautia, guardian, signior Hedon, signior Anaides, gentlemen all, ladies. ALL. Thanks, good Amorphus. AMO. I will now call forth my provost, and present him. [EXIT.] ANA. Heart! why should not we be masters as well as he? HED. That's true, and play our masters' prizes as well as the t'other? MOR. In sadness, for using your court-weapons, methinks you may. PHA. Nay, but why should not we ladies play our prizes, I pray? I see no reason but we should take them down at their own weapons. PHI. Troth, and so we may, if we handle them well. WIFE. Ay, indeed, forsooth, madam, if 'twere in the city, we would think foul scorn but we would, forsooth. PHA. Pray you, what should we call your name? WIFE. My name is Downfall. HED. Good mistress Downfall! I am sorry your husband could not get in. WIFE. 'Tis no matter for him, sir. ANA. No, no, she has the more liberty for herself. [A FLOURISH.] PHA. Peace, peace! they come. [RE-ENTER AMORPHUS, INTRODUCING ASOTUS IN A FULL-DRESS SUIT.] AMO. So, keep up your ruff; the tincture of your neck is not all so pure, but it will ask it. Maintain your sprig upright; your cloke on your half-shoulder falling; so: I will read your bill, advance it, and present you. -- Silence! "Be it known to all that profess courtship, by these presents (from the white satin reveller, to the cloth of tissue and bodkin) that we, Ulysses-Polytropus-Amorphus, master of the noble and subtile science of courtship, do give leave and licence to our provost, Acolastus-Polypragmon-Asotus, to play his master's prize, against all masters whatsoever, in this subtile mystery, at these four, the choice and most cunning weapons of court-compliment, viz. the BARE ACCOST; the BETTER REGARD; the SOLEMN ADDRESS; and the PERFECT CLOSE. These are therefore to give notice to all comers, that he, the said Acolastus-Polypragmon-Asotus, is here present (by the help of his mercer, tailor, milliner, sempster, and so forth) at his designed hour, in this fair gallery, the present day of this present month, to perform and do his uttermost for the achievement and bearing away of the prizes, which are these: viz. For the Bare Accost, two wall-eyes in a face forced: for the Better Regard, a face favourably simpering, with a fan waving: for the Solemn Address, two lips wagging, and never a wise word: for the Perfect Close, a wring by the hand, with a banquet in a corner. And Phoebus save Cynthia!" Appeareth no man yet, to answer the prizer? no voice? -- Music, give them their summons. [MUSIC.] PHA. The solemnity of this is excellent. AMO. Silence! Well, I perceive your name is their terror, and keepeth them back. ASO. I'faith, master, let's go; no body comes. 'Victus, victa, victum; victi, victae, victi -- let's be retrograde. AMO. Stay. That were dispunct to the ladies. Rather ourself shall be your encounter. Take your state up to the wall; and, lady, [LEADING MORIA TO THE STATE.] may we implore you to stand forth, as first term or bound to our courtship. HED. 'Fore heaven, 'twill shew rarely. AMO. Sound a charge. [A CHARGE.] ANA. A pox on't! Your vulgar will count this fabulous and impudent now: by that candle, they'll never conceit it. [THEY ACT THEIR ACCOST SEVERALLY TO MORIA.] PHA. Excellent well! admirable! PHI. Peace! HED. Most fashionably, believe it. PHI. O, he is a well-spoken gentleman. PHA. Now the other. PHI. Very good. HED. For a scholar, Honour. ANA. O, 'tis too Dutch. He reels too much. [A FLOURISH.] HED. This weapon is done. AMO. No, we have our two bouts at every weapon; expect. CRI. [WITHIN.] Where be these gallants, and their brave prizer here? MORP. Who's there? bear back; keep the door. [ENTER CRITES, INTRODUCING MERCURY FANTASTICALLY DRESSED.] AMO. What are you, sir? CRI. By your license, grand-master. -- Come forward, sir. [TO MERCURY.] ANA. Heart! who let in that rag there amongst us? Put him out, an impecunious creature. HED. Out with him. MORP. Come, sir. AMO. You must be retrograde. CRI. Soft, sir, I am truchman, and do flourish before this monsieur, or French-behaved gentleman, here; who is drawn hither by report of your chartels, advanced in court, to prove his fortune with your prizer, so he may have fair play shewn him, and the liberty to choose his stickler. AMO. Is he a master? CRI. That, sir, he has to shew here; and confirmed under the hands of the most skilful and cunning complimentaries alive: Please you read, sir. [GIVES