The Alchemist

Fortune, that favours fools, these two short hours, We wish away, both for your sakes and ours, Judging spectators; and desire, in place, To the author justice, to ourselves but grace. Our scene is London, 'cause we would make known, No country's mirth is better than our own: No clime breeds better matter for your whore, Bawd, squire, impostor, many persons more, Whose manners, now call'd humours, feed the stage; And which have still been subject for the rage Or spleen of comic writers. Though this pen Did never aim to grieve, but better men; Howe'er the age he lives in doth endure The vices that she breeds, above their cure. But when the wholesome remedies are sweet, And in their working gain and profit meet, He hopes to find no spirit so much diseased, But will with such fair correctives be pleased: For here he doth not fear who can apply.

If there be any that will sit so nigh Unto the stream, to look what it doth run, They shall find things, they'd think or wish were done; They are so natural follies, but so shewn, As even the doers may see, and yet not own.

1.

A ROOM IN LOVEWIT'S HOUSE

ENTER FACE, IN A CAPTAIN'S UNIFORM, WITH HIS SWORD DRAWN, AND SUBTLE WITH A VIAL, QUARRELLING, AND FOLLOWED BY DOL COMMON.

FACE Believe 't, I will.

SUB Thy worst. I fart at thee.

DOL Have you your wits? why, gentlemen! for love--

FACE Sirrah, I'll strip you--

SUB What to do? lick figs Out at my--

FACE Rogue, rogue!--out of all your sleights.

DOL Nay, look ye, sovereign, general, are you madmen?

SUB O, let the wild sheep loose. I'll gum your silks With good strong water, an you come.

DOL Will you have The neighbours hear you? will you betray all? Hark! I hear somebody.

FACE Sirrah--

SUB I shall mar All that the tailor has made, if you approach.

FACE You most notorious whelp, you insolent slave, Dare you do this?

SUB Yes, faith; yes, faith.

FACE Why, who Am I, my mungrel? who am I?

SUB I'll tell you., Since you know not yourself.

FACE Speak lower, rogue.

SUB Yes, you were once (time's not long past) the good, Honest, plain, livery-three-pound-thrum, that kept Your master's worship's house here in the Friars, For the vacations--

FACE Will you be so loud?

SUB Since, by my means, translated suburb-captain.

FACE By your means, doctor dog!

SUB

Within man's memory, All this I speak of.

FACE Why, I pray you, have I Been countenanced by you, or you by me? Do but collect, sir, where I met you first.

SUB I do not hear well.

FACE Not of this, I think it. But I shall put you in mind, sir;--at Pie-corner, Taking your meal of steam in, from cooks' stalls, Where, like the father of hunger, you did walk Piteously costive, with your pinch'd-horn-nose, And your complexion of the Roman wash, Stuck full of black and melancholic worms, Like powder corns shot at the artillery-yard.

SUB I wish you could advance your voice a little.

FACE When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks--

SUB So, sir!

FACE When all your alchemy, and your algebra, Your minerals, vegetals, and animals, Your conjuring, cozening, and your dozen of trades, Could not relieve your corps with so much linen Would make you tinder, but to see a fire; I gave you countenance, credit for your coals, Your stills, your glasses, your materials; Built you a furnace, drew you customers, Advanced all your black arts; lent you, beside, A house to practise in--

SUB Your master's house!

FACE Where you have studied the more thriving skill Of bawdry since.

SUB Yes, in your master's house. You and the rats here kept possession. Make it not strange. I know you were one could keep The buttery-hatch still lock'd, and save the chippings, Sell the dole beer to aqua-vitae men, The which, together with your Christmas vails At post-and-pair, your letting out of counters, Made you a pretty stock, some twenty marks, And gave you credit to converse with cobwebs, Here, since your mistress' death hath broke up house.

FACE You might talk softlier, rascal.

SUB No, you scarab, I'll thunder you in pieces: I will teach you How to beware to tempt a Fury again, That carries tempest in his hand and voice.

FACE The place has made you valiant.

SUB No, your clothes.-- Thou vermin, have I ta'en thee out of dung, So poor, so wretched, when no living thing Would keep thee company, but a spider, or worse? Rais'd thee from brooms, and dust, and watering-pots, Sublimed thee, and exalted thee, and fix'd thee In the third region, call'd our state of grace? Wrought thee to spirit, to quintessence, with pains Would twice have won me the philosopher's work? Put thee in words and fashion, made thee fit For more than ordinary fellowships? Giv'n thee thy oaths, thy quarrelling dimensions, Thy rules to cheat at horse-race, cock-pit, cards, Dice, or whatever gallant tincture else? Made thee a second in mine own great art? And have I this for thanks! Do you rebel, Do you fly out in the projection? Would you be gone now?

DOL Gentlemen, what mean you? Will you mar all?

SUB Slave, thou hadst had no name--

DOL Will you undo yourselves with civil war?

SUB Never been known, past equi clibanum, The heat of horse-dung, under ground, in cellars, Or an ale-house darker than deaf John's; been lost To all mankind, but laundresses and tapsters, Had not I been.

DOL Do you know who hears you, sovereign?

FACE Sirrah--

DOL Nay, general, I thought you were civil.

FACE I shall turn desperate, if you grow thus loud.

SUB And hang thyself, I care not.

FACE Hang thee, collier, And all thy pots, and pans, in picture, I will, Since thou hast moved me--

DOL O, this will o'erthrow all.

FACE Write thee up bawd in Paul's, have all thy tricks Of cozening with a hollow cole, dust, scrapings, Searching for things lost, with a sieve and sheers, Erecting figures in your rows of houses, And taking in of shadows with a glass, Told in red letters; and a face cut for thee, Worse than Gamaliel Ratsey's.

DOL Are you sound? Have you your senses, masters?

FACE I will have A book, but barely reckoning thy impostures, Shall prove a true philosopher's stone to printers.

SUB Away, you trencher-rascal!

FACE Out, you dog-leech! The vomit of all prisons--

DOL Will you be Your own destructions, gentlemen?

FACE Still spew'd out For lying too heavy on the basket.

SUB Cheater!

FACE Bawd!

SUB Cow-herd!

FACE Conjurer!

SUB Cut-purse!

FACE Witch!

DOL O me! We are ruin'd, lost! have you no more regard To your reputations? where's your judgment? 'slight, Have yet some care of me, of your republic--

FACE Away, this brach! I'll bring thee, rogue, within The statute of sorcery, tricesimo tertio Of Harry the Eighth: ay, and perhaps thy neck

Within a noose, for laundring gold and barbing it. DOL [SNATCHES FACE'S SWORD]. You'll bring your head within a cockscomb, will you? And you, sir, with your menstrue--

[DASHES SUBTLE'S VIAL OUT OF HIS HAND.] Gather it up.-- 'Sdeath, you abominable pair of stinkards, Leave off your barking, and grow one again, Or, by the light that shines, I'll cut your throats. I'll not be made a prey unto the marshal, For ne'er a snarling dog-bolt of you both. Have you together cozen'd all this while, And all the world, and shall it now be said, You've made most courteous shift to cozen yourselves?

[TO FACE.] You will accuse him! you will "bring him in

Within the statute!" Who shall take your word? A whoreson, upstart, apocryphal captain, Whom not a Puritan in Blackfriars will trust So much as for a feather:

[TO SUBTLE.] and you, too, Will give the cause, forsooth! you will insult, And claim a primacy in the divisions! You must be chief! as if you only had The powder to project with, and the work Were not begun out of equality? The venture tripartite? all things in common? Without priority? 'Sdeath! you perpetual curs, Fall to your couples again, and cozen kindly, And heartily, and lovingly, as you should, And lose not the beginning of a term, Or, by this hand, I shall grow factious too, And take my part, and quit you.

FACE 'Tis his fault; He ever murmurs, and objects his pains, And says, the weight of all lies on him.

SUB Why, so it does.

DOL How does it? do not we Sustain our parts?

SUB Yes, but they are not equal.

DOL Why, if your part exceed to-day, I hope Ours may, to-morrow match it.

SUB Ay, they MAY.

DOL May, murmuring mastiff! ay, and do. Death on me! Help me to throttle him.

[SEIZES SUB. BY THE THROAT.]

SUB Dorothy! mistress Dorothy! 'Ods precious, I'll do any thing. What do you mean?

DOL Because o' your fermentation and cibation?

SUB Not I, by heaven--

DOL Your Sol and Luna

[TO FACE.] --help me.

SUB Would I were hang'd then? I'll conform myself.

DOL Will you, sir? do so then, and quickly: swear.

SUB What should I swear?

DOL To leave your faction, sir, And labour kindly in the common work.

SUB Let me not breathe if I meant aught beside. I only used those speeches as a spur To him.

DOL I hope we need no spurs, sir. Do we?

FACE 'Slid, prove to-day, who shall shark best.

SUB Agreed.

DOL Yes, and work close and friendly.

SUB 'Slight, the knot Shall grow the stronger for this breach, with me.

[THEY SHAKE HANDS.]

DOL Why, so, my good baboons! Shall we go make A sort of sober, scurvy, precise neighbours, That scarce have smiled twice since the king came in, A feast of laughter at our follies? Rascals, Would run themselves from breath, to see me ride, Or you t' have but a hole to thrust your heads in, For which you should pay ear-rent? No, agree. And may don Provost ride a feasting long, In his old velvet jerkin and stain'd scarfs, My noble sovereign, and worthy general, Ere we contribute a new crewel garter To his most worsted worship.

SUB Royal Dol! Spoken like Claridiana, and thyself.

FACE For which at supper, thou shalt sit in triumph, And not be styled Dol Common, but Dol Proper, Dol Singular: the longest cut at night, Shall draw thee for his Doll Particular.

[BELL RINGS WITHOUT.]

SUB Who's that? one rings. To the window, Dol:

[EXIT DOL.] --pray heaven, The master do not trouble us this quarter.

FACE O, fear not him. While there dies one a week O' the plague, he's safe, from thinking toward London. Beside, he's busy at his hop-yards now; I had a letter from him. If he do, He'll send such word, for airing of the house, As you shall have sufficient time to quit it: Though we break up a fortnight, 'tis no matter.

[RE-ENTER DOL.]

SUB Who is it, Dol?

DOL A fine young quodling.

FACE O, My lawyer's clerk, I lighted on last night, In Holborn, at the Dagger. He would have (I told you of him) a familiar, To rifle with at horses, and win cups.

DOL O, let him in.

SUB Stay. Who shall do't?

FACE Get you Your robes on: I will meet him as going out.

DOL And what shall I do?

FACE Not be seen; away!

[EXIT DOL.] Seem you very reserv'd.

SUB Enough.

[EXIT.] FACE [ALOUD AND RETIRING]. God be wi' you, sir, I pray you let him know that I was here: His name is Dapper. I would gladly have staid, but-- DAP [WITHIN]. Captain, I am here.

FACE Who's that?--He's come, I think, doctor.

[ENTER DAPPER.] Good faith, sir, I was going away.

DAP In truth I am very sorry, captain.

FACE But I thought Sure I should meet you.

DAP Ay, I am very glad. I had a scurvy writ or two to make, And I had lent my watch last night to one That dines to-day at the sheriff's, and so was robb'd Of my past-time.

[RE-ENTER SUBTLE IN HIS VELVET CAP AND GOWN.] Is this the cunning-man?

FACE This is his worship.

DAP Is he a doctor?

FACE Yes.

DAP And have you broke with him, captain?

FACE Ay.

DAP And how?

FACE Faith, he does make the matter, sir, so dainty I know not what to say.

DAP Not so, good captain.

FACE Would I were fairly rid of it, believe me.

DAP Nay, now you grieve me, sir. Why should you wish so? I dare assure you, I'll not be ungrateful.

FACE I cannot think you will, sir. But the law Is such a thing--and then he says, Read's matter Falling so lately.

DAP Read! he was an ass, And dealt, sir, with a fool.

FACE It was a clerk, sir.

DAP A clerk!

FACE Nay, hear me, sir. You know the law Better, I think--

DAP I should, sir, and the danger: You know, I shewed the statute to you.

FACE You did so.

DAP And will I tell then! By this hand of flesh, Would it might never write good court-hand more, If I discover. What do you think of me, That I am a chiaus?

FACE What's that?

DAP The Turk was here. As one would say, do you think I am a Turk?

FACE I'll tell the doctor so.

DAP Do, good sweet captain.

FACE Come, noble doctor, pray thee let's prevail; This is the gentleman, and he is no chiaus.

SUB Captain, I have return'd you all my answer. I would do much, sir, for your love--But this I neither may, nor can.

FACE Tut, do not say so. You deal now with a noble fellow, doctor, One that will thank you richly; and he is no chiaus: Let that, sir, move you.

SUB Pray you, forbear--

FACE He has Four angels here.

SUB You do me wrong, good sir.

FACE Doctor, wherein? to tempt you with these spirits?

SUB To tempt my art and love, sir, to my peril. Fore heaven, I scarce can think you are my friend, That so would draw me to apparent danger.

FACE I draw you! a horse draw you, and a halter, You, and your flies together--

DAP Nay, good captain.

FACE That know no difference of men.

SUB Good words, sir.

FACE Good deeds, sir, doctor dogs-meat. 'Slight, I bring you No cheating Clim o' the Cloughs or Claribels, That look as big as five-and-fifty, and flush; And spit out secrets like hot custard--

DAP Captain!

FACE Nor any melancholic under-scribe, Shall tell the vicar; but a special gentle, That is the heir to forty marks a year, Consorts with the small poets of the time, Is the sole hope of his old grandmother; That knows the law, and writes you six fair hands, Is a fine clerk, and has his cyphering perfect. Will take his oath o' the Greek Testament, If need be, in his pocket; and can court His mistress out of Ovid.

DAP Nay, dear captain--

FACE Did you not tell me so?

DAP Yes; but I'd have you Use master doctor with some more respect.

FACE Hang him, proud stag, with his broad velvet head!-- But for your sake, I'd choak, ere I would change An article of breath with such a puckfist: Come, let's be gone.

[GOING.]

SUB Pray you let me speak with you.

DAP His worship calls you, captain.

FACE I am sorry I e'er embark'd myself in such a business.

DAP Nay, good sir; he did call you.

FACE Will he take then?

SUB First, hear me--

FACE Not a syllable, 'less you take.

SUB Pray you, sir--

FACE On no terms but an assumpsit.

SUB Your humour must be law.

[HE TAKES THE FOUR ANGELS.]

FACE Why now, sir, talk. Now I dare hear you with mine honour. Speak. So may this gentleman too.

SUB Why, sir--

[OFFERING TO WHISPER FACE.]

FACE No whispering.

SUB Fore heaven, you do not apprehend the loss You do yourself in this.

FACE Wherein? for what?

SUB Marry, to be so importunate for one, That, when he has it, will undo you all: He'll win up all the money in the town.

FACE How!

SUB Yes, and blow up gamester after gamester, As they do crackers in a puppet-play. If I do give him a familiar, Give you him all you play for; never set him: For he will have it.

FACE You are mistaken, doctor. Why he does ask one but for cups and horses, A rifling fly; none of your great familiars.

DAP Yes, captain, I would have it for all games.

SUB I told you so. FACE [TAKING DAP. ASIDE]. 'Slight, that is a new business! I understood you, a tame bird, to fly Twice in a term, or so, on Friday nights, When you had left the office, for a nag Of forty or fifty shillings.

DAP Ay, 'tis true, sir; But I do think now I shall leave the law, And therefore--

FACE Why, this changes quite the case. Do you think that I dare move him?

DAP If you please, sir; All's one to him, I see.

FACE What! for that money? I cannot with my conscience; nor should you Make the request, methinks.

DAP No, sir, I mean To add consideration.

FACE Why then, sir, I'll try.--

[GOES TO SUBTLE.] Say that it were for all games, doctor.

SUB I say then, not a mouth shall eat for him At any ordinary, but on the score, That is a gaming mouth, conceive me.

FACE Indeed!

SUB He'll draw you all the treasure of the realm, If it be set him.

FACE Speak you this from art?

SUB Ay, sir, and reason too, the ground of art. He is of the only best complexion, The queen of Fairy loves.

FACE What! is he?

SUB Peace. He'll overhear you. Sir, should she but see him--

FACE What?

SUB Do not you tell him.

FACE Will he win at cards too?