HIM A CERTIFICATE.] AMO. What shall we do? ANA. Death! disgrace this fellow in the black stuff, whatever you do. AMO. Why, but he comes with the stranger. HED. That's no matter: he is our own countryman. ANA. Ay, and he is a scholar besides. You may disgrace him here with authority. AMO. Well, see these first. ASO. Now shall I be observed by yon scholar, till I sweat again; I would to Jove it were over. CRI. [TO MERCURY.] Sir, this is the wight of worth, that dares you to the encounter. A gentleman of so pleasing and ridiculous a carriage; as, even standing, carries meat in the mouth, you see; and, I assure you, although no bred courtling, yet a most particular man, of goodly havings, well-fashion'd 'haviour, and of as hardened and excellent a bark as the most naturally qualified amongst them, inform'd, reform'd, and transform'd, from his original citycism; by this elixir, or mere magazine of man. And, for your spectators, you behold them what they are: the most choice particulars in court: this tells tales well; this provides coaches; this repeats jests; this presents gifts; this holds up the arras; this takes down from horse; this protests by this light; this swears by that candle; this delighteth; this adoreth: yet all but three men. Then, for your ladies, the most proud, witty creatures, all things apprehending, nothing understanding, perpetually laughing, curious maintainers of fools, mercers, and minstrels, costly to be kept, miserably keeping, all disdaining but their painter and apothecary, 'twixt whom and them there is this reciprock commerce, their beauties maintain their painters, and their painters their beauties. MER. Sir, you have plaid the painter yourself, and limn'd them to the life. I desire to deserve before them. AMO. [RETURNING THE CERTIFICATE.] This is authentic. We must resolve to entertain the monsieur, howsoever we neglect him. HED. Come, let's all go together, and salute him. ANA. Content, and not look on the other. AMO. Well devised; and a most punishing disgrace. HED. On. AMO. Monsieur, we must not so much betray ourselves to discourtship, as to suffer you to be longer unsaluted: please you to use the state ordain'd for the opponent; in which nature, without envy, we receive you. HED. And embrace you. ANA. And commend us to you, sir. PHI. Believe it, he is a man of excellent silence. PHA. He keeps all his wit for action. ANA. This hath discountenanced our scholaris, most richly. HED. Out of all emphasis. The monsieur sees we regard him not. AMO. Hold on; make it known how bitter a thing it is not to be look'd on in court. HED. 'Slud, will he call him to him yet! Does not monsieur perceive our disgrace? ANA. Heart! he is a fool, I see. We have done ourselves wrong to grace him. HED. 'Slight, what an ass was I to embrace him! CRI. Illustrious and fearful judges -- HED. Turn away, turn away. CRI. It is the suit of the strange opponent (to whom you ought not to turn your tails, and whose noses I must follow) that he may have the justice, before he encounter his respected adversary, to see some light stroke of his play, commenced with some other. HED. Answer not him, but the stranger: we will not believe him. AMO. I will demand him, myself. CRI. O dreadful disgrace, if a man were so foolish to feel it. AMO. Is it your suit, monsieur, to see some prelude of my scholar? Now, sure the monsieur wants language -- HED. And take upon him to be one of the accomplished! 'Slight, that's a good jest; would we could take him with that nullity. -- "Non sapete voi parlar' Italiano?" ANA. 'Sfoot, the carp has no tongue. CRI. Signior, in courtship, you are to bid your abettors forbear, and satisfy the monsieur's request. AMO. Well, I will strike him more silent with admiration, and terrify his daring hither. He shall behold my own play with my scholar. Lady, with the touch of your white hand, let me reinstate you. [LEADS MORIA BACK TO THE STATE.] Provost, [TO ASOTUS.] begin to me at the "Bare Accost". [A CHARGE.] Now, for the honour of my discipline. HED. Signior Amorphus, reflect, reflect; what means he by that mouthed wave? CRI. He is in some distaste of your fellow disciple. MER. Signior, your scholar might have played well still, if he could have kept his seat longer; I have enough of him, now. He is a mere piece of glass, I see through him by this time. AMO. You come not to give us the scorn, monsieur? MER. Nor to be frighted with a face, signior. I have seen the lions. You must pardon me. I shall be loth to hazard a reputation with one that has not a reputation to lose. AMO. How! CRI. Meaning your pupil, sir. ANA. This is that black devil there. AMO. You do offer a strange affront, monsieur. CRI. Sir, he shall yield you all the honour of a competent adversary, if you please to undertake him. MER. I am prest for the encounter. AMO. Me! challenge me! ASO. What, my master, sir! 'Slight, monsieur, meddle with me, do you hear: but do not meddle with my master. MER. Peace, good squib, go out. CRI. And stink, he bids you. ASO. Master! AMO. Silence! I do accept him. Sit you down and observe. Me! he never profest a thing at more charges. -- Prepare yourself sir. -- Challenge me! I will prosecute what disgrace my hatred can dictate to me. CRI. How tender a traveller's spleen is! Comparison to men that deserve least, is ever most offensive. AMO. You are instructed in our chartel, and know our weapons? MER. I appear not without their notice, sir. ASO. But must I lose the prizes, master? AMO. I will win them for you; be patient. -- Lady, [TO MORIA.] vouchsafe the tenure of this ensign. -- Who shall be your stickler? MER. Behold him. [POINTS TO CRITES.] AMO. I would not wish you a weaker. -- Sound, musics. -- I provoke you at the Bare Accost. [A CHARGE.] PHA. Excellent comely! CRI. And worthily studied. This is the exalted foretop. HED. O, his leg was too much produced. ANA. And his hat was carried scurvily. PHI. Peace; let's see the monsieur's Accost: Rare! PHA. Sprightly and short. ANA. True, it is the French courteau: he lacks but to have his nose slit. HED. He does hop. He does bound too much. [A FLOURISH.] AMO. The second bout, to conclude this weapon. [A CHARGE.] PHA. Good, believe it! PHI. An excellent offer! CRI. This is called the solemn band-string. HED. Foh, that cringe was not put home. ANA. He makes a face like a stabb'd Lucrece. ASO. Well, he would needs take it upon him, but would I had done it for all this. He makes me sit still here, like a baboon as I am. CRI. Making villainous faces. PHI. See, the French prepares it richly. CRI. Ay, this is ycleped the Serious Trifle. ANA. 'Slud, 'tis the horse-start out o' the brown study. CRI. Rather the bird-eyed stroke, sir. Your observance is too blunt, sir. [A FLOURISH.] AMO. Judges, award the prize. Take breath, sir. This bout hath been laborious. ASO. And yet your critic, or your besongno, will think these things foppery, and easy, now! CRI. Or rather mere lunacy. For would any reasonable creature make these his serious studies and perfections, much less, only live to these ends? to be the false pleasure of a few, the true love of none, and the just laughter of all? HED. We must prefer the monsieur, we courtiers must be partial. ANA. Speak, guardian. Name the prize, at the Bare Accost. MOR. A pair of wall-eyes in a face forced. ANA. Give the monsieur. Amorphus hath lost his eyes. AMO. I! Is the palate of your judgment down? Gentles, I do appeal. ASO. Yes, master, to me: the judges be fools. ANA. How now, sir! tie up your tongue, mungrel. He cannot appeal. ASO. Say, you sir? ANA. Sit you still, sir. ASO. Why, so I do; do not I, I pray you? MER. Remercie, madame, and these honourable censors. AMO. Well, to the second weapon, the "Better Regard". I will encounter you better. Attempt. HED. Sweet Honour. PHI. What says my good Ambition? HED. Which take you at this next weapon? I lay a Discretion with you on Amorphus's head. PHI. Why, I take the French-behaved gentleman. HED. 'Tis done, a Discretion. CRI. A Discretion! A pretty court-wager! Would any discreet person hazard his wit so? PHA. I'll lay a Discretion with you, Anaides. ANA. Hang 'em, I'll not venture a doit of Discretion on either of their heads. CRI. No, he should venture all then. ANA. I like none of their plays. [A CHARGE.] HED. See, see! this is strange play! ANA. 'Tis too full of uncertain motion. He hobbles too much. CRI. 'Tis call'd your court-staggers, sir. HED. That same fellow talks so now he has a place! ANA. Hang him! neglect him. MER. "Your good ladyship's affectioned." WIFE. Ods so! they speak at this weapon, brother. ASO. They must do so, sister; how should it be the Better Regard, else? PHA. Methinks he did not this respectively enough. PHI. Why, the monsieur but dallies with him. HED. Dallies! 