SUB The spirits of dead Holland, living Isaac, You'd swear, were in him; such a vigorous luck As cannot be resisted. 'Slight, he'll put Six of your gallants to a cloke, indeed.

FACE A strange success, that some man shall be born to.

SUB He hears you, man--

DAP Sir, I'll not be ingrateful.

FACE Faith, I have confidence in his good nature: You hear, he says he will not be ingrateful.

SUB Why, as you please; my venture follows yours.

FACE Troth, do it, doctor; think him trusty, and make him. He may make us both happy in an hour; Win some five thousand pound, and send us two on't.

DAP Believe it, and I will, sir.

FACE And you shall, sir.

[TAKES HIM ASIDE.] You have heard all?

DAP No, what was't? Nothing, I, sir.

FACE Nothing!

DAP A little, sir.

FACE Well, a rare star Reign'd at your birth.

DAP At mine, sir! No.

FACE The doctor Swears that you are--

SUB Nay, captain, you'll tell all now.

FACE Allied to the queen of Fairy.

DAP Who! that I am? Believe it, no such matter--

FACE Yes, and that You were born with a cawl on your head.

DAP Who says so?

FACE Come, You know it well enough, though you dissemble it.

DAP I'fac, I do not; you are mistaken.

FACE How! Swear by your fac, and in a thing so known Unto the doctor? How shall we, sir, trust you In the other matter? can we ever think, When you have won five or six thousand pound, You'll send us shares in't, by this rate?

DAP By Jove, sir, I'll win ten thousand pound, and send you half. I'fac's no oath.

SUB No, no, he did but jest.

FACE Go to. Go thank the doctor: he's your friend, To take it so.

DAP I thank his worship.

FACE So! Another angel.

DAP Must I?

FACE Must you! 'slight, What else is thanks? will you be trivial?--Doctor,

[DAPPER GIVES HIM THE MONEY.] When must he come for his familiar?

DAP Shall I not have it with me?

SUB O, good sir! There must a world of ceremonies pass; You must be bath'd and fumigated first: Besides the queen of Fairy does not rise Till it be noon.

FACE Not, if she danced, to-night.

SUB And she must bless it.

FACE Did you never see Her royal grace yet?

DAP Whom?

FACE Your aunt of Fairy?

SUB Not since she kist him in the cradle, captain; I can resolve you that.

FACE Well, see her grace, Whate'er it cost you, for a thing that I know. It will be somewhat hard to compass; but However, see her. You are made, believe it, If you can see her. Her grace is a lone woman, And very rich; and if she take a fancy, She will do strange things. See her, at any hand. 'Slid, she may hap to leave you all she has: It is the doctor's fear.

DAP How will't be done, then?

FACE Let me alone, take you no thought. Do you But say to me, captain, I'll see her grace.

DAP "Captain, I'll see her grace."

FACE Enough.

[KNOCKING WITHIN.]

SUB Who's there? Anon.

[ASIDE TO FACE.] --Conduct him forth by the back way.-- Sir, against one o'clock prepare yourself; Till when you must be fasting; only take Three drops of vinegar in at your nose, Two at your mouth, and one at either ear; Then bathe your fingers' ends and wash your eyes, To sharpen your five senses, and cry "hum" Thrice, and then "buz" as often; and then come.

[EXIT.]

FACE Can you remember this?

DAP I warrant you.

FACE Well then, away. It is but your bestowing Some twenty nobles 'mong her grace's servants, And put on a clean shirt: you do not know What grace her grace may do you in clean linen.

[EXEUNT FACE AND DAPPER.] SUB [WITHIN]. Come in! Good wives, I pray you forbear me now; Troth I can do you no good till afternoon--

[RE-ENTERS, FOLLOWED BY DRUGGER.] What is your name, say you? Abel Drugger?

DRUG Yes, sir.

SUB A seller of tobacco?

DRUG Yes, sir.

SUB Umph! Free of the grocers?

DRUG Ay, an't please you.

SUB Well-- Your business, Abel?

DRUG This, an't please your worship; I am a young beginner, and am building Of a new shop, an't like your worship, just At corner of a street:--Here is the plot on't-- And I would know by art, sir, of your worship, Which way I should make my door, by necromancy, And where my shelves; and which should be for boxes, And which for pots. I would be glad to thrive, sir: And I was wish'd to your worship by a gentleman, One captain Face, that says you know men's planets, And their good angels, and their bad.

SUB I do, If I do see them--

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE What! my honest Abel? Though art well met here.

DRUG Troth, sir, I was speaking, Just as your worship came here, of your worship: I pray you speak for me to master doctor.

FACE He shall do any thing.--Doctor, do you hear? This is my friend, Abel, an honest fellow; He lets me have good tobacco, and he does not Sophisticate it with sack-lees or oil, Nor washes it in muscadel and grains, Nor buries it in gravel, under ground, Wrapp'd up in greasy leather, or piss'd clouts: But keeps it in fine lily pots, that, open'd, Smell like conserve of roses, or French beans. He has his maple block, his silver tongs, Winchester pipes, and fire of Juniper: A neat, spruce, honest fellow, and no goldsmith.

SUB He is a fortunate fellow, that I am sure on.

FACE Already, sir, have you found it? Lo thee, Abel!

SUB And in right way toward riches--

FACE Sir!

SUB This summer He will be of the clothing of his company, And next spring call'd to the scarlet; spend what he can.

FACE What, and so little beard?

SUB Sir, you must think, He may have a receipt to make hair come: But he'll be wise, preserve his youth, and fine for't; His fortune looks for him another way.

FACE 'Slid, doctor, how canst thou know this so soon? I am amused at that!

SUB By a rule, captain, In metoposcopy, which I do work by; A certain star in the forehead, which you see not. Your chestnut or your olive-colour'd face Does never fail: and your long ear doth promise. I knew't by certain spots, too, in his teeth, And on the nail of his mercurial finger.

FACE Which finger's that?

SUB His little finger. Look. You were born on a Wednesday?

DRUG Yes, indeed, sir.

SUB The thumb, in chiromancy, we give Venus; The fore-finger, to Jove; the midst, to Saturn; The ring, to Sol; the least, to Mercury, Who was the lord, sir, of his horoscope, His house of life being Libra; which fore-shew'd, He should be a merchant, and should trade with balance.

FACE Why, this is strange! Is it not, honest Nab?

SUB There is a ship now, coming from Ormus, That shall yield him such a commodity Of drugs

[POINTING TO THE PLAN.] --This is the west, and this the south?

DRUG Yes, sir.

SUB And those are your two sides?

DRUG Ay, sir.

SUB Make me your door, then, south; your broad side, west: And on the east side of your shop, aloft, Write Mathlai, Tarmiel, and Baraborat; On the north part, Rael, Velel, Thiel. They are the names of those mercurial spirits, That do fright flies from boxes.

DRUG Yes, sir.

SUB And Beneath your threshold, bury me a load-stone To draw in gallants that wear spurs: the rest, They'll seem to follow.

FACE That's a secret, Nab!

SUB And, on your stall, a puppet, with a vice And a court-fucus to call city-dames: You shall deal much with minerals.

DRUG Sir, I have. At home, already--

SUB Ay, I know you have arsenic, Vitriol, sal-tartar, argaile, alkali, Cinoper: I know all.--This fellow, captain, Will come, in time, to be a great distiller, And give a say--I will not say directly, But very fair--at the philosopher's stone.

FACE Why, how now, Abel! is this true? DRUG [ASIDE TO FACE]. Good captain, What must I give?

FACE Nay, I'll not counsel thee. Thou hear'st what wealth (he says, spend what thou canst,) Thou'rt like to come to.

DRUG I would gi' him a crown.

FACE A crown! and toward such a fortune? heart, Thou shalt rather gi' him thy shop. No gold about thee?

DRUG Yes, I have a portague, I have kept this half-year.

FACE Out on thee, Nab! 'Slight, there was such an offer-- Shalt keep't no longer, I'll give't him for thee. Doctor, Nab prays your worship to drink this, and swears He will appear more grateful, as your skill Does raise him in the world.

DRUG I would entreat Another favour of his worship.

FACE What is't, Nab?

DRUG But to look over, sir, my almanack, And cross out my ill-days, that I may neither Bargain, nor trust on them.

FACE That he shall, Nab: Leave it, it shall be done, 'gainst afternoon.

SUB And a direction for his shelves.

FACE Now, Nab, Art thou well pleased, Nab?

DRUG 'Thank, sir, both your worships.

FACE Away.

[EXIT DRUGGER.] Why, now, you smoaky persecutor of nature! Now do you see, that something's to be done, Beside your beech-coal, and your corsive waters, Your crosslets, crucibles, and cucurbites? You must have stuff brought home to you, to work on: And yet you think, I am at no expense In searching out these veins, then following them, Then trying them out. 'Fore God, my intelligence Costs me more money, than my share oft comes to, In these rare works.

SUB You are pleasant, sir.

[RE-ENTER DOL.] --How now! What says my dainty Dolkin?

DOL Yonder fish-wife Will not away. And there's your giantess, The bawd of Lambeth.

SUB Heart, I cannot speak with them.

DOL Not afore night, I have told them in a voice, Thorough the trunk, like one of your familiars. But I have spied sir Epicure Mammon--

SUB Where?

DOL Coming along, at far end of the lane, Slow of his feet, but earnest of his tongue To one that's with him.

SUB Face, go you and shift.

[EXIT FACE.] Dol, you must presently make ready, too.

DOL Why, what's the matter?

SUB O, I did look for him With the sun's rising: 'marvel he could sleep, This is the day I am to perfect for him The magisterium, our great work, the stone; And yield it, made, into his hands: of which He has, this month, talked as he were possess'd. And now he's dealing pieces on't away.-- Methinks I see him entering ordinaries, Dispensing for the pox, and plaguy houses, Reaching his dose, walking Moorfields for lepers, And offering citizens' wives pomander-bracelets, As his preservative, made of the elixir; Searching the spittal, to make old bawds young; And the highways, for beggars, to make rich. I see no end of his labours. He will make Nature asham'd of her long sleep: when art, Who's but a step-dame, shall do more than she, In her best love to mankind, ever could: If his dream lasts, he'll turn the age to gold.

[EXEUNT.]

1.

AN OUTER ROOM IN LOVEWIT'S HOUSE

ENTER SIR EPICURE MAMMON AND SURLY.

MAM Come on, sir. Now, you set your foot on shore In Novo Orbe; here's the rich Peru: And there within, sir, are the golden mines, Great Solomon's Ophir! he was sailing to't, Three years, but we have reached it in ten months. This is the day, wherein, to all my friends, I will pronounce the happy word, BE RICH;

THIS DAY YOU SHALL BE SPECTATISSIMI You shall no more deal with the hollow dye, Or the frail card. No more be at charge of keeping The livery-punk for the young heir, that must Seal, at all hours, in his shirt: no more, If he deny, have him beaten to't, as he is That brings him the commodity. No more Shall thirst of satin, or the covetous hunger Of velvet entrails for a rude-spun cloke, To be display'd at madam Augusta's, make The sons of Sword and Hazard fall before The golden calf, and on their knees, whole nights Commit idolatry with wine and trumpets: Or go a feasting after drum and ensign. No more of this. You shall start up young viceroys, And have your punks, and punketees, my Surly. And unto thee I speak it first, BE RICH. Where is my Subtle, there? Within, ho! FACE [WITHIN]. Sir, he'll come to you by and by.

MAM That is his fire-drake, His Lungs, his Zephyrus, he that puffs his coals, Till he firk nature up, in her own centre. You are not faithful, sir. This night, I'll change All that is metal, in my house, to gold: And, early in the morning, will I send To all the plumbers and the pewterers, And by their tin and lead up; and to Lothbury For all the copper.

SUR What, and turn that too?

MAM Yes, and I'll purchase Devonshire and Cornwall, And make them perfect Indies! you admire now?

SUR No, faith.

MAM But when you see th' effects of the Great Medicine, Of which one part projected on a hundred Of Mercury, or Venus, or the moon, Shall turn it to as many of the sun; Nay, to a thousand, so ad infinitum: You will believe me.

SUR Yes, when I see't, I will. But if my eyes do cozen me so, and I Giving them no occasion, sure I'll have A whore, shall piss them out next day.

MAM Ha! why? Do you think I fable with you? I assure you, He that has once the flower of the sun, The perfect ruby, which we call elixir, Not only can do that, but, by its virtue, Can confer honour, love, respect, long life; Give safety, valour, yea, and victory, To whom he will. In eight and twenty days, I'll make an old man of fourscore, a child.

SUR No doubt; he's that already.

MAM Nay, I mean, Restore his years, renew him, like an eagle, To the fifth age; make him get sons and daughters, Young giants; as our philosophers have done, The ancient patriarchs, afore the flood, But taking, once a week, on a knife's point, The quantity of a grain of mustard of it; Become stout Marses, and beget young Cupids.

SUR The decay'd vestals of Pict-hatch would thank you, That keep the fire alive, there.

MAM 'Tis the secret Of nature naturis'd 'gainst all infections, Cures all diseases coming of all causes; A month's grief in a day, a year's in twelve; And, of what age soever, in a month: Past all the doses of your drugging doctors. I'll undertake, withal, to fright the plague Out of the kingdom in three months.

SUR And I'll Be bound, the players shall sing your praises, then, Without their poets.

MAM Sir, I'll do't. Mean time, I'll give away so much unto my man, Shall serve the whole city, with preservative Weekly; each house his dose, and at the rate--

SUR As he that built the Water-work, does with water?

MAM You are incredulous.

SUR Faith I have a humour, I would not willingly be gull'd. Your stone Cannot transmute me.

MAM Pertinax, [my] Surly, Will you believe antiquity? records? I'll shew you a book where Moses and his sister, And Solomon have written of the art; Ay, and a treatise penn'd by Adam--

SUR How!

MAM Of the philosopher's stone, and in High Dutch.

SUR Did Adam write, sir, in High Dutch?

MAM He did; Which proves it was the primitive tongue.

SUR What paper?

MAM On cedar board.

SUR O that, indeed, they say, Will last 'gainst worms.

MAM 'Tis like your Irish wood, 'Gainst cob-webs. I have a piece of Jason's fleece, too, Which was no other than a book of alchemy, Writ in large sheep-skin, a good fat ram-vellum. Such was Pythagoras' thigh, Pandora's tub, And, all that fable of Medea's charms, The manner of our work; the bulls, our furnace, Still breathing fire; our argent-vive, the dragon: The dragon's teeth, mercury sublimate, That keeps the whiteness, hardness, and the biting; And they are gathered into Jason's helm, The alembic, and then sow'd in Mars his field, And thence sublimed so often, till they're fixed. Both this, the Hesperian garden, Cadmus' story, Jove's shower, the boon of Midas, Argus' eyes, Boccace his Demogorgon, thousands more, All abstract riddles of our stone.

[ENTER FACE, AS A SERVANT.] --How now! Do we succeed? Is our day come? and holds it?

FACE The evening will set red on you, sir; You have colour for it, crimson: the red ferment Has done his office; three hours hence prepare you To see projection.

MAM Pertinax, my Surly. Again I say to thee, aloud, Be rich. This day, thou shalt have ingots; and to-morrow, Give lords th' affront.--Is it, my Zephyrus, right? Blushes the bolt's-head?

FACE Like a wench with child, sir, That were but now discover'd to her master.

MAM Excellent witty Lungs!--my only care Where to get stuff enough now, to project on; This town will not half serve me.

FACE No, sir! buy The covering off o' churches.

MAM That's true.

FACE Yes. Let them stand bare, as do their auditory; Or cap them, new, with shingles.

MAM No, good thatch: Thatch will lie light on the rafters, Lungs.-- Lungs, I will manumit thee from the furnace; I will restore thee thy complexion, Puffe, Lost in the embers; and repair this brain, Hurt with the fume o' the metals.

FACE I have blown, sir, Hard for your worship; thrown by many a coal, When 'twas not beech; weigh'd those I put in, just, To keep your heat still even; these blear'd eyes Have wak'd to read your several colours, sir, Of the pale citron, the green lion, the crow, The peacock's tail, the plumed swan.

MAM And, lastly, Thou hast descry'd the flower, the sanguis agni?

FACE Yes, sir.

MAM Where's master?

FACE At his prayers, sir, he; Good man, he's doing his devotions For the success.

MAM Lungs, I will set a period To all thy labours; thou shalt be the master Of my seraglio.