'Slight, see! he'll put him to't in earnest. -- Well done, Amorphus! ANA. That puff was good indeed. CRI. Ods me! this is desperate play: he hits himself o' the shins. HED. An he make this good through, he carries it, I warrant him. CRI. Indeed he displays his feet rarely. HED. See, see! he does the respective leer damnably well. AMO. "The true idolater of your beauties shall never pass their deities unadored: I rest your poor knight." HED. See, now the oblique leer, or the Janus: he satisfies all with that aspect most nobly. [A FLOURISH.] Cri. And most terribly he comes off; like your rodomontado. PHA. How like you this play, Anaides? ANA. Good play; but 'tis too rough and boisterous. AMO. I will second it with a stroke easier, wherein I will prove his language. [A CHARGE.] ANA. This is filthy, and grave, now. HED. O, 'tis cool and wary play. We must not disgrace our own camerade too much. AMO. "Signora, ho tanto obligo per le favore resciuto da lei; che veramente desidero con tutto il core, a remunerarla in parte: e sicurative, signora mea cara, che io sera sempre pronto a servirla, e honorarla. Bascio le mane de vo' signoria." CRI. The Venetian dop this. PHA. Most unexpectedly excellent! The French goes down certain. ASO. As buckets are put down into a well; Or as a school-boy -- CRI. Truss up your simile, jack-daw, and observe. HED. Now the monsieur is moved. ANA. Bo-peep! HED. O, most antick. CRI. The French quirk, this sir. ANA. Heart, he will over-run her. MER. "Madamoyselle, Je voudroy que pouvoy monstrer mon affection, mais je suis tant malhereuse, ci froid, ci layd, ci -- Je ne scay qui de dire -- excuse moi, Je suis tout vostre." [A FLOURISH.] PHI. O brave and spirited! he's a right Jovialist. PHA. No, no: Amorphus's gravity outweighs it. CRI. And yet your lady, or your feather, would outweigh both. ANA. What's the prize, lady, at this Better Regard? MOR. A face favourably simpering, and a fan waving. ANA. They have done doubtfully. Divide. Give the favourable face to the signior, and the light wave to the monsieur. AMO. You become the simper well, lady. MER. And the wag better. AMO. Now, to our "Solemn Address." Please the well-graced Philautia to relieve the lady sentinel; she hath stood long. PHI. With all my heart; come, guardian, resign your place. [MORIA COMES FROM THE STATE.] AMO. Monsieur, furnish yourself with what solemnity of ornament you think fit for this third weapon; at which you are to shew all the cunning of stroke your devotion can possibly devise. MER. Let me alone, sir. I'll sufficiently decipher your amorous solemnities. -- Crites, have patience. See, if I hit not all their practic observance, with which they lime twigs to catch their fantastic lady-birds. CRI. Ay, but you should do more charitably to do it more openly, that they might discover themselves mock'd in these monstrous affections. [A CHARGE.] MER. Lackey, where's the tailor? [ENTER TAILOR, BARBER, PERFUMER, MILLINER, JEWELLER, AND FEATHER-MAKER.] TAI. Here, sir. HED. See, they have their tailor, barber, perfumer, milliner, jeweller, feather-maker, all in common! [THEY MAKE THEMSELVES READY ON THE STAGE.] ANA. Ay, this is pretty. AMO. Here is a hair too much, take it off. Where are thy mullets? MER. Is this pink of equal proportion to this cut, standing off this distance from it? TAI. That it is, sir. MER. Is it so, sir? You impudent poltroon, you slave, you list, you shreds, you -- BEATS THE TAILOR.] HED. Excellent! This was the best yet. ANA. Why, we must use our tailors thus: this is our true magnanimity. MER. Come, go to, put on; we must bear with you for the times' sake. AMO. Is the perfume rich in this jerkin? PER. Taste, smell; I assure you, sir, pure benjamin, the only spirited scent that ever awaked a Neapolitan nostril. You would wish yourself all nose for the love on't. I frotted a jerkin for a new-revenued gentleman yielded me three-score crowns but this morning, and the same titillation. AMO. I savour no sampsuchine in it. PER. I am a Nulli-fidian, if there be not three-thirds of a scruple more of sampsuchinum in this confection, than ever I put in any. I'll tell you all the ingredients, sir. AMO. You shall be simple to discover your simples. PER. Simple! why, sir? What reck I to whom I discover? I have it in musk, civet, amber, Phoenicobalanus, the decoction of turmerick, sesana, nard, spikenard, calamus odoratus, stacte, opobalsamum, amomum, storax, ladanum, aspalathum, opoponax, oenanthe. And what of all these now? what are you the better? Tut, it is the sorting, and the dividing, and the mixing, and the tempering, and the searching, and the decocting, that makes the fumigation and the suffumigation. AMO. Well, indue me with it. PER. I will, sir. HED. An excellent confection. CRI. And most worthy a true voluptuary, Jove! what a coil these musk-worms take to purchase another's delight? for themselves, who bear the odours, have ever the least sense of them. Yet I do like better the prodigality of jewels and clothes, whereof one passeth to a man's heirs; the other at least wears out time. This presently expires, and, without continual riot in reparation, is lost: which whoso strives to keep, it is one special argument to me, that, affecting to smell better than other men, he doth indeed smell far worse. MER. I know you will say, it sits well, sir. TAI. Good faith, if it do not, sir, let your mistress be judge. MER. By heaven, if my mistress do not like it, I'll make no more conscience to undo thee, than to undo an oyster. TAI. Believe it, there's ne'er a mistress in the world can mislike it. MER. No, not goodwife tailor, your mistress; that has only the judgment to heat your pressing-tool. But for a court-mistress that studies these decorums, and knows the proportion of every cut to a hair, knows why such a colour is cut upon such a colour, and when a satin is cut upon six taffataes, will look that we should dive into the depth of the cut -- Give me my scarf. Shew some ribands, sirrah. Have you the feather? FEAT. Ay, sir. MER. Have you the jewel? JEW. Yes, sir. MER. What must I give for the hire on't? JEW. You shall give me six crowns, sir. MER. Six crowns! By heaven, 'twere a good deed to borrow it of thee to shew, and never let thee have it again. JEW. I hope your worship will not do so, sir. MER. By Jove, sir, there be such tricks stirring, I can tell you, and worthily too. Extorting knaves, that live by these court-decorums, and yet -- What's your jewel worth, I pray? JEW. A hundred crowns, sir. MER. A hundred crowns, and six for the loan on't an hour! what's that in the hundred for the year? These impostors would not be hang'd! Your thief is not comparable to them, by Hercules. Well, put it in, and the feather; you will have it and you shall, and the pox give you good on't! AMO. Give me my confects, my moscadini, and place those colours in my hat. MER. These are Bolognian ribands, I warrant you. MIL. In truth, sir, if they be not right Granado silk -- MER. A pox on you, you'll all say so. MIL. You give me not a penny, sir. MER. Come, sir, perfume my devant; "May it ascend, like solemn sacrifice, Into the nostrils of the Queen of Love!" HED. Your French ceremonies are the best. ANA. Monsieur, signior, your Solemn Address is too long; the ladies long to have you come on. AMO. Soft, sir, our coming on is not so easily prepared. Signior Fig! PER. Ay, sir. AMO. Can you help my complexion, here? PER. O yes, sir, I have an excellent mineral fucus for the purpose. The gloves are right, sir; you shall bury them in a muck-hill, a draught, seven years, and take them out and wash them, they shall still retain their first scent, true Spanish. There's ambre in the umbre. MER. Your price, sweet Fig? PER. Give me what you will, sir; the signior pays me two crowns a pair; you shall give me your love, sir. MER. My love! with a pox to you, goodman Sassafras. PER. I come, sir. There's an excellent diapasm in a chain, too, if you like it. AMO. Stay, what are the ingredients to your fucus? PER. Nought but sublimate and crude mercury, sir, well prepared and dulcified, with the jaw-bones of a sow, burnt, beaten, and searced. AMO. I approve it. Lay it on. MER. I'll have your chain of pomander, sirrah; what's your price? PER. We'll agree, monsieur; I'll assure you it was both decocted and dried where no sun came, and kept in an onyx ever since it was balled. MER. Come, invert my mustachio, and we have done. AMO. 