FACE Good, sir.

MAM But do you hear? I'll geld you, Lungs.

FACE Yes, sir.

MAM For I do mean To have a list of wives and concubines, Equal with Solomon, who had the stone Alike with me; and I will make me a back With the elixir, that shall be as tough As Hercules, to encounter fifty a night.-- Thou'rt sure thou saw'st it blood?

FACE Both blood and spirit, sir.

MAM I will have all my beds blown up, not stuft; Down is too hard: and then, mine oval room Fill'd with such pictures as Tiberius took From Elephantis, and dull Aretine But coldly imitated. Then, my glasses Cut in more subtle angles, to disperse And multiply the figures, as I walk Naked between my succubae. My mists I'll have of perfume, vapour'd 'bout the room, To lose ourselves in; and my baths, like pits To fall into; from whence we will come forth, And roll us dry in gossamer and roses.-- Is it arrived at ruby?--Where I spy A wealthy citizen, or [a] rich lawyer, Have a sublimed pure wife, unto that fellow I'll send a thousand pound to be my cuckold.

FACE And I shall carry it?

MAM No. I'll have no bawds, But fathers and mothers: they will do it best, Best of all others. And my flatterers Shall be the pure and gravest of divines, That I can get for money. My mere fools, Eloquent burgesses, and then my poets The same that writ so subtly of the fart, Whom I will entertain still for that subject. The few that would give out themselves to be Court and town-stallions, and, each-where, bely Ladies who are known most innocent for them; Those will I beg, to make me eunuchs of: And they shall fan me with ten estrich tails A-piece, made in a plume to gather wind. We will be brave, Puffe, now we have the med'cine. My meat shall all come in, in Indian shells, Dishes of agat set in gold, and studded With emeralds, sapphires, hyacinths, and rubies.

The tongues of carps, dormice, and camels' heels, Boil'd in the spirit of sol, and dissolv'd pearl, Apicius' diet, 'gainst the epilepsy: And I will eat these broths with spoons of amber, Headed with diamond and carbuncle. My foot-boy shall eat pheasants, calver'd salmons, Knots, godwits, lampreys: I myself will have The beards of barbels served, instead of sallads; Oil'd mushrooms; and the swelling unctuous paps Of a fat pregnant sow, newly cut off, Drest with an exquisite, and poignant sauce; For which, I'll say unto my cook, "There's gold, Go forth, and be a knight."

FACE Sir, I'll go look A little, how it heightens.

[EXIT.]

MAM Do.--My shirts I'll have of taffeta-sarsnet, soft and light As cobwebs; and for all my other raiment, It shall be such as might provoke the Persian, Were he to teach the world riot anew. My gloves of fishes' and birds' skins, perfumed With gums of paradise, and eastern air--

SUR And do you think to have the stone with this?

MAM No, I do think t' have all this with the stone.

SUR Why, I have heard he must be homo frugi, A pious, holy, and religious man, One free from mortal sin, a very virgin.

MAM That makes it, sir; he is so: but I buy it; My venture brings it me. He, honest wretch, A notable, superstitious, good soul, Has worn his knees bare, and his slippers bald, With prayer and fasting for it: and, sir, let him Do it alone, for me, still. Here he comes. Not a profane word afore him: 'tis poison.--

[ENTER SUBTLE.] Good morrow, father.

SUB Gentle son, good morrow, And to your friend there. What is he, is with you?

MAM An heretic, that I did bring along, In hope, sir, to convert him.

SUB Son, I doubt You are covetous, that thus you meet your time In the just point: prevent your day at morning. This argues something, worthy of a fear Of importune and carnal appetite. Take heed you do not cause the blessing leave you, With your ungovern'd haste. I should be sorry To see my labours, now even at perfection, Got by long watching and large patience, Not prosper where my love and zeal hath placed them. Which (heaven I call to witness, with your self, To whom I have pour'd my thoughts) in all my ends, Have look'd no way, but unto public good, To pious uses, and dear charity Now grown a prodigy with men. Wherein If you, my son, should now prevaricate, And, to your own particular lusts employ So great and catholic a bliss, be sure A curse will follow, yea, and overtake Your subtle and most secret ways.

MAM I know, sir; You shall not need to fear me; I but come, To have you confute this gentleman.

SUR Who is, Indeed, sir, somewhat costive of belief Toward your stone; would not be gull'd.

SUB Well, son, All that I can convince him in, is this, The WORK IS DONE, bright sol is in his robe. We have a medicine of the triple soul, The glorified spirit. Thanks be to heaven, And make us worthy of it!--Ulen Spiegel! FACE [WITHIN]. Anon, sir.

SUB Look well to the register. And let your heat still lessen by degrees, To the aludels. FACE [WITHIN]. Yes, sir.

SUB Did you look On the bolt's-head yet? FACE [WITHIN]. Which? on D, sir?

SUB Ay; What's the complexion? FACE [WITHIN]. Whitish.

SUB Infuse vinegar, To draw his volatile substance and his tincture: And let the water in glass E be filter'd, And put into the gripe's egg. Lute him well; And leave him closed in balneo. FACE [WITHIN]. I will, sir.

SUR What a brave language here is! next to canting.

SUB I have another work, you never saw, son, That three days since past the philosopher's wheel, In the lent heat of Athanor; and's become Sulphur of Nature.

MAM But 'tis for me?

SUB What need you? You have enough in that is perfect.

MAM O but--

SUB Why, this is covetise!

MAM No, I assure you, I shall employ it all in pious uses, Founding of colleges and grammar schools, Marrying young virgins, building hospitals, And now and then a church.

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

SUB How now!

FACE Sir, please you, Shall I not change the filter?

SUB Marry, yes; And bring me the complexion of glass B.

[EXIT FACE.]

MAM Have you another?

SUB Yes, son; were I assured-- Your piety were firm, we would not want The means to glorify it: but I hope the best.-- I mean to tinct C in sand-heat to-morrow, And give him imbibition.

MAM Of white oil?

SUB No, sir, of red. F is come over the helm too, I thank my Maker, in S. Mary's bath, And shews lac virginis. Blessed be heaven! I sent you of his faeces there calcined: Out of that calx, I have won the salt of mercury.

MAM By pouring on your rectified water?

SUB Yes, and reverberating in Athanor.

[RE-ENTER FACE.] How now! what colour says it?

FACE The ground black, sir.

MAM That's your crow's head?

SUR Your cock's-comb's, is it not?

SUB No, 'tis not perfect. Would it were the crow! That work wants something. SUR [ASIDE]. O, I looked for this. The hay's a pitching.

SUB Are you sure you loosed them In their own menstrue?

FACE Yes, sir, and then married them, And put them in a bolt's-head nipp'd to digestion, According as you bade me, when I set The liquor of Mars to circulation In the same heat.

SUB The process then was right.

FACE Yes, by the token, sir, the retort brake, And what was saved was put into the pellican, And sign'd with Hermes' seal.

SUB I think 'twas so. We should have a new amalgama. SUR [ASIDE]. O, this ferret Is rank as any pole-cat.

SUB But I care not: Let him e'en die; we have enough beside, In embrion. H has his white shirt on?

FACE Yes, sir, He's ripe for inceration, he stands warm, In his ash-fire. I would not you should let Any die now, if I might counsel, sir, For luck's sake to the rest: it is not good.

MAM He says right. SUR [ASIDE]. Ay, are you bolted?

FACE Nay, I know't, sir, I have seen the ill fortune. What is some three ounces Of fresh materials?

MAM Is't no more?

FACE No more, sir. Of gold, t'amalgame with some six of mercury.

MAM Away, here's money. What will serve?

FACE Ask him, sir.

MAM How much?

SUB Give him nine pound:--you may give him ten.

SUR Yes, twenty, and be cozen'd, do.

MAM There 'tis.

[GIVES FACE THE MONEY.]

SUB This needs not; but that you will have it so, To see conclusions of all: for two Of our inferior works are at fixation, A third is in ascension. Go your ways. Have you set the oil of luna in kemia?

FACE Yes, sir.

SUB And the philosopher's vinegar?

FACE Ay.

[EXIT.]

SUR We shall have a sallad!

MAM When do you make projection?

SUB Son, be not hasty, I exalt our med'cine, By hanging him in balneo vaporoso, And giving him solution; then congeal him; And then dissolve him; then again congeal him; For look, how oft I iterate the work, So many times I add unto his virtue. As, if at first one ounce convert a hundred, After his second loose, he'll turn a thousand; His third solution, ten; his fourth, a hundred: After his fifth, a thousand thousand ounces Of any imperfect metal, into pure Silver or gold, in all examinations, As good as any of the natural mine. Get you your stuff here against afternoon, Your brass, your pewter, and your andirons.

MAM Not those of iron?

SUB Yes, you may bring them too: We'll change all metals.

SUR I believe you in that.

MAM Then I may send my spits?

SUB Yes, and your racks.

SUR And dripping-pans, and pot-hangers, and hooks? Shall he not?

SUB If he please. SUR.--To be an ass.

SUB How, sir!

MAM This gentleman you must bear withal: I told you he had no faith.

SUR And little hope, sir; But much less charity, should I gull myself.

SUB Why, what have you observ'd, sir, in our art, Seems so impossible?

SUR But your whole work, no more. That you should hatch gold in a furnace, sir, As they do eggs in Egypt!

SUB Sir, do you Believe that eggs are hatch'd so?

SUR If I should?

SUB Why, I think that the greater miracle. No egg but differs from a chicken more Than metals in themselves.

SUR That cannot be. The egg's ordain'd by nature to that end, And is a chicken in potentia.

SUB The same we say of lead and other metals, Which would be gold, if they had time.

MAM And that Our art doth further.

SUB Ay, for 'twere absurb To think that nature in the earth bred gold Perfect in the instant: something went before. There must be remote matter.

SUR Ay, what is that?

SUB Marry, we say--

MAM Ay, now it heats: stand, father, Pound him to dust.

SUB It is, of the one part, A humid exhalation, which we call Material liquida, or the unctuous water; On the other part, a certain crass and vicious Portion of earth; both which, concorporate, Do make the elementary matter of gold; Which is not yet propria materia, But common to all metals and all stones; For, where it is forsaken of that moisture, And hath more driness, it becomes a stone: Where it retains more of the humid fatness, It turns to sulphur, or to quicksilver, Who are the parents of all other metals. Nor can this remote matter suddenly Progress so from extreme unto extreme, As to grow gold, and leap o'er all the means. Nature doth first beget the imperfect, then Proceeds she to the perfect. Of that airy And oily water, mercury is engender'd; Sulphur of the fat and earthy part; the one, Which is the last, supplying the place of male, The other of the female, in all metals.

Some do believe hermaphrodeity, That both do act and suffer. But these two Make the rest ductile, malleable, extensive. And even in gold they are; for we do find Seeds of them, by our fire, and gold in them; And can produce the species of each metal More perfect thence, than nature doth in earth. Beside, who doth not see in daily practice Art can beget bees, hornets, beetles, wasps, Out of the carcases and dung of creatures; Yea, scorpions of an herb, being rightly placed? And these are living creatures, far more perfect And excellent than metals.

MAM Well said, father! Nay, if he take you in hand, sir, with an argument, He'll bray you in a mortar.

SUR Pray you, sir, stay. Rather than I'll be brayed, sir, I'll believe That Alchemy is a pretty kind of game, Somewhat like tricks o' the cards, to cheat a man With charming.

SUB Sir?

SUR What else are all your terms, Whereon no one of your writers 'grees with other? Of your elixir, your lac virginis, Your stone, your med'cine, and your chrysosperm, Your sal, your sulphur, and your mercury, Your oil of height, your tree of life, your blood, Your marchesite, your tutie, your magnesia, Your toad, your crow, your dragon, and your panther; Your sun, your moon, your firmament, your adrop, Your lato, azoch, zernich, chibrit, heautarit, And then your red man, and your white woman, With all your broths, your menstrues, and materials, Of piss and egg-shells, women's terms, man's blood, Hair o' the head, burnt clouts, chalk, merds, and clay, Powder of bones, scalings of iron, glass, And worlds of other strange ingredients, Would burst a man to name?

SUB And all these named, Intending but one thing; which art our writers Used to obscure their art.

MAM Sir, so I told him-- Because the simple idiot should not learn it, And make it vulgar.

SUB Was not all the knowledge Of the Aegyptians writ in mystic symbols? Speak not the scriptures oft in parables? Are not the choicest fables of the poets, That were the fountains and first springs of wisdom, Wrapp'd in perplexed allegories?

MAM I urg'd that, And clear'd to him, that Sisyphus was damn'd To roll the ceaseless stone, only because He would have made Ours common. DOL [APPEARS AT THE DOOR].-- Who is this?

SUB 'Sprecious!--What do you mean? go in, good lady, Let me entreat you.

[DOL RETIRES.] --Where's this varlet?

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE Sir.

SUB You very knave! do you use me thus?

FACE Wherein, sir?

SUB Go in and see, you traitor. Go!

[EXIT FACE.]

MAM Who is it, sir?

SUB Nothing, sir; nothing.

MAM What's the matter, good sir? I have not seen you thus distemper'd: who is't?

SUB All arts have still had, sir, their adversaries; But ours the most ignorant.--

[RE-ENTER FACE.] What now?

FACE 'Twas not my fault, sir; she would speak with you.

SUB Would she, sir! Follow me.

[EXIT.] MAM [STOPPING HIM]. Stay, Lungs.

FACE I dare not, sir.

MAM Stay, man; what is she?

FACE A lord's sister, sir.

MAM How! pray thee, stay.

FACE She's mad, sir, and sent hither-- He'll be mad too.--

MAM I warrant thee.-- Why sent hither?

FACE Sir, to be cured. SUB [WITHIN]. Why, rascal!

FACE Lo you!--Here, sir!

[EXIT.]

MAM 'Fore God, a Bradamante, a brave piece.

SUR Heart, this is a bawdy-house! I will be burnt else.

MAM O, by this light, no: do not wrong him. He's Too scrupulous that way: it is his vice. No, he's a rare physician, do him right, An excellent Paracelsian, and has done Strange cures with mineral physic. He deals all With spirits, he; he will not hear a word Of Galen; or his tedious recipes.--

[RE-ENTER FACE.] How now, Lungs!

FACE Softly, sir; speak softly. I meant To have told your worship all. This must not hear.

MAM No, he will not be "gull'd;" let him alone.

FACE You are very right, sir, she is a most rare scholar, And is gone mad with studying Broughton's works. If you but name a word touching the Hebrew, She falls into her fit, and will discourse So learnedly of genealogies, As you would run mad too, to hear her, sir.

MAM How might one do t' have conference with her, Lungs?

FACE O divers have run mad on the conference: I do not know, sir. I am sent in haste, To fetch a vial.

SUR Be not gull'd, sir Mammon.

MAM Wherein? pray ye, be patient.

SUR Yes, as you are, And trust confederate knaves and bawds and whores.

MAM You are too foul, believe it.--Come here, Ulen, One word.

FACE I dare not, in good faith.

[GOING.]

MAM Stay, knave.

FACE He is extreme angry that you saw her, sir.

MAM Drink that.

[GIVES HIM MONEY.] What is she when she's out of her fit?

FACE O, the most affablest creature, sir! so merry! So pleasant! she'll mount you up, like quicksilver, Over the helm; and circulate like oil, A very vegetal: discourse of state, Of mathematics, bawdry, any thing--

MAM Is she no way accessible? no means, No trick to give a man a taste of her--wit-- Or so? SUB [WITHIN]. Ulen!

FACE I'll come to you again, sir.

[EXIT.]

MAM Surly, I did not think one of your breeding Would traduce personages of worth.

SUR Sir Epicure, Your friend to use; yet still loth to be gull'd: I do not like your philosophical bawds. Their stone is letchery enough to pay for, Without this bait.

MAM 'Heart, you abuse yourself. I know the lady, and her friends, and means, The original of this disaster. Her brother Has told me all.

SUR And yet you never saw her Till now!

MAM O yes, but I forgot. I have, believe it, One of the treacherousest memories, I do think, Of all mankind.

SUR What call you her brother?

MAM My lord-- He will not have his name known, now I think on't.

SUR A very treacherous memory!

MAM On my faith--

SUR Tut, if you have it not about you, pass it, Till we meet next.

MAM Nay, by this hand, 'tis true. He's one I honour, and my noble friend; And I respect his house.