'Tis good. BAR. Hold still, I pray you, sir. PER. Nay, the fucus is exorbitant, sir. MER. Death, dost thou burn me, harlot! BAR. I beseech you, sir. MER. Beggar, varlet, poltroon. [BEATS HIM.] HED. Excellent, excellent! ANA. Your French beat is the most natural beat of the world. ASO. O that I had played at this weapon. [A CHARGE.] PHA. Peace, now they come on; the second part. AMO. "Madam, your beauties being so attractive, I muse you are left thus alone." PHI. "Better be alone, sir, than ill accompanied." AMO. "Nought can be ill, lady, that can come near your goodness." MER. "Sweet madam, on what part of you soever a man casts his eye, he meets with perfection; you are the lively image of Venus throughout; all the graces smile in your cheeks; your beauty nourishes as well as delights; you have a tongue steeped in honey, and a breath like a panther; your breasts and forehead are whiter than goats' milk, or May blossoms; a cloud is not so soft as your skin --" HED. Well strook, monsieur! He charges like a Frenchman indeed, thick and hotly. MER. "Your cheeks are Cupid's baths, wherein he uses to steep himself in milk and nectar: he does light all his torches at your eyes, and instructs you how to shoot and wound with their beams. Yet I love nothing in you more than your innocence; you retain so native a simplicity, so unblamed a behaviour! Methinks, with such a love, I should find no head, nor foot of my pleasure: you are the very spirit of a lady." ANA. Fair play, monsieur, you are too hot on the quarry; give your competitor audience. AMO. "Lady, how stirring soever the monsieur's tongue is, he will lie by your side more dull than your eunuch." ANA. A good stroke; that mouth was excellently put over. AMO. "You are fair, lady --" CRI. You offer foul, signior, to close; keep your distance; for all your bravo rampant here. AMO. "I say you are fair, lady, let your choice be fit, as you are fair." MER. "I say ladies do never believe they are fair, till some fool begins to doat upon them." PHI. You play too rough, gentlemen. AMO. "Your frenchified fool is your only fool, lady: I do yield to this honourable monsieur in all civil and humane courtesy." [A FLOURISH.] MER. Buz! ANA. Admirable. Give him the prize, give him the prize: that mouth again was most courtly hit, and rare. AMO. I knew I should pass upon him with the bitter bob. HED. O, but the reverse was singular. PHA. It was most subtile, Amorphus. ASO. If I had done't, it should have been better. MER. How heartily they applaud this, Crites! CRI. You suffer them too long. MER. I'll take off their edge instantly. ANA. Name the prize, at the "Solemn Address." PHI. Two lips wagging. CRI. And never a wise word, I take it. ANA. Give to Amorphus. And, upon him again; let him not draw free breath. AMO. Thanks, fair deliverer, and my honourable judges. Madam Phantaste, you are our worthy object at this next weapon. PHA. Most covetingly ready, Amorphus. [SHE TAKES THE STATE INSTEAD OF PHILAUTIA.] HED. Your monsieur is crest-fallen. ANA. So are most of them once a year. AMO. You will see, I shall now give him the gentle Dor presently, he forgetting to shift the colours, which are now changed with alteration of the mistress. At your last weapon, sir. "The Perfect Close." Set forward. [A CHARGE.] Intend your approach, monsieur. MER. 'Tis yours, signior. AMO. With your example, sir. MER. Not I, sir. AMO. It is your right. MER. By no possible means. AMO. You have the way. MER. As I am noble -- AMO. As I am virtuous -- MER. Pardon me, sir. AMO. I will die first. MER. You are a tyrant in courtesy. AMO. He is removed. -- [STAYS MERCURY ON HIS MOVING.] -- Judges, bear witness. MER. What of that, sir? AMO. You are removed, sir. MER. Well. AMO. I challenge you; you have received the Dor. Give me the prize. MER. Soft, sir. How, the Dor? AMO. The common mistress, you see, is changed. MER. Right, sir. AMO. And you have still in your hat the former colours. MER. You lie, sir, I have none: I have pulled them out. I meant to play discoloured. [A FLOURISH.] CRI. The Dor, the Dor, the Dor, the Dor, the Dor, the palpable Dor! ANA. Heart of my blood, Amorphus, what have you done? stuck a disgrace upon us all, and at your last weapon! ASO. I could have done no more. HED. By heaven, it was most unfortunate luck. ANA. Luck! by that candle, it was mere rashness, and oversight; would any man have ventured to play so open, and forsake his ward? D--n me, if he have not eternally undone himself in court, and discountenanced us that were his main countenance, by it. AMO. Forgive it now: it was the solecism of my stars. CRI. The wring by the hand, and the banquet, is ours. MER. O, here's a lady feels like a wench of the first year; you would think her hand did melt in your touch; and the bones of her fingers ran out at length when you prest 'em, they are so gently delicate! He that had the grace to print a kiss on these lips, should taste wine and rose-leaves. O, she kisses as close as a cockle. Let's take them down, as deep as our hearts, wench, till our very souls mix. Adieu, signior: good faith I shall drink to you at supper, sir. ANA. Stay, monsieur. Who awards you the prize? CRI. Why, his proper merit, sir; you see he has played down your grand garb-master, here. ANA. That's not in your logic to determine, sir: you are no courtier. This is none of your seven or nine beggarly sciences, but a certain mystery above them, wherein we that have skill must pronounce, and not such fresh men as you are. CRI. Indeed, I must declare myself to you no profest courtling; nor to have any excellent stroke at your subtile weapons; yet if you please, I dare venture a hit with you, or your fellow, sir Dagonet, here. ANA. With me! CRI. Yes, sir. ANA. Heart, I shall never have such a fortune to save myself in a fellow again, and your two reputations, gentlemen, as in this. I'll undertake him. HED. Do, and swinge him soundly, good Anaides. ANA. Let me alone; I'll play other manner of play, than has been seen yet. I would the prize lay on't. MER. It shall if you will, I forgive my right. ANA. Are you so confident! what's your weapon? CRI. At any, I, sir. MER. The Perfect Close, that's now the best. ANA. Content, I'll pay your scholarity. Who offers? CRI. Marry, that will I: I dare give you that advantage too. ANA. You dare! well, look to your liberal sconce. AMO. Make your play still, upon the answer, sir. ANA. Hold your peace, you are a hobby-horse. ASO. Sit by me, master. MER. Now, Crites, strike home. [A CHARGE.] CRI. You shall see me undo the assured swaggerer with a trick, instantly: I will play all his own play before him; court the wench in his garb, in his phrase, with his face; leave him not so much as a look, an eye, a stalk, or an imperfect oath, to express himself by, after me. [ASIDE TO MERCURY.] MER. Excellent, Crites. ANA. When begin you, sir? have you consulted? CRI. To your cost, sir. Which is the piece stands forth to be courted? O, are you she? [TO PHILAUTIA.] "Well, madam, or sweet lady, it is so, I do love you in some sort, do you conceive? and though I am no monsieur, nor no signior, and do want, as they say, logic and sophistry, and good words, to tell you why it is so; yet by this hand and by that candle it is so: and though I be no book-worm, nor one that deals by art, to give you rhetoric and causes, why it should be so, or make it good it is so? yet, d--n me, but I know it is so, and am assured it is so, and I and my sword shall make it appear it is so, and give you reason sufficient how it can be no otherwise but so --" HED. 'Slight, Anaides, you are mocked, and so we are all. MER. How now, signior! what, suffer yourself to be cozened of your courtship before your face? HED. This is plain confederacy to disgrace us: let's be gone, and plot some revenge. AMO. "When men disgraces share, The lesser is the care." CRI. Nay, stay, my dear Ambition, [TO HEDON.] I can do you over too. You that tell your mistress, her beauty is all composed of theft; her hair stole from Apollo's goldy-locks; her white and red, lilies and roses stolen out of paradise; her eyes two stars, pluck'd from the sky; her nose the gnomon of Love's dial, that tells you how the clock of your heart goes: and for her other parts, as you cannot reckon them, they are so many; so you cannot recount them, they are so manifest. Yours, if his own, unfortunate Hoyden, instead of Hedon. [A FLOURISH.] ASO. Sister, come away, I cannot endure them longer. [EXEUNT ALL BUT MERCURY AND CRITES.]
CRI. Now, sacred God of Wit, if you can make MER. Why, Crites, think you any noble spirit, CRI. Though they may see it, yet the huge estate MER. Then let the truth of these things strengthen thee, [ENTER ARETE.] ARE. Crites, you must provide straight for a masque, CRI. How, bright Arete! ARE. There is your error: for as Hermes' wand CRI. But, lady, for the revellers themselves, ARE. That, Crites, is not purposed without CRI. I now conceive her heavenly drift in all; ARE. Leave to suspect us: Crites well shall find, [WITHIN.] Arete! ARE. Hark, I am call'd. [EXIT.] CRI. I follow instantly. [EXIT.] _ |
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