SUR Heart! can it be, That a grave sir, a rich, that has no need, A wise sir, too, at other times, should thus, With his own oaths, and arguments, make hard means To gull himself? An this be your elixir, Your lapis mineralis, and your lunary, Give me your honest trick yet at primero, Or gleek; and take your lutum sapientis, Your menstruum simplex! I'll have gold before you, And with less danger of the quicksilver, Or the hot sulphur.

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE Here's one from Captain Face, sir,

[TO SURLY.] Desires you meet him in the Temple-church, Some half-hour hence, and on earnest business. Sir,

[WHISPERS MAMMON.] if you please to quit us, now; and come Again within two hours, you shall have My master busy examining o' the works; And I will steal you in, unto the party, That you may see her converse.--Sir, shall I say, You'll meet the captain's worship?

SUR Sir, I will.--

[WALKS ASIDE.] But, by attorney, and to a second purpose. Now, I am sure it is a bawdy-house; I'll swear it, were the marshal here to thank me: The naming this commander doth confirm it. Don Face! why, he's the most authentic dealer In these commodities, the superintendant To all the quainter traffickers in town! He is the visitor, and does appoint, Who lies with whom, and at what hour; what price; Which gown, and in what smock; what fall; what tire. Him will I prove, by a third person, to find The subtleties of this dark labyrinth: Which if I do discover, dear sir Mammon, You'll give your poor friend leave, though no philosopher, To laugh: for you that are, 'tis thought, shall weep.

FACE Sir, he does pray, you'll not forget.

SUR I will not, sir. Sir Epicure, I shall leave you.

[EXIT.]

MAM I follow you, straight.

FACE But do so, good sir, to avoid suspicion. This gentleman has a parlous head.

MAM But wilt thou Ulen, Be constant to thy promise?

FACE As my life, sir.

MAM And wilt thou insinuate what I am, and praise me, And say, I am a noble fellow?

FACE O, what else, sir? And that you'll make her royal with the stone, An empress; and yourself, King of Bantam.

MAM Wilt thou do this?

FACE Will I, sir!

MAM Lungs, my Lungs! I love thee.

FACE Send your stuff, sir, that my master May busy himself about projection.

MAM Thou hast witch'd me, rogue: take, go.

[GIVES HIM MONEY.]

FACE Your jack, and all, sir.

MAM Thou art a villain--I will send my jack, And the weights too. Slave, I could bite thine ear. Away, thou dost not care for me.

FACE Not I, sir!

MAM Come, I was born to make thee, my good weasel, Set thee on a bench, and have thee twirl a chain With the best lord's vermin of 'em all.

FACE Away, sir.

MAM A count, nay, a count palatine--

FACE Good, sir, go.

MAM Shall not advance thee better: no, nor faster.

[EXIT.]

[RE-ENTER SUBTLE AND DOL.]

SUB Has he bit? has he bit?

FACE And swallowed, too, my Subtle. I have given him line, and now he plays, i'faith.

SUB And shall we twitch him?

FACE Thorough both the gills. A wench is a rare bait, with which a man No sooner's taken, but he straight firks mad.

SUB Dol, my Lord What'ts'hums sister, you must now Bear yourself statelich.

DOL O let me alone. I'll not forget my race, I warrant you. I'll keep my distance, laugh and talk aloud; Have all the tricks of a proud scurvy lady, And be as rude as her woman.

FACE Well said, sanguine!

SUB But will he send his andirons?

FACE His jack too, And's iron shoeing-horn; I have spoke to him. Well, I must not lose my wary gamester yonder.

SUB O monsieur Caution, that WILL NOT BE GULL'D?

FACE Ay, If I can strike a fine hook into him, now! The Temple-church, there I have cast mine angle. Well, pray for me. I'll about it.

[KNOCKING WITHOUT.]

SUB What, more gudgeons! Dol, scout, scout!

[DOL GOES TO THE WINDOW.] Stay, Face, you must go to the door, 'Pray God it be my anabaptist--Who is't, Dol?

DOL I know him not: he looks like a gold-endman.

SUB Ods so! 'tis he, he said he would send what call you him? The sanctified elder, that should deal For Mammon's jack and andirons. Let him in. Stay, help me off, first, with my gown.

[EXIT FACE WITH THE GOWN.] Away, Madam, to your withdrawing chamber.

[EXIT DOL.] Now, In a new tune, new gesture, but old language.-- This fellow is sent from one negociates with me About the stone too, for the holy brethren Of Amsterdam, the exiled saints, that hope To raise their discipline by it. I must use him In some strange fashion, now, to make him admire me.--

[ENTER ANANIAS.]

[ALOUD.] Where is my drudge?

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE Sir!

SUB Take away the recipient, And rectify your menstrue from the phlegma. Then pour it on the Sol, in the cucurbite, And let them macerate together.

FACE Yes, sir. And save the ground?

SUB No: terra damnata Must not have entrance in the work.--Who are you?

ANA A faithful brother, if it please you.

SUB What's that? A Lullianist? a Ripley? Filius artis? Can you sublime and dulcify? calcine? Know you the sapor pontic? sapor stiptic? Or what is homogene, or heterogene?

ANA I understand no heathen language, truly.

SUB Heathen! you Knipper-doling? is Ars sacra, Or chrysopoeia, or spagyrica, Or the pamphysic, or panarchic knowledge, A heathen language?

ANA Heathen Greek, I take it.

SUB How! heathen Greek?

ANA All's heathen but the Hebrew.

SUB Sirrah, my varlet, stand you forth and speak to him, Like a philosopher: answer in the language. Name the vexations, and the martyrisations Of metals in the work.

FACE Sir, putrefaction, Solution, ablution, sublimation, Cohobation, calcination, ceration, and Fixation.

SUB This is heathen Greek to you, now!-- And when comes vivification?

FACE After mortification.

SUB What's cohobation?

FACE 'Tis the pouring on Your aqua regis, and then drawing him off, To the trine circle of the seven spheres.

SUB What's the proper passion of metals?

FACE Malleation.

SUB What's your ultimum supplicium auri?

FACE Antimonium.

SUB This is heathen Greek to you!--And what's your mercury?

FACE A very fugitive, he will be gone, sir.

SUB How know you him?

FACE By his viscosity, His oleosity, and his suscitability.

SUB How do you sublime him?

FACE With the calce of egg-shells, White marble, talc.

SUB Your magisterium now, What's that?

FACE Shifting, sir, your elements, Dry into cold, cold into moist, moist into hot, Hot into dry.

SUB This is heathen Greek to you still! Your lapis philosophicus?

FACE 'Tis a stone, And not a stone; a spirit, a soul, and a body: Which if you do dissolve, it is dissolved; If you coagulate, it is coagulated; If you make it to fly, it flieth.

SUB Enough.

[EXIT FACE.] This is heathen Greek to you! What are you, sir?

ANA Please you, a servant of the exiled brethren, That deal with widows' and with orphans' goods, And make a just account unto the saints: A deacon.

SUB O, you are sent from master Wholesome, Your teacher?

ANA From Tribulation Wholesome, Our very zealous pastor.

SUB Good! I have Some orphans' goods to come here.

ANA Of what kind, sir?

SUB Pewter and brass, andirons and kitchen-ware, Metals, that we must use our medicine on: Wherein the brethren may have a pennyworth For ready money.

ANA Were the orphans' parents Sincere professors?

SUB Why do you ask?

ANA Because We then are to deal justly, and give, in truth, Their utmost value.

SUB 'Slid, you'd cozen else, And if their parents were not of the faithful!-- I will not trust you, now I think on it, 'Till I have talked with your pastor. Have you brought money To buy more coals?

ANA No, surely.

SUB No! how so?

ANA The brethren bid me say unto you, sir, Surely, they will not venture any more, Till they may see projection.

SUB How!

ANA You have had, For the instruments, as bricks, and lome, and glasses, Already thirty pound; and for materials, They say, some ninety more: and they have heard since, That one at Heidelberg, made it of an egg, And a small paper of pin-dust.

SUB What's your name?

ANA My name is Ananias.

SUB Out, the varlet That cozen'd the apostles! Hence, away! Flee, mischief! had your holy consistory No name to send me, of another sound, Than wicked Ananias? send your elders Hither to make atonement for you quickly, And give me satisfaction; or out goes The fire; and down th' alembics, and the furnace, Piger Henricus, or what not. Thou wretch! Both sericon and bufo shall be lost, Tell them. All hope of rooting out the bishops, Or the antichristian hierarchy, shall perish, If they stay threescore minutes: the aqueity, Terreity, and sulphureity Shall run together again, and all be annull'd, Thou wicked Ananias!

[EXIT ANANIAS.] This will fetch 'em, And make them haste towards their gulling more. A man must deal like a rough nurse, and fright Those that are froward, to an appetite.

[RE-ENTER FACE, IN HIS UNIFORM, FOLLOWED BY DRUGGER.]

FACE He is busy with his spirits, but we'll on him.

SUB How now! what mates, what Baiards have we here?

FACE I told you, he would be furious.--Sir, here's Nab, Has brought you another piece of gold to look on: --We must appease him. Give it me,--and prays you, You would devise--what is it, Nab?

DRUG A sign, sir.

FACE Ay, a good lucky one, a thriving sign, doctor.

SUB I was devising now.

FACE 'Slight, do not say so, He will repent he gave you any more-- What say you to his constellation, doctor, The Balance?

SUB No, that way is stale, and common. A townsman born in Taurus, gives the bull, Or the bull's-head: in Aries, the ram, A poor device! No, I will have his name Form'd in some mystic character; whose radii, Striking the senses of the passers by, Shall, by a virtual influence, breed affections, That may result on the party owns it: As thus--

FACE Nab!

SUB He shall have "a bell," that's "Abel;" And by it standing one whose name is "Dee," In a "rug" gown, there's "D," and "Rug," that's "drug:" And right anenst him a dog snarling "er;" There's "Drugger," Abel Drugger. That's his sign. And here's now mystery and hieroglyphic!

FACE Abel, thou art made.

DRUG Sir, I do thank his worship.

FACE Six o' thy legs more will not do it, Nab. He has brought you a pipe of tobacco, doctor.

DRUG Yes, sir; I have another thing I would impart--

FACE Out with it, Nab.

DRUG Sir, there is lodged, hard by me, A rich young widow--

FACE Good! a bona roba?

DRUG But nineteen, at the most.

FACE Very good, Abel.

DRUG Marry, she's not in fashion yet; she wears A hood, but it stands a cop.

FACE No matter, Abel.

DRUG And I do now and then give her a fucus--

FACE What! dost thou deal, Nab?

SUB I did tell you, captain.

DRUG And physic too, sometime, sir; for which she trusts me With all her mind. She's come up here of purpose To learn the fashion.

FACE Good (his match too!)--On, Nab.

DRUG And she does strangely long to know her fortune.

FACE Ods lid, Nab, send her to the doctor, hither.

DRUG Yes, I have spoke to her of his worship already; But she's afraid it will be blown abroad, And hurt her marriage.

FACE Hurt it! 'tis the way To heal it, if 'twere hurt; to make it more Follow'd and sought: Nab, thou shalt tell her this. She'll be more known, more talk'd of; and your widows Are ne'er of any price till they be famous; Their honour is their multitude of suitors. Send her, it may be thy good fortune. What! Thou dost not know.

DRUG No, sir, she'll never marry Under a knight: her brother has made a vow.

FACE What! and dost thou despair, my little Nab, Knowing what the doctor has set down for thee, And seeing so many of the city dubb'd? One glass o' thy water, with a madam I know, Will have it done, Nab: what's her brother, a knight?

DRUG No, sir, a gentleman newly warm in his land, sir, Scarce cold in his one and twenty, that does govern His sister here; and is a man himself Of some three thousand a year, and is come up To learn to quarrel, and to live by his wits, And will go down again, and die in the country.

FACE How! to quarrel?

DRUG Yes, sir, to carry quarrels, As gallants do; to manage them by line.

FACE 'Slid, Nab, the doctor is the only man In Christendom for him. He has made a table, With mathematical demonstrations, Touching the art of quarrels: he will give him An instrument to quarrel by. Go, bring them both, Him and his sister. And, for thee, with her The doctor happ'ly may persuade. Go to: 'Shalt give his worship a new damask suit On the premises.

SUB O, good captain!

FACE He shall; He is the honestest fellow, doctor.--Stay not, No offers; bring the damask, and the parties.

DRUG I'll try my power, sir.

FACE And thy will too, Nab.

SUB 'Tis good tobacco, this! What is't an ounce?

FACE He'll send you a pound, doctor.

SUB O no.

FACE He will do't. It is the goodest soul!--Abel, about it. Thou shalt know more anon. Away, be gone.

[EXIT ABEL.] A miserable rogue, and lives with cheese, And has the worms. That was the cause, indeed, Why he came now: he dealt with me in private, To get a med'cine for them.

SUB And shall, sir. This works.

FACE A wife, a wife for one on us, my dear Subtle! We'll e'en draw lots, and he that fails, shall have The more in goods, the other has in tail.

SUB Rather the less: for she may be so light She may want grains.

FACE Ay, or be such a burden, A man would scarce endure her for the whole.

SUB Faith, best let's see her first, and then determine.

FACE Content: but Dol must have no breath on't.

SUB Mum. Away you, to your Surly yonder, catch him.

FACE 'Pray God I have not staid too long.

SUB I fear it.

[EXEUNT.]

1.

THE LANE BEFORE LOVEWIT'S HOUSE

ENTER TRIBULATION WHOLESOME AND ANANIAS.

TRI These chastisements are common to the saints, And such rebukes, we of the separation Must bear with willing shoulders, as the trials Sent forth to tempt our frailties.

ANA In pure zeal, I do not like the man; he is a heathen, And speaks the language of Canaan, truly.

TRI I think him a profane person indeed.

ANA He bears The visible mark of the beast in his forehead. And for his stone, it is a work of darkness, And with philosophy blinds the eyes of man.

TRI Good brother, we must bend unto all means, That may give furtherance to the holy cause.

ANA Which his cannot: the sanctified cause Should have a sanctified course.

TRI Not always necessary: The children of perdition are oft-times Made instruments even of the greatest works: Beside, we should give somewhat to man's nature, The place he lives in, still about the fire, And fume of metals, that intoxicate The brain of man, and make him prone to passion. Where have you greater atheists than your cooks? Or more profane, or choleric, than your glass-men? More antichristian than your bell-founders? What makes the devil so devilish, I would ask you, Sathan, our common enemy, but his being Perpetually about the fire, and boiling Brimstone and arsenic? We must give, I say, Unto the motives, and the stirrers up Of humours in the blood. It may be so, When as the work is done, the stone is made, This heat of his may turn into a zeal, And stand up for the beauteous discipline, Against the menstruous cloth and rag of Rome. We must await his calling, and the coming Of the good spirit.

You did fault, t' upbraid him With the brethren's blessing of Heidelberg, weighing What need we have to hasten on the work, For the restoring of the silenced saints, Which ne'er will be, but by the philosopher's stone. And so a learned elder, one of Scotland, Assured me; aurum potabile being The only med'cine, for the civil magistrate, T' incline him to a feeling of the cause; And must be daily used in the disease.

ANA I have not edified more, truly, by man; Not since the beautiful light first shone on me: And I am sad my zeal hath so offended.

TRI Let us call on him then.

ANA The motion's good, And of the spirit; I will knock first.

[KNOCKS.] Peace be within!

[THE DOOR IS OPENED, AND THEY ENTER.]

A ROOM IN LOVEWIT'S HOUSE

ENTER SUBTLE, FOLLOWED BY TRIBULATION AND ANANIAS.

SUB O, are you come? 'twas time. Your threescore minutes Were at last thread, you see: and down had gone Furnus acediae, turris circulatorius: Lembec, bolt's-head, retort and pelican Had all been cinders.--Wicked Ananias! Art thou return'd? nay then, it goes down yet.

TRI Sir, be appeased; he is come to humble Himself in spirit, and to ask your patience, If too much zeal hath carried him aside From the due path.

SUB Why, this doth qualify!

TRI The brethren had no purpose, verily, To give you the least grievance; but are ready To lend their willing hands to any project The spirit and you direct.

SUB This qualifies more!

TRI And for the orphans' goods, let them be valued, Or what is needful else to the holy work, It shall be numbered; here, by me, the saints, Throw down their purse before you.

SUB This qualifies most! Why, thus it should be, now you understand. Have I discours'd so unto you of our stone, And of the good that it shall bring your cause? Shew'd you (beside the main of hiring forces Abroad, drawing the Hollanders, your friends, From the Indies, to serve you, with all their fleet) That even the med'cinal use shall make you a faction, And party in the realm? As, put the case, That some great man in state, he have the gout, Why, you but send three drops of your elixir, You help him straight: there you have made a friend. Another has the palsy or the dropsy, He takes of your incombustible stuff, He's young again: there you have made a friend, A lady that is past the feat of body, Though not of mind, and hath her face decay'd Beyond all cure of paintings, you restore, With the oil of talc: there you have made a friend; And all her friends.

A lord that is a leper, A knight that has the bone-ache, or a squire That hath both these, you make them smooth and sound, With a bare fricace of your med'cine: still You increase your friends.

TRI Ay, it is very pregnant.

SUB And then the turning of this lawyer's pewter To plate at Christmas.--

ANA Christ-tide, I pray you.

SUB Yet, Ananias!

ANA I have done.

SUB Or changing His parcel gilt to massy gold. You cannot But raise you friends. Withal, to be of power To pay an army in the field, to buy The king of France out of his realms, or Spain Out of his Indies. What can you not do Against lords spiritual or temporal, That shall oppone you?

TRI Verily, 'tis true. We may be temporal lords ourselves, I take it.

SUB You may be any thing, and leave off to make Long-winded exercises; or suck up Your "ha!" and "hum!" in a tune. I not deny, But such as are not graced in a state, May, for their ends, be adverse in religion, And get a tune to call the flock together: For, to say sooth, a tune does much with women, And other phlegmatic people; it is your bell.

ANA Bells are profane; a tune may be religious.

SUB No warning with you! then farewell my patience. 'Slight, it shall down: I will not be thus tortured.

TRI I pray you, sir.

SUB All shall perish. I have spoken it.

TRI Let me find grace, sir, in your eyes; the man He stands corrected: neither did his zeal, But as your self, allow a tune somewhere. Which now, being tow'rd the stone, we shall not need.

SUB No, nor your holy vizard, to win widows To give you legacies; or make zealous wives To rob their husbands for the common cause: Nor take the start of bonds broke but one day, And say, they were forfeited by providence. Nor shall you need o'er night to eat huge meals, To celebrate your next day's fast the better; The while the brethren and the sisters humbled, Abate the stiffness of the flesh. Nor cast Before your hungry hearers scrupulous bones; As whether a Christian may hawk or hunt, Or whether matrons of the holy assembly May lay their hair out, or wear doublets, Or have that idol starch about their linen.

ANA It is indeed an idol.

TRI Mind him not, sir. I do command thee, spirit of zeal, but trouble, To peace within him! Pray you, sir, go on.

SUB Nor shall you need to libel 'gainst the prelates, And shorten so your ears against the hearing Of the next wire-drawn grace. Nor of necessity Rail against plays, to please the alderman Whose daily custard you devour; nor lie With zealous rage till you are hoarse. Not one Of these so singular arts. Nor call yourselves By names of Tribulation, Persecution, Restraint, Long-patience, and such-like, affected By the whole family or wood of you, Only for glory, and to catch the ear Of the disciple.

TRI Truly, sir, they are Ways that the godly brethren have invented, For propagation of the glorious cause, As very notable means, and whereby also Themselves grow soon, and profitably, famous.

SUB O, but the stone, all's idle to it! nothing! The art of angels' nature's miracle, The divine secret that doth fly in clouds From east to west: and whose tradition Is not from men, but spirits.

ANA I hate traditions; I do not trust them--

TRI Peace!

ANA They are popish all. I will not peace: I will not--

TRI Ananias!

ANA Please the profane, to grieve the godly; I may not.

SUB Well, Ananias, thou shalt overcome.

TRI It is an ignorant zeal that haunts him, sir; But truly, else, a very faithful brother, A botcher, and a man, by revelation, That hath a competent knowledge of the truth.

SUB Has he a competent sum there in the bag To buy the goods within? I am made guardian, And must, for charity, and conscience sake, Now see the most be made for my poor orphan; Though I desire the brethren too good gainers: There they are within. When you have view'd and bought 'em, And ta'en the inventory of what they are, They are ready for projection; there's no more To do: cast on the med'cine, so much silver As there is tin there, so much gold as brass, I'll give't you in by weight.

TRI But how long time, Sir, must the saints expect yet?

SUB Let me see, How's the moon now? Eight, nine, ten days hence, He will be silver potate; then three days Before he citronise: Some fifteen days, The magisterium will be perfected.

ANA About the second day of the third week, In the ninth month?

SUB Yes, my good Ananias.

TRI What will the orphan's goods arise to, think you?

SUB Some hundred marks, as much as fill'd three cars, Unladed now: you'll make six millions of them.-- But I must have more coals laid in.

TRI How?

SUB Another load, And then we have finish'd. We must now increase Our fire to ignis ardens; we are past Fimus equinus, balnei, cineris, And all those lenter heats. If the holy purse Should with this draught fall low, and that the saints Do need a present sum, I have a trick To melt the pewter, you shall buy now, instantly, And with a tincture make you as good Dutch dollars As any are in Holland.

TRI Can you so?

SUB Ay, and shall 'bide the third examination.

ANA It will be joyful tidings to the brethren.

SUB But you must carry it secret.

TRI Ay; but stay, This act of coining, is it lawful?

ANA Lawful! We know no magistrate; or, if we did, This is foreign coin.

SUB It is no coining, sir. It is but casting.

TRI Ha! you distinguish well: Casting of money may be lawful.

ANA 'Tis, sir.

TRI Truly, I take it so.

SUB There is no scruple, Sir, to be made of it; believe Ananias: This case of conscience he is studied in.

TRI I'll make a question of it to the brethren.

ANA The brethren shall approve it lawful, doubt not. Where shall it be done?

[KNOCKING WITHOUT.]

SUB For that we'll talk anon. There's some to speak with me. Go in, I pray you, And view the parcels. That's the inventory. I'll come to you straight.

[EXEUNT TRIB. AND ANA.] Who is it?--Face! appear.

[ENTER FACE IN HIS UNIFORM.] How now! good prize?

FACE Good pox! yond' costive cheater Never came on.

SUB How then?

FACE I have walk'd the round Till now, and no such thing.

SUB And have you quit him?

FACE Quit him! an hell would quit him too, he were happy. 'Slight! would you have me stalk like a mill-jade, All day, for one that will not yield us grains? I know him of old.

SUB O, but to have gull'd him, Had been a mastery.

FACE Let him go, black boy! And turn thee, that some fresh news may possess thee. A noble count, a don of Spain, my dear Delicious compeer, and my party-bawd, Who is come hither private for his conscience, And brought munition with him, six great slops, Bigger than three Dutch hoys, beside round trunks, Furnished with pistolets, and pieces of eight, Will straight be here, my rogue, to have thy bath, (That is the colour,) and to make his battery On our Dol, our castle, our cinque-port, Our Dover pier, our what thou wilt. Where is she? She must prepare perfumes, delicate linen, The bath in chief, a banquet, and her wit, For she must milk his epididimis. Where is the doxy?

SUB I'll send her to thee: And but despatch my brace of little John Leydens, And come again my self.

FACE Are they within then?

SUB Numbering the sum.

FACE How much?

SUB A hundred marks, boy.

[EXIT.]

FACE Why, this is a lucky day. Ten pounds of Mammon! Three of my clerk! A portague of my grocer! This of the brethren! beside reversions, And states to come in the widow, and my count! My share to-day will not be bought for forty--

[ENTER DOL.]

DOL What?

FACE Pounds, dainty Dorothy! art thou so near?

DOL Yes; say, lord general, how fares our camp?

FACE As with the few that had entrench'd themselves Safe, by their discipline, against a world, Dol, And laugh'd within those trenches, and grew fat With thinking on the booties, Dol, brought in Daily by their small parties. This dear hour, A doughty don is taken with my Dol; And thou mayst make his ransom what thou wilt, My Dousabel; he shall be brought here fetter'd With thy fair looks, before he sees thee; and thrown In a down-bed, as dark as any dungeon; Where thou shalt keep him waking with thy drum; Thy drum, my Dol, thy drum; till he be tame As the poor black-birds were in the great frost, Or bees are with a bason; and so hive him In the swan-skin coverlid, and cambric sheets, Till he work honey and wax, my little God's-gift.

DOL What is he, general?

FACE An adalantado, A grandee, girl. Was not my Dapper here yet?

DOL No.

FACE Nor my Drugger?

DOL Neither.

FACE A pox on 'em, They are so long a furnishing! such stinkards Would not be seen on these festival days.--

[RE-ENTER SUBTLE.] How now! have you done?

SUB Done. They are gone: the sum Is here in bank, my Face. I would we knew Another chapman now would buy 'em outright.

FACE 'Slid, Nab shall do't against he have the widow, To furnish household.

SUB Excellent, well thought on: Pray God he come!

FACE I pray he keep away Till our new business be o'erpast.

SUB But, Face, How cam'st thou by this secret don?

FACE A spirit Brought me th' intelligence in a paper here, As I was conjuring yonder in my circle For Surly; I have my flies abroad. Your bath Is famous, Subtle, by my means. Sweet Dol, You must go tune your virginal, no losing O' the least time: and, do you hear? good action. Firk, like a flounder; kiss, like a scallop, close; And tickle him with thy mother tongue. His great Verdugoship has not a jot of language; So much the easier to be cozen'd, my Dolly. He will come here in a hired coach, obscure, And our own coachman, whom I have sent as guide, No creature else.

[KNOCKING WITHOUT.] Who's that?

[EXIT DOL.]

SUB It is not he?

FACE O no, not yet this hour.

[RE-ENTER DOL.]

SUB Who is't?

DOL Dapper, Your clerk.

FACE God's will then, queen of Fairy, On with your tire;

[EXIT DOL.] and, doctor, with your robes. Let's dispatch him for God's sake.

SUB 'Twill be long.

FACE I warrant you, take but the cues I give you, It shall be brief enough.

[GOES TO THE WINDOW.] 'Slight, here are more! Abel, and I think the angry boy, the heir, That fain would quarrel.

SUB And the widow?

FACE No, Not that I see. Away!

[EXIT SUB.]

[ENTER DAPPER.] O sir, you are welcome. The doctor is within a moving for you; I have had the most ado to win him to it!-- He swears you'll be the darling of the dice: He never heard her highness dote till now. Your aunt has given you the most gracious words That can be thought on.

DAP Shall I see her grace?

FACE See her, and kiss her too.--

[ENTER ABEL, FOLLOWED BY KASTRIL.] What, honest Nab! Hast brought the damask?

NAB No, sir; here's tobacco.

FACE 'Tis well done, Nab; thou'lt bring the damask too?

DRUG Yes: here's the gentleman, captain, master Kastril, I have brought to see the doctor.

FACE Where's the widow?

DRUG Sir, as he likes, his sister, he says, shall come.

FACE O, is it so? good time. Is your name Kastril, sir?

KAS Ay, and the best of the Kastrils, I'd be sorry else, By fifteen hundred a year. Where is the doctor? My mad tobacco-boy, here, tells me of one That can do things: has he any skill?

FACE Wherein, sir?

KAS To carry a business, manage a quarrel fairly, On fit terms.

FACE It seems, sir, you are but young About the town, that can make that a question.

KAS Sir, not so young, but I have heard some speech Of the angry boys, and seen them take tobacco; And in his shop; and I can take it too. And I would fain be one of 'em, and go down And practise in the country.

FACE Sir, for the duello, The doctor, I assure you, shall inform you, To the least shadow of a hair; and shew you An instrument he has of his own making, Wherewith no sooner shall you make report Of any quarrel, but he will take the height on't Most instantly, and tell in what degree Of safety it lies in, or mortality. And how it may be borne, whether in a right line, Or a half circle; or may else be cast Into an angle blunt, if not acute: And this he will demonstrate. And then, rules To give and take the lie by.

KAS How! to take it?

FACE Yes, in oblique he'll shew you, or in circle; But never in diameter. The whole town Study his theorems, and dispute them ordinarily At the eating academies.

KAS But does he teach Living by the wits too?

FACE Anything whatever. You cannot think that subtlety, but he reads it. He made me a captain. I was a stark pimp, Just of your standing, 'fore I met with him; It is not two months since. I'll tell you his method: First, he will enter you at some ordinary.

KAS No, I'll not come there: you shall pardon me.

FACE For why, sir?

KAS There's gaming there, and tricks.

FACE Why, would you be A gallant, and not game?

KAS Ay, 'twill spend a man.

FACE Spend you! it will repair you when you are spent: How do they live by their wits there, that have vented Six times your fortunes?

KAS What, three thousand a-year!

FACE Ay, forty thousand.

KAS Are there such?

FACE Ay, sir, And gallants yet. Here's a young gentleman Is born to nothing,--

[POINTS TO DAPPER.] forty marks a year, Which I count nothing:--he is to be initiated, And have a fly of the doctor. He will win you, By unresistible luck, within this fortnight, Enough to buy a barony. They will set him Upmost, at the groom porter's, all the Christmas: And for the whole year through, at every place, Where there is play, present him with the chair; The best attendance, the best drink; sometimes Two glasses of Canary, and pay nothing; The purest linen, and the sharpest knife, The partridge next his trencher: and somewhere The dainty bed, in private, with the dainty. You shall have your ordinaries bid for him, As play-houses for a poet; and the master Pray him aloud to name what dish he affects, Which must be butter'd shrimps: and those that drink To no mouth else, will drink to his, as being The goodly president mouth of all the board.

KAS Do you not gull one?

FACE 'Ods my life! do you think it? You shall have a cast commander, (can but get In credit with a glover, or a spurrier, For some two pair of either's ware aforehand,) Will, by most swift posts, dealing [but] with him, Arrive at competent means to keep himself, His punk and naked boy, in excellent fashion, And be admired for't.

KAS Will the doctor teach this?

FACE He will do more, sir: when your land is gone, As men of spirit hate to keep earth long, In a vacation, when small money is stirring, And ordinaries suspended till the term, He'll shew a perspective, where on one side You shall behold the faces and the persons Of all sufficient young heirs in town, Whose bonds are current for commodity; On th' other side, the merchants' forms, and others, That without help of any second broker, Who would expect a share, will trust such parcels: In the third square, the very street and sign Where the commodity dwells, and does but wait To be deliver'd, be it pepper, soap, Hops, or tobacco, oatmeal, woad, or cheeses. All which you may so handle, to enjoy To your own use, and never stand obliged.

KAS I'faith! is he such a fellow?

FACE Why, Nab here knows him. And then for making matches for rich widows, Young gentlewomen, heirs, the fortunat'st man! He's sent to, far and near, all over England, To have his counsel, and to know their fortunes.

KAS God's will, my suster shall see him.

FACE I'll tell you, sir, What he did tell me of Nab. It's a strange thing:-- By the way, you must eat no cheese, Nab, it breeds melancholy, And that same melancholy breeds worms; but pass it:-- He told me, honest Nab here was ne'er at tavern But once in's life!

DRUG Truth, and no more I was not.

FACE And then he was so sick--

DRUG Could he tell you that too?

FACE How should I know it?

DRUG In troth we had been a shooting, And had a piece of fat ram-mutton to supper, That lay so heavy o' my stomach--

FACE And he has no head To bear any wine; for what with the noise of the fidlers, And care of his shop, for he dares keep no servants--

DRUG My head did so ach--

FACE And he was fain to be brought home, The doctor told me: and then a good old woman--

DRUG Yes, faith, she dwells in Sea-coal-lane,--did cure me, With sodden ale, and pellitory of the wall; Cost me but two-pence. I had another sickness Was worse than that.

FACE Ay, that was with the grief Thou took'st for being cess'd at eighteen-pence, For the water-work.

DRUG In truth, and it was like T' have cost me almost my life.

FACE Thy hair went off?

DRUG Yes, sir; 'twas done for spight.

FACE Nay, so says the doctor.

KAS Pray thee, tobacco-boy, go fetch my suster; I'll see this learned boy before I go; And so shall she.

FACE Sir, he is busy now: But if you have a sister to fetch hither, Perhaps your own pains may command her sooner; And he by that time will be free.

KAS I go.

[EXIT.]

FACE Drugger, she's thine: the damask!--

[EXIT ABEL.] Subtle and I Must wrestle for her.

[ASIDE.] --Come on, master Dapper, You see how I turn clients here away, To give your cause dispatch; have you perform'd The ceremonies were enjoin'd you?

DAP Yes, of the vinegar, And the clean shirt.

FACE 'Tis well: that shirt may do you More worship than you think. Your aunt's a-fire, But that she will not shew it, t' have a sight of you. Have you provided for her grace's servants?

DAP Yes, here are six score Edward shillings.

FACE Good!

DAP And an old Harry's sovereign.

FACE Very good!

DAP And three James shillings, and an Elizabeth groat, Just twenty nobles.

FACE O, you are too just. I would you had had the other noble in Maries.

DAP I have some Philip and Maries.

FACE Ay, those same Are best of all: where are they? Hark, the doctor. [ENTER SUBTLE, DISGUISED LIKE A PRIEST OF FAIRY, WITH A STRIPE OF CLOTH.] SUB [IN A FEIGNED VOICE]. Is yet her grace's cousin come?

FACE He is come.

SUB And is he fasting?

FACE Yes.

SUB And hath cried hum?

FACE Thrice, you must answer.

DAP Thrice.

SUB And as oft buz?

FACE If you have, say.

DAP I have.

SUB Then, to her cuz, Hoping that he hath vinegar'd his senses, As he was bid, the Fairy queen dispenses, By me, this robe, the petticoat of fortune; Which that he straight put on, she doth importune. And though to fortune near be her petticoat, Yet nearer is her smock, the queen doth note: And therefore, ev'n of that a piece she hath sent Which, being a child, to wrap him in was rent; And prays him for a scarf he now will wear it, With as much love as then her grace did tear it, About his eyes,

[THEY BLIND HIM WITH THE RAG,] to shew he is fortunate. And, trusting unto her to make his state, He'll throw away all worldly pelf about him; Which that he will perform, she doth not doubt him.

FACE She need not doubt him, sir. Alas, he has nothing, But what he will part withal as willingly, On her grace's word--throw away your purse-- As she would ask it;--handkerchiefs and all--

[HE THROWS AWAY, AS THEY BID HIM.] She cannot bid that thing, but he'll obey.-- If you have a ring about you, cast it off, Or a silver seal at your wrist; her grace will send Her fairies here to search you, therefore deal Directly with her highness: if they find That you conceal a mite, you are undone.

DAP Truly, there's all.

FACE All what?

DAP My money; truly.

FACE Keep nothing that is transitory about you.

[ASIDE TO SUBTLE.] Bid Dol play music.--

[DOL PLAYS ON THE CITTERN WITHIN.] Look, the elves are come. To pinch you, if you tell not truth. Advise you.

[THEY PINCH HIM.]

DAP O! I have a paper with a spur-ryal in't.

FACE Ti, ti. They knew't, they say.

SUB Ti, ti, ti, ti. He has more yet.

FACE Ti, ti-ti-ti.

[ASIDE TO SUB.] In the other pocket.

SUB Titi, titi, titi, titi, titi. They must pinch him or he will never confess, they say.

[THEY PINCH HIM AGAIN.]

DAP O, O!

FACE Nay, pray you, hold: he is her grace's nephew, Ti, ti, ti? What care you? good faith, you shall care.-- Deal plainly, sir, and shame the fairies. Shew You are innocent.

DAP By this good light, I have nothing.

SUB Ti, ti, ti, ti, to, ta. He does equivocate she says: Ti, ti do ti, ti ti do, ti da; and swears by the LIGHT when he is blinded.

DAP By this good DARK, I have nothing but a half-crown Of gold about my wrist, that my love gave me; And a leaden heart I wore since she forsook me.

FACE I thought 'twas something. And would you incur Your aunt's displeasure for these trifles? Come, I had rather you had thrown away twenty half-crowns.

[TAKES IT OFF.] You may wear your leaden heart still.--

[ENTER DOL HASTILY.] How now!

SUB What news, Dol?

DOL Yonder's your knight, sir Mammon.

FACE 'Ods lid, we never thought of him till now! Where is he?

DOL Here hard by: he is at the door.

SUB And you are not ready now! Dol, get his suit.

[EXIT DOL.] He must not be sent back.

FACE O, by no means. What shall we do with this same puffin here, Now he's on the spit?

SUB Why, lay him back awhile, With some device.

[RE-ENTER DOL, WITH FACE'S CLOTHES.] --Ti, ti, ti, ti, ti, ti, Would her grace speak with me? I come.--Help, Dol!

[KNOCKING WITHOUT.] FACE [SPEAKS THROUGH THE KEYHOLE]. Who's there? sir Epicure, My master's in the way. Please you to walk Three or four turns, but till his back be turned, And I am for you.--Quickly, Dol!

SUB Her grace Commends her kindly to you, master Dapper.

DAP I long to see her grace.

SUB She now is set At dinner in her bed, and she has sent you From her own private trencher, a dead mouse, And a piece of gingerbread, to be merry withal, And stay your stomach, lest you faint with fasting: Yet if you could hold out till she saw you, she says, It would be better for you.

FACE Sir, he shall Hold out, an 'twere this two hours, for her highness; I can assure you that. We will not lose All we have done.--

SUB He must not see, nor speak To any body, till then.

FACE For that we'll put, sir, A stay in's mouth.

SUB Of what?

FACE Of gingerbread. Make you it fit. He that hath pleas'd her grace Thus far, shall not now crincle for a little.-- Gape, sir, and let him fit you.

[THEY THRUST A GAG OF GINGERBREAD IN HIS MOUTH.]

SUB Where shall we now Bestow him?

DOL In the privy.

SUB Come along, sir, I now must shew you Fortune's privy lodgings.

FACE Are they perfumed, and his bath ready?

SUB All: Only the fumigation's somewhat strong. FACE [SPEAKING THROUGH THE KEYHOLE]. Sir Epicure, I am yours, sir, by and by.

[EXEUNT WITH DAPPER.]

1.

A ROOM IN LOVEWIT'S HOUSE

ENTER FACE AND MAMMON.

FACE O sir, you're come in the only finest time.--

MAM Where's master?

FACE Now preparing for projection, sir. Your stuff will be all changed shortly.

MAM Into gold?

FACE To gold and silver, sir.

MAM Silver I care not for.

FACE Yes, sir, a little to give beggars.

MAM Where's the lady?

FACE At hand here. I have told her such brave things of you, Touching your bounty, and your noble spirit--

MAM Hast thou?

FACE As she is almost in her fit to see you. But, good sir, no divinity in your conference, For fear of putting her in rage.--

MAM I warrant thee.

FACE Six men [sir] will not hold her down: and then, If the old man should hear or see you--

MAM Fear not.

FACE The very house, sir, would run mad. You know it, How scrupulous he is, and violent, 'Gainst the least act of sin. Physic, or mathematics, Poetry, state, or bawdry, as I told you, She will endure, and never startle; but No word of controversy.

MAM I am school'd, good Ulen.

FACE And you must praise her house, remember that, And her nobility.

MAM Let me alone: No herald, no, nor antiquary, Lungs, Shall do it better. Go. FACE [ASIDE]. Why, this is yet A kind of modern happiness, to have Dol Common for a great lady.

[EXIT.]

MAM Now, Epicure, Heighten thyself, talk to her all in gold; Rain her as many showers as Jove did drops Unto his Danae; shew the god a miser, Compared with Mammon. What! the stone will do't. She shall feel gold, taste gold, hear gold, sleep gold; Nay, we will concumbere gold: I will be puissant, And mighty in my talk to her.--

[RE-ENTER FACE, WITH DOL RICHLY DRESSED.] Here she comes.

FACE To him, Dol, suckle him.--This is the noble knight, I told your ladyship--

MAM Madam, with your pardon, I kiss your vesture.

DOL Sir, I were uncivil If I would suffer that; my lip to you, sir.

MAM I hope my lord your brother be in health, lady.

DOL My lord, my brother is, though I no lady, sir. FACE [ASIDE]. Well said, my Guinea bird.

MAM Right noble madam-- FACE [ASIDE]. O, we shall have most fierce idolatry.

MAM 'Tis your prerogative.

DOL Rather your courtesy.

MAM Were there nought else to enlarge your virtues to me, These answers speak your breeding and your blood.

DOL Blood we boast none, sir, a poor baron's daughter.

MAM Poor! and gat you? profane not. Had your father Slept all the happy remnant of his life After that act, lien but there still, and panted, He had done enough to make himself, his issue, And his posterity noble.

DOL Sir, although We may be said to want the gilt and trappings, The dress of honour, yet we strive to keep The seeds and the materials.

MAM I do see The old ingredient, virtue, was not lost, Nor the drug money used to make your compound. There is a strange nobility in your eye, This lip, that chin! methinks you do resemble One of the Austriac princes.

FACE Very like!

[ASIDE.] Her father was an Irish costermonger.

MAM The house of Valois just had such a nose, And such a forehead yet the Medici Of Florence boast.

DOL Troth, and I have been liken'd To all these princes. FACE [ASIDE]. I'll be sworn, I heard it.

MAM I know not how! it is not any one, But e'en the very choice of all their features. FACE [ASIDE]. I'll in, and laugh.

[EXIT.]

MAM A certain touch, or air, That sparkles a divinity, beyond An earthly beauty!

DOL O, you play the courtier.

MAM Good lady, give me leave--

DOL In faith, I may not, To mock me, sir.

MAM To burn in this sweet flame; The phoenix never knew a nobler death.

DOL Nay, now you court the courtier, and destroy What you would build. This art, sir, in your words, Calls your whole faith in question.

MAM By my soul--

DOL Nay, oaths are made of the same air, sir.

MAM Nature Never bestow'd on mortality A more unblamed, a more harmonious feature; She play'd the step-dame in all faces else: Sweet Madam, let me be particular--

DOL Particular, sir! I pray you know your distance.

MAM In no ill sense, sweet lady; but to ask How your fair graces pass the hours? I see You are lodged here, in the house of a rare man, An excellent artist; but what's that to you?

DOL Yes, sir; I study here the mathematics, And distillation.

MAM O, I cry your pardon. He's a divine instructor! can extract The souls of all things by his art; call all The virtues, and the miracles of the sun, Into a temperate furnace; teach dull nature What her own forces are. A man, the emperor Has courted above Kelly; sent his medals And chains, to invite him.

DOL Ay, and for his physic, sir--

MAM Above the art of Aesculapius, That drew the envy of the thunderer! I know all this, and more.

DOL Troth, I am taken, sir, Whole with these studies, that contemplate nature.

MAM It is a noble humour; but this form Was not intended to so dark a use. Had you been crooked, foul, of some coarse mould A cloister had done well; but such a feature That might stand up the glory of a kingdom, To live recluse! is a mere soloecism, Though in a nunnery. It must not be. I muse, my lord your brother will permit it: You should spend half my land first, were I he. Does not this diamond better on my finger, Than in the quarry?

DOL Yes.

MAM Why, you are like it. You were created, lady, for the light. Here, you shall wear it; take it, the first pledge Of what I speak, to bind you to believe me.

DOL In chains of adamant?

MAM Yes, the strongest bands. And take a secret too--here, by your side, Doth stand this hour, the happiest man in Europe.

DOL You are contended, sir!

MAM Nay, in true being, The envy of princes and the fear of states.

DOL Say you so, sir Epicure?

MAM Yes, and thou shalt prove it, Daughter of honour. I have cast mine eye On thy form, and I will rear this beauty Above all styles.

DOL You mean no treason, sir?

MAM No, I will take away that jealousy. I am the lord of the philosopher's stone, And thou the lady.

DOL How, sir! have you that?

MAM I am the master of the mystery. This day the good old wretch here o' the house Has made it for us: now he's at projection. Think therefore thy first wish now, let me hear it; And it shall rain into thy lap, no shower, But floods of gold, whole cataracts, a deluge, To get a nation on thee.

DOL You are pleased, sir, To work on the ambition of our sex.

MAM I am pleased the glory of her sex should know, This nook, here, of the Friars is no climate For her to live obscurely in, to learn Physic and surgery, for the constable's wife Of some odd hundred in Essex; but come forth, And taste the air of palaces; eat, drink The toils of empirics, and their boasted practice; Tincture of pearl, and coral, gold, and amber; Be seen at feasts and triumphs; have it ask'd, What miracle she is; set all the eyes Of court a-fire, like a burning glass, And work them into cinders, when the jewels Of twenty states adorn thee, and the light Strikes out the stars! that when thy name is mention'd, Queens may look pale; and we but shewing our love, Nero's Poppaea may be lost in story! Thus will we have it.

DOL I could well consent, sir. But, in a monarchy, how will this be? The prince will soon take notice, and both seize You and your stone, it being a wealth unfit For any private subject.

MAM If he knew it.

DOL Yourself do boast it, sir.

MAM To thee, my life.

DOL O, but beware, sir! You may come to end The remnants of your days in a loth'd prison, By speaking of it.

MAM 'Tis no idle fear. We'll therefore go withal, my girl, and live In a free state, where we will eat our mullets, Soused in high-country wines, sup pheasants' eggs, And have our cockles boil'd in silver shells; Our shrimps to swim again, as when they liv'd, In a rare butter made of dolphins' milk, Whose cream does look like opals; and with these Delicate meats set ourselves high for pleasure, And take us down again, and then renew Our youth and strength with drinking the elixir, And so enjoy a perpetuity Of life and lust! And thou shalt have thy wardrobe Richer than nature's, still to change thy self, And vary oftener, for thy pride, than she, Or art, her wise and almost-equal servant.

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE Sir, you are too loud. I hear you every word Into the laboratory. Some fitter place; The garden, or great chamber above. How like you her?

MAM Excellent! Lungs. There's for thee.

[GIVES HIM MONEY.]

FACE But do you hear? Good sir, beware, no mention of the rabbins.

MAM We think not on 'em.

[EXEUNT MAM. AND DOL.]

FACE O, it is well, sir.--Subtle!

[ENTER SUBTLE.] Dost thou not laugh?

SUB Yes; are they gone?

FACE All's clear.

SUB The widow is come.

FACE And your quarrelling disciple?

SUB Ay.

FACE I must to my captainship again then.

SUB Stay, bring them in first.

FACE So I meant. What is she? A bonnibel?

SUB I know not.

FACE We'll draw lots: You'll stand to that?

SUB What else?

FACE O, for a suit, To fall now like a curtain, flap!

SUB To the door, man.

FACE You'll have the first kiss, 'cause I am not ready.

[EXIT.]

SUB Yes, and perhaps hit you through both the nostrils. FACE [WITHIN]. Who would you speak with? KAS [WITHIN]. Where's the captain? FACE [WITHIN]. Gone, sir, About some business. KAS [WITHIN]. Gone! FACE [WITHIN]. He'll return straight. But master doctor, his lieutenant, is here.

[ENTER KASTRIL, FOLLOWED BY DAME PLIANT.]

SUB Come near, my worshipful boy, my terrae fili, That is, my boy of land; make thy approaches: Welcome; I know thy lusts, and thy desires, And I will serve and satisfy them. Begin, Charge me from thence, or thence, or in this line; Here is my centre: ground thy quarrel.

KAS You lie.

SUB How, child of wrath and anger! the loud lie? For what, my sudden boy?

KAS Nay, that look you to, I am afore-hand.

SUB O, this is no true grammar, And as ill logic! You must render causes, child, Your first and second intentions, know your canons And your divisions, moods, degrees, and differences, Your predicaments, substance, and accident, Series, extern and intern, with their causes, Efficient, material, formal, final, And have your elements perfect. KAS [ASIDE]. What is this? The angry tongue he talks in?

SUB That false precept, Of being afore-hand, has deceived a number, And made them enter quarrels, often-times, Before they were aware; and afterward, Against their wills.

KAS How must I do then, sir?

SUB I cry this lady mercy: she should first Have been saluted.

[KISSES HER.] I do call you lady, Because you are to be one, ere't be long, My soft and buxom widow.

KAS Is she, i'faith?

SUB Yes, or my art is an egregious liar.

KAS How know you?

SUB By inspection on her forehead, And subtlety of her lip, which must be tasted Often to make a judgment.

[KISSES HER AGAIN.] 'Slight, she melts Like a myrobolane:--here is yet a line, In rivo frontis, tells me he is no knight.

DAME P What is he then, sir?

SUB Let me see your hand. O, your linea fortunae makes it plain; And stella here in monte Veneris. But, most of all, junctura annularis. He is a soldier, or a man of art, lady, But shall have some great honour shortly.

DAME P Brother, He's a rare man, believe me!

[RE-ENTER FACE, IN HIS UNIFORM.]

KAS Hold your peace. Here comes the t'other rare man.--'Save you, captain.

FACE Good master Kastril! Is this your sister?

KAS Ay, sir. Please you to kuss her, and be proud to know her.

FACE I shall be proud to know you, lady.

[KISSES HER.]

DAME P Brother, He calls me lady too.

KAS Ay, peace: I heard it.

[TAKES HER ASIDE.]

FACE The count is come.

SUB Where is he?

FACE At the door.

SUB Why, you must entertain him.

FACE What will you do With these the while?

SUB Why, have them up, and shew them Some fustian book, or the dark glass.

FACE 'Fore God, She is a delicate dab-chick! I must have her.

[EXIT.]

SUB Must you! ay, if your fortune will, you must.-- Come, sir, the captain will come to us presently: I'll have you to my chamber of demonstrations, Where I will shew you both the grammar and logic, And rhetoric of quarrelling; my whole method Drawn out in tables; and my instrument, That hath the several scales on't, shall make you Able to quarrel at a straw's-breadth by moon-light. And, lady, I'll have you look in a glass, Some half an hour, but to clear your eye-sight, Against you see your fortune; which is greater, Than I may judge on the sudden, trust me.

[EXIT, FOLLOWED BY KAST. AND DAME P.]

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE Where are you, doctor? SUB [WITHIN]. I'll come to you presently.

FACE I will have this same widow, now I have seen her, On any composition.

[RE-ENTER SUBTLE.]

SUB What do you say?

FACE Have you disposed of them?

SUB I have sent them up.

FACE Subtle, in troth, I needs must have this widow.

SUB Is that the matter?

FACE Nay, but hear me.

SUB Go to. If you rebel once, Dol shall know it all: Therefore be quiet, and obey your chance.

FACE Nay, thou art so violent now--Do but conceive, Thou art old, and canst not serve--

SUB Who cannot? I? 'Slight, I will serve her with thee, for a--

FACE Nay, But understand: I'll give you composition.

SUB I will not treat with thee; what! sell my fortune? 'Tis better than my birth-right. Do not murmur: Win her, and carry her. If you grumble, Dol Knows it directly.

FACE Well, sir, I am silent. Will you go help to fetch in Don in state?

[EXIT.]

SUB I follow you, sir. We must keep Face in awe, Or he will over-look us like a tyrant.

[RE-ENTER FACE, INTRODUCING SURLY DISGUISED AS A SPANIARD.] Brain of a tailor! who comes here? Don John!

SUR Senores, beso las manos a vuestras mercedes.

SUB Would you had stoop'd a little, and kist our anos!

FACE Peace, Subtle.

SUB Stab me; I shall never hold, man. He looks in that deep ruff like a head in a platter, Serv'd in by a short cloke on two trestles.

FACE Or, what do you say to a collar of brawn, cut down Beneath the souse, and wriggled with a knife?

SUB 'Slud, he does look too fat to be a Spaniard.

FACE Perhaps some Fleming or some Hollander got him In d'Alva's time; count Egmont's bastard.

SUB Don, Your scurvy, yellow, Madrid face is welcome.

SUR Gratia.

SUB He speaks out of a fortification. Pray God he have no squibs in those deep sets.

SUR Por dios, senores, muy linda casa!

SUB What says he?

FACE Praises the house, I think; I know no more but's action.

SUB Yes, the casa, My precious Diego, will prove fair enough To cozen you in. Do you mark? you shall Be cozen'd, Diego.

FACE Cozen'd, do you see, My worthy Donzel, cozen'd.

SUR Entiendo.

SUB Do you intend it? so do we, dear Don. Have you brought pistolets, or portagues, My solemn Don?--Dost thou feel any? FACE [FEELS HIS POCKETS]. Full.

SUB You shall be emptied, Don, pumped and drawn Dry, as they say.

FACE Milked, in troth, sweet Don.

SUB See all the monsters; the great lion of all, Don.

SUR Con licencia, se puede ver a esta senora?

SUB What talks he now?

FACE Of the sennora.

SUB O, Don, This is the lioness, which you shall see Also, my Don.

FACE 'Slid, Subtle, how shall we do?

SUB For what?

FACE Why Dol's employ'd, you know.

SUB That's true. 'Fore heaven, I know not: he must stay, that's all.

FACE Stay! that he must not by no means.

SUB No! why?

FACE Unless you'll mar all. 'Slight, he will suspect it: And then he will not pay, not half so well. This is a travelled punk-master, and does know All the delays; a notable hot rascal, And looks already rampant.

SUB 'Sdeath, and Mammon Must not be troubled.

FACE Mammon! in no case.

SUB What shall we do then?

FACE Think: you must be sudden.

SUR Entiendo que la senora es tan hermosa, que codicio tan verla, como la bien aventuranza de mi vida.

FACE Mi vida! 'Slid, Subtle, he puts me in mind of the widow. What dost thou say to draw her to it, ha! And tell her 'tis her fortune? all our venture Now lies on't. It is but one man more, Which of us chance to have her: and beside, There is no maidenhead to be fear'd or lost. What dost thou think on't, Subtle?

SUB Who? I? why--

FACE The credit of our house too is engaged.

SUB You made me an offer for my share erewhile. What wilt thou give me, i'faith?

FACE O, by that light I'll not buy now: You know your doom to me. E'en take your lot, obey your chance, sir; win her, And wear her out, for me.

SUB 'Slight, I'll not work her then.

FACE It is the common cause; therefore bethink you. Dol else must know it, as you said.

SUB I care not.

SUR Senores, porque se tarda tanto?

SUB Faith, I am not fit, I am old.

FACE That's now no reason, sir.

SUR Puede ser de hazer burla de mi amor?

FACE You hear the Don too? by this air, I call, And loose the hinges: Dol!

SUB A plague of hell--

FACE Will you then do?

SUB You are a terrible rogue! I'll think of this: will you, sir, call the widow?

FACE Yes, and I'll take her too with all her faults, Now I do think on't better.

SUB With all my heart, sir; Am I discharged o' the lot?

FACE As you please.

SUB Hands.

[THEY TAKE HANDS.]

FACE Remember now, that on any change, You never claim her.

SUB Much good joy, and health to you, sir, Marry a whore! fate, let me wed a witch first.

SUR Por estas honradas barbas--

SUB He swears by his beard. Dispatch, and call the brother too.

[EXIT FACE.]

SUR Tengo duda, senores, que no me hagan alguna traycion.

SUB How, issue on? yes, praesto, sennor. Please you Enthratha the chambrata, worthy don: Where if you please the fates, in your bathada, You shall be soked, and stroked, and tubb'd and rubb'd, And scrubb'd, and fubb'd, dear don, before you go. You shall in faith, my scurvy baboon don, Be curried, claw'd, and flaw'd, and taw'd, indeed. I will the heartlier go about it now, And make the widow a punk so much the sooner, To be revenged on this impetuous Face: The quickly doing of it is the grace.

[EXEUNT SUB. AND SURLY.]

ANOTHER ROOM IN THE SAME

ENTER FACE, KASTRIL, AND DAME PLIANT.

FACE Come, lady: I knew the Doctor would not leave, Till he had found the very nick of her fortune.

KAS To be a countess, say you, a Spanish countess, sir?

DAME P Why, is that better than an English countess?

FACE Better! 'Slight, make you that a question, lady?

KAS Nay, she is a fool, captain, you must pardon her.

FACE Ask from your courtier, to your inns-of-court-man, To your mere milliner; they will tell you all, Your Spanish gennet is the best horse; your Spanish Stoup is the best garb; your Spanish beard Is the best cut; your Spanish ruffs are the best Wear; your Spanish pavin the best dance; Your Spanish titillation in a glove The best perfume: and for your Spanish pike, And Spanish blade, let your poor captain speak-- Here comes the doctor.

[ENTER SUBTLE, WITH A PAPER.]

SUB My most honour'd lady, For so I am now to style you, having found By this my scheme, you are to undergo An honourable fortune, very shortly. What will you say now, if some--

FACE I have told her all, sir, And her right worshipful brother here, that she shall be A countess; do not delay them, sir; a Spanish countess.

SUB Still, my scarce-worshipful captain, you can keep No secret! Well, since he has told you, madam, Do you forgive him, and I do.

KAS She shall do that, sir; I'll look to it, 'tis my charge.

SUB Well then: nought rests But that she fit her love now to her fortune.

DAME P Truly I shall never brook a Spaniard.

SUB No!

DAME P Never since eighty-eight could I abide them, And that was some three year afore I was born, in truth.

SUB Come, you must love him, or be miserable, Choose which you will.

FACE By this good rush, persuade her, She will cry strawberries else within this twelvemonth.

SUB Nay, shads and mackerel, which is worse.

FACE Indeed, sir!

KAS Od's lid, you shall love him, or I'll kick you.

DAME P Why, I'll do as you will have me, brother.

KAS Do, Or by this hand I'll maul you.

FACE Nay, good sir, Be not so fierce.

SUB No, my enraged child; She will be ruled. What, when she comes to taste The pleasures of a countess! to be courted--

FACE And kiss'd, and ruffled!

SUB Ay, behind the hangings.

FACE And then come forth in pomp!

SUB And know her state!

FACE Of keeping all the idolaters of the chamber Barer to her, than at their prayers!

SUB Is serv'd On the knee!

FACE And has her pages, ushers, Footmen, and coaches--

SUB Her six mares--

FACE Nay, eight!

SUB To hurry her through London, to the Exchange, Bethlem, the china-houses--

FACE Yes, and have The citizens gape at her, and praise her tires, And my lord's goose-turd bands, that ride with her!

KAS Most brave! By this hand, you are not my suster, If you refuse.

DAME P I will not refuse, brother.

[ENTER SURLY.]

SUR Que es esto, senores, que no venga? Esta tardanza me mata!

FACE It is the count come: The doctor knew he would be here, by his art.

SUB En gallanta madama, Don! gallantissima!

SUR Por todos los dioses, la mas acabada hermosura, que he visto en mi vida!

FACE Is't not a gallant language that they speak?

KAS An admirable language! Is't not French?

FACE No, Spanish, sir.

KAS It goes like law-French, And that, they say, is the courtliest language.

FACE List, sir.

SUR El sol ha perdido su lumbre, con el esplandor que trae esta dama! Valgame dios!

FACE He admires your sister.

KAS Must not she make curt'sy?

SUB Ods will, she must go to him, man, and kiss him! It is the Spanish fashion, for the women To make first court.

FACE 'Tis true he tells you, sir: His art knows all.

SUR Porque no se acude?

KAS He speaks to her, I think.

FACE That he does, sir.

SUR Por el amor de dios, que es esto que se tarda?

KAS Nay, see: she will not understand him! gull, Noddy.

DAME P What say you, brother?

KAS Ass, my suster. Go kuss him, as the cunning man would have you; I'll thrust a pin in your buttocks else.

FACE O no, sir.

SUR Senora mia, mi persona esta muy indigna de allegar a tanta hermosura.

FACE Does he not use her bravely?

KAS Bravely, i'faith!

FACE Nay, he will use her better.

KAS Do you think so?

SUR Senora, si sera servida, entremonos.

[EXIT WITH DAME PLIANT.]

KAS Where does he carry her?

FACE Into the garden, sir; Take you no thought: I must interpret for her.

SUB Give Dol the word.

[ASIDE TO FACE, WHO GOES OUT.] --Come, my fierce child, advance, We'll to our quarrelling lesson again.

KAS Agreed. I love a Spanish boy with all my heart.

SUB Nay, and by this means, sir, you shall be brother To a great count.

KAS Ay, I knew that at first, This match will advance the house of the Kastrils.

SUB 'Pray God your sister prove but pliant!

KAS Why, Her name is so, by her other husband.

SUB How!

KAS The widow Pliant. Knew you not that?

SUB No, faith, sir; Yet, by erection of her figure, I guest it. Come, let's go practise.

KAS Yes, but do you think, doctor, I e'er shall quarrel well?

SUB I warrant you.

[EXEUNT.]

ANOTHER ROOM IN THE SAME

ENTER DOL IN HER FIT OF RAVING, FOLLOWED BY MAMMON.

DOL "For after Alexander's death"--

MAM Good lady--

DOL "That Perdiccas and Antigonus, were slain, The two that stood, Seleuc', and Ptolomee"--

MAM Madam--

DOL "Made up the two legs, and the fourth beast, That was Gog-north, and Egypt-south: which after Was call'd Gog-iron-leg and South-iron-leg"--

MAM Lady--

DOL "And then Gog-horned. So was Egypt, too: Then Egypt-clay-leg, and Gog-clay-leg"--

MAM Sweet madam--

DOL "And last Gog-dust, and Egypt-dust, which fall In the last link of the fourth chain. And these Be stars in story, which none see, or look at"--

MAM What shall I do?

DOL "For," as he says, "except We call the rabbins, and the heathen Greeks"--

MAM Dear lady--

DOL "To come from Salem, and from Athens, And teach the people of Great Britain"--

[ENTER FACE, HASTILY, IN HIS SERVANT'S DRESS.]

FACE What's the matter, sir?

DOL "To speak the tongue of Eber, and Javan"--

MAM O, She's in her fit.

DOL "We shall know nothing"--

FACE Death, sir, We are undone!

DOL "Where then a learned linguist Shall see the ancient used communion Of vowels and consonants"--

FACE My master will hear!

DOL "A wisdom, which Pythagoras held most high"--

MAM Sweet honourable lady!

DOL "To comprise All sounds of voices, in few marks of letters"--

FACE Nay, you must never hope to lay her now.

[THEY ALL SPEAK TOGETHER.]

DOL "And so we may arrive by Talmud skill, And profane Greek, to raise the building up Of Helen's house against the Ismaelite, King of Thogarma, and his habergions Brimstony, blue, and fiery; and the force Of king Abaddon, and the beast of Cittim: Which rabbi David Kimchi, Onkelos, And Aben Ezra do interpret Rome."

FACE How did you put her into't?

MAM Alas, I talk'd Of a fifth monarchy I would erect, With the philosopher's stone, by chance, and she

Falls on the other four straight.

FACE Out of Broughton! I told you so. 'Slid, stop her mouth.

MAM Is't best?

FACE She'll never leave else. If the old man hear her, We are but faeces, ashes. SUB [WITHIN]. What's to do there?

FACE O, we are lost! Now she hears him, she is quiet.

[ENTER SUBTLE, THEY RUN DIFFERENT WAYS.]

MAM Where shall I hide me!

SUB How! what sight is here? Close deeds of darkness, and that shun the light! Bring him again. Who is he? What, my son! O, I have lived too long.

MAM Nay, good, dear father, There was no unchaste purpose.

SUB Not? and flee me When I come in?

MAM That was my error.

SUB Error? Guilt, guilt, my son: give it the right name. No marvel, If I found check in our great work within, When such affairs as these were managing!

MAM Why, have you so?

SUB It has stood still this half hour: And all the rest of our less works gone back. Where is the instrument of wickedness, My lewd false drudge?

MAM Nay, good sir, blame not him; Believe me, 'twas against his will or knowledge: I saw her by chance.

SUB Will you commit more sin, To excuse a varlet?

MAM By my hope, 'tis true, sir.

SUB Nay, then I wonder less, if you, for whom The blessing was prepared, would so tempt heaven, And lose your fortunes.

MAM Why, sir?

SUB This will retard The work a month at least.

MAM Why, if it do, What remedy? But think it not, good father: Our purposes were honest.

SUB As they were, So the reward will prove.

[A LOUD EXPLOSION WITHIN.] --How now! ah me! God, and all saints be good to us.--

[RE-ENTER FACE.] What's that?

FACE O, sir, we are defeated! all the works Are flown in fumo, every glass is burst; Furnace, and all rent down, as if a bolt Of thunder had been driven through the house. Retorts, receivers, pelicans, bolt-heads, All struck in shivers!

[SUBTLE FALLS DOWN AS IN A SWOON.] Help, good sir! alas, Coldness and death invades him. Nay, sir Mammon, Do the fair offices of a man! you stand, As you were readier to depart than he.

[KNOCKING WITHIN.] Who's there? my lord her brother is come.

MAM Ha, Lungs!

FACE His coach is at the door. Avoid his sight, For he's as furious as his sister's mad.

MAM Alas!

FACE My brain is quite undone with the fume, sir, I ne'er must hope to be mine own man again.

MAM Is all lost, Lungs? will nothing be preserv'd Of all our cost?

FACE Faith, very little, sir; A peck of coals or so, which is cold comfort, sir.

MAM O, my voluptuous mind! I am justly punish'd.

FACE And so am I, sir.

MAM Cast from all my hopes--

FACE Nay, certainties, sir.

MAM By mine own base affections. SUB [SEEMING TO COME TO HIMSELF]. O, the curst fruits of vice and lust!

MAM Good father, It was my sin. Forgive it.

SUB Hangs my roof Over us still, and will not fall, O justice, On us, for this wicked man!

FACE Nay, look, sir, You grieve him now with staying in his sight: Good sir, the nobleman will come too, and take you, And that may breed a tragedy.

MAM I'll go.

FACE Ay, and repent at home, sir. It may be, For some good penance you may have it yet; A hundred pound to the box at Bethlem--

MAM Yes.

FACE For the restoring such as--have their wits.

MAM I'll do't.

FACE I'll send one to you to receive it.

MAM Do. Is no projection left?

FACE All flown, or stinks, sir.

MAM Will nought be sav'd that's good for med'cine, think'st thou?

FACE I cannot tell, sir. There will be perhaps, Something about the scraping of the shards, Will cure the itch,--though not your itch of mind, sir.

[ASIDE.] It shall be saved for you, and sent home. Good sir, This way, for fear the lord should meet you.

[EXIT MAMMON.] SUB [RAISING HIS HEAD]. Face!

FACE Ay.

SUB Is he gone?

FACE Yes, and as heavily As all the gold he hoped for were in's blood. Let us be light though. SUB [LEAPING UP]. Ay, as balls, and bound And hit our heads against the roof for joy: There's so much of our care now cast away.

FACE Now to our don.

SUB Yes, your young widow by this time Is made a countess, Face; she has been in travail Of a young heir for you.

FACE Good sir.

SUB Off with your case, And greet her kindly, as a bridegroom should, After these common hazards.

FACE Very well, sir. Will you go fetch Don Diego off, the while?

SUB And fetch him over too, if you'll be pleased, sir: Would Dol were in her place, to pick his pockets now!

FACE Why, you can do't as well, if you would set to't. I pray you prove your virtue.

SUB For your sake sir.

[EXEUNT.]

ANOTHER ROOM IN THE SAME

[ENTER SURLY AND DAME PLIANT.]

SUR Lady, you see into what hands you are fall'n; 'Mongst what a nest of villains! and how near Your honour was t' have catch'd a certain clap, Through your credulity, had I but been So punctually forward, as place, time, And other circumstances would have made a man; For you're a handsome woman: would you were wise too! I am a gentleman come here disguised, Only to find the knaveries of this citadel; And where I might have wrong'd your honour, and have not, I claim some interest in your love. You are, They say, a widow, rich: and I'm a batchelor, Worth nought: your fortunes may make me a man, As mine have preserv'd you a woman. Think on it, And whether I have deserv'd you or no.

DAME P I will, sir.

SUR And for these household-rogues, let me alone To treat with them.

[ENTER SUBTLE.]

SUB How doth my noble Diego, And my dear madam countess? hath the count Been courteous, lady? liberal, and open? Donzel, methinks you look melancholic, After your coitum, and scurvy: truly, I do not like the dulness of your eye; It hath a heavy cast, 'tis upsee Dutch, And says you are a lumpish whore-master. Be lighter, and I will make your pockets so.

[ATTEMPTS TO PICK THEM.] SUR [THROWS OPEN HIS CLOAK]. Will you, don bawd and pickpurse?

[STRIKES HIM DOWN.] how now! reel you? Stand up, sir, you shall find, since I am so heavy, I'll give you equal weight.

SUB Help! murder!

SUR No, sir, There's no such thing intended: a good cart, And a clean whip shall ease you of that fear. I am the Spanish don "that should be cozen'd, Do you see, cozen'd?" Where's your Captain Face, That parcel broker, and whole-bawd, all rascal!

[ENTER FACE, IN HIS UNIFORM.]

FACE How, Surly!

SUR O, make your approach, good captain. I have found from whence your copper rings and spoons Come, now, wherewith you cheat abroad in taverns. 'Twas here you learned t' anoint your boot with brimstone, Then rub men's gold on't for a kind of touch, And say 'twas naught, when you had changed the colour, That you might have't for nothing. And this doctor, Your sooty, smoky-bearded compeer, he Will close you so much gold, in a bolt's-head, And, on a turn, convey in the stead another With sublimed mercury, that shall burst in the heat, And fly out all in fumo! Then weeps Mammon; Then swoons his worship.

[FACE SLIPS OUT.] Or, he is the Faustus, That casteth figures and can conjure, cures Plagues, piles, and pox, by the ephemerides, And holds intelligence with all the bawds And midwives of three shires: while you send in-- Captain!--what! is he gone?--damsels with child, Wives that are barren, or the waiting-maid With the green sickness.

[SEIZES SUBTLE AS HE IS RETIRING.] --Nay, sir, you must tarry, Though he be scaped; and answer by the ears, sir.

[RE-ENTER FACE, WITH KASTRIL.]

FACE Why, now's the time, if ever you will quarrel Well, as they say, and be a true-born child: The doctor and your sister both are abused.

KAS Where is he? which is he? he is a slave, Whate'er he is, and the son of a whore.--Are you The man, sir, I would know?

SUR I should be loth, sir, To confess so much.

KAS Then you lie in your throat.

SUR How! FACE [TO KASTRIL]. A very errant rogue, sir, and a cheater, Employ'd here by another conjurer That does not love the doctor, and would cross him, If he knew how.

SUR Sir, you are abused.

KAS You lie: And 'tis no matter.

FACE Well said, sir! He is The impudent'st rascal--

SUR You are indeed: Will you hear me, sir?

FACE By no means: bid him be gone.

KAS Begone, sir, quickly.

SUR This 's strange!--Lady, do you inform your brother.

FACE There is not such a foist in all the town, The doctor had him presently; and finds yet, The Spanish count will come here.

[ASIDE.] --Bear up, Subtle.

SUB Yes, sir, he must appear within this hour.

FACE And yet this rogue would come in a disguise, By the temptation of another spirit, To trouble our art, though he could not hurt it!

KAS Ay, I know--Away,

[TO HIS SISTER.] you talk like a foolish mauther.

SUR Sir, all is truth she says.

FACE Do not believe him, sir. He is the lying'st swabber! Come your ways, sir.

SUR You are valiant out of company!

KAS Yes, how then, sir?

[ENTER DRUGGER, WITH A PIECE OF DAMASK.]

FACE Nay, here's an honest fellow, too, that knows him, And all his tricks. Make good what I say, Abel, This cheater would have cozen'd thee o' the widow.--

[ASIDE TO DRUG.] He owes this honest Drugger here, seven pound, He has had on him, in two-penny'orths of tobacco.

DRUG Yes, sir. And he has damn'd himself three terms to pay me.

FACE And what does he owe for lotium?

DRUG Thirty shillings, sir; And for six syringes.

SUR Hydra of villainy!

FACE Nay, sir, you must quarrel him out o' the house.

KAS I will: --Sir, if you get not out of doors, you lie; And you are a pimp.

SUR Why, this is madness, sir, Not valour in you; I must laugh at this.

KAS It is my humour: you are a pimp and a trig, And an Amadis de Gaul, or a Don Quixote.

DRUG Or a knight o' the curious coxcomb, do you see?

[ENTER ANANIAS.]

ANA Peace to the household!

KAS I'll keep peace for no man.

ANA Casting of dollars is concluded lawful.

KAS Is he the constable?

SUB Peace, Ananias.

FACE No, sir.

KAS Then you are an otter, and a shad, a whit, A very tim.

SUR You'll hear me, sir?

KAS I will not.

ANA What is the motive?

SUB Zeal in the young gentleman, Against his Spanish slops.

ANA They are profane, Lewd, superstitious, and idolatrous breeches.

SUR New rascals!

KAS Will you begone, sir?

ANA Avoid, Sathan! Thou art not of the light: That ruff of pride About thy neck, betrays thee; and is the same With that which the unclean birds, in seventy-seven, Were seen to prank it with on divers coasts: Thou look'st like antichrist, in that lewd hat.

SUR I must give way.

KAS Be gone, sir.

SUR But I'll take A course with you--

ANA Depart, proud Spanish fiend!

SUR Captain and doctor.

ANA Child of perdition!

KAS Hence, sir!--

[EXIT SURLY.] Did I not quarrel bravely?

FACE Yes, indeed, sir.

KAS Nay, an I give my mind to't, I shall do't.

FACE O, you must follow, sir, and threaten him tame: He'll turn again else.

KAS I'll re-turn him then.

[EXIT.]

[SUBTLE TAKES ANANIAS ASIDE.]

FACE Drugger, this rogue prevented us for thee: We had determin'd that thou should'st have come In a Spanish suit, and have carried her so; and he, A brokerly slave! goes, puts it on himself. Hast brought the damask?

DRUG Yes, sir.

FACE Thou must borrow A Spanish suit. Hast thou no credit with the players?

DRUG Yes, sir; did you never see me play the Fool?

FACE I know not, Nab:--Thou shalt, if I can help it.--

[ASIDE.] Hieronimo's old cloak, ruff, and hat will serve; I'll tell thee more when thou bring'st 'em.

[EXIT DRUGGER.]

ANA Sir, I know The Spaniard hates the brethren, and hath spies On their actions: and that this was one I make no scruple.--But the holy synod Have been in prayer and meditation for it; And 'tis revealed no less to them than me, That casting of money is most lawful.

SUB True. But here I cannot do it: if the house Shou'd chance to be suspected, all would out, And we be locked up in the Tower for ever, To make gold there for the state, never come out; And then are you defeated.

ANA I will tell This to the elders and the weaker brethren, That the whole company of the separation May join in humble prayer again.

SUB And fasting.

ANA Yea, for some fitter place. The peace of mind Rest with these walls!

[EXIT.]

SUB Thanks, courteous Ananias.

FACE What did he come for?

SUB About casting dollars, Presently out of hand. And so I told him, A Spanish minister came here to spy, Against the faithful--

FACE I conceive. Come, Subtle, Thou art so down on the least disaster! How wouldst thou ha' done, if I had not help't thee out?

SUB I thank thee, Face, for the angry boy, i'faith.

FACE Who would have look'd it should have been that rascal, Surly? he had dyed his beard and all. Well, sir. Here's damask come to make you a suit.

SUB Where's Drugger?

FACE He is gone to borrow me a Spanish habit; I'll be the count, now.

SUB But where's the widow?

FACE

Within, with my lord's sister; madam Dol Is entertaining her.

SUB By your favour, Face, Now she is honest, I will stand again.

FACE You will not offer it.

SUB Why?

FACE Stand to your word, Or--here comes Dol, she knows--

SUB You are tyrannous still.

[ENTER DOL, HASTILY.]

FACE Strict for my right.--How now, Dol! Hast [thou] told her, The Spanish count will come?

DOL Yes; but another is come, You little look'd for!

FACE Who's that?

DOL Your master; The master of the house.

SUB How, Dol!

FACE She lies, This is some trick. Come, leave your quiblins, Dorothy.

DOL Look out, and see.

[FACE GOES TO THE WINDOW.]

SUB Art thou in earnest?

DOL 'Slight, Forty of the neighbours are about him, talking.

FACE 'Tis he, by this good day.

DOL 'Twill prove ill day For some on us.

FACE We are undone, and taken.

DOL Lost, I'm afraid.

SUB You said he would not come, While there died one a week within the liberties.

FACE No: 'twas within the walls.

SUB Was't so! cry you mercy. I thought the liberties. What shall we do now, Face?

FACE Be silent: not a word, if he call or knock. I'll into mine old shape again and meet him, Of Jeremy, the butler. In the mean time, Do you two pack up all the goods and purchase, That we can carry in the two trunks. I'll keep him Off for to-day, if I cannot longer: and then At night, I'll ship you both away to Ratcliff, Where we will meet to-morrow, and there we'll share. Let Mammon's brass and pewter keep the cellar; We'll have another time for that. But, Dol, 'Prythee go heat a little water quickly; Subtle must shave me: all my captain's beard Must off, to make me appear smooth Jeremy. You'll do it?

SUB Yes, I'll shave you, as well as I can.

FACE And not cut my throat, but trim me?

SUB You shall see, sir.

[EXEUNT.]

1.

BEFORE LOVEWIT'S DOOR

ENTER LOVEWIT, WITH SEVERAL OF THE NEIGHBOURS.

LOVE Has there been such resort, say you? 1 NEI. Daily, sir. 2 NEI. And nightly, too. 3 NEI. Ay, some as brave as lords. 4 NEI. Ladies and gentlewomen. 5 NEI. Citizens' wives. 1 NEI. And knights. 6 NEI. In coaches. 2 NEI. Yes, and oyster women. 1 NEI. Beside other gallants. 3 NEI. Sailors' wives. 4 NEI. Tobacco men. 5 NEI. Another Pimlico!

LOVE What should my knave advance, To draw this company? he hung out no banners Of a strange calf with five legs to be seen, Or a huge lobster with six claws? 6 NEI. No, sir. 3 NEI. We had gone in then, sir.

LOVE He has no gift Of teaching in the nose that e'er I knew of. You saw no bills set up that promised cure Of agues, or the tooth-ach? 2 NEI. No such thing, sir!

LOVE Nor heard a drum struck for baboons or puppets? 5 NEI. Neither, sir.

LOVE What device should he bring forth now? I love a teeming wit as I love my nourishment: 'Pray God he have not kept such open house, That he hath sold my hangings, and my bedding! I left him nothing else. If he have eat them, A plague o' the moth, say I! Sure he has got Some bawdy pictures to call all this ging! The friar and the nun; or the new motion Of the knight's courser covering the parson's mare; Or 't may be, he has the fleas that run at tilt On a table, or some dog to dance. When saw you him? 1 NEI. Who, sir, Jeremy? 2 NEI. Jeremy butler? We saw him not this month.

LOVE How! 4 NEI. Not these five weeks, sir. 6 NEI. These six weeks at the least.

LOVE You amaze me, neighbours! 5 NEI. Sure, if your worship know not where he is, He's slipt away. 6 NEI. Pray God, he be not made away.

LOVE Ha! it's no time to question, then.

[KNOCKS AT THE DOOR.] 6 NEI. About Some three weeks since, I heard a doleful cry, As I sat up a mending my wife's stockings.

LOVE 'Tis strange that none will answer! Didst thou hear A cry, sayst thou? 6 NEI. Yes, sir, like unto a man That had been strangled an hour, and could not speak. 2 NEI. I heard it too, just this day three weeks, at two o'clock Next morning.

LOVE These be miracles, or you make them so! A man an hour strangled, and could not speak, And both you heard him cry? 3 NEI. Yes, downward, sir. Love, Thou art a wise fellow. Give me thy hand, I pray thee. What trade art thou on? 3 NEI. A smith, an't please your worship.

LOVE A smith! then lend me thy help to get this door open. 3 NEI. That I will presently, sir, but fetch my tools--

[EXIT.] 1 NEI. Sir, best to knock again, afore you break it. LOVE [KNOCKS AGAIN]. I will.

[ENTER FACE, IN HIS BUTLER'S LIVERY.]

FACE What mean you, sir? 1, 2, 4 NEI. O, here's Jeremy!

FACE Good sir, come from the door.

LOVE Why, what's the matter?

FACE Yet farther, you are too near yet.

LOVE In the name of wonder, What means the fellow!

FACE The house, sir, has been visited.

LOVE What, with the plague? stand thou then farther.

FACE No, sir, I had it not.

LOVE Who had it then? I left None else but thee in the house.

FACE Yes, sir, my fellow, The cat that kept the buttery, had it on her A week before I spied it; but I got her Convey'd away in the night: and so I shut The house up for a month--

LOVE How!

FACE Purposing then, sir, To have burnt rose-vinegar, treacle, and tar, And have made it sweet, that you shou'd ne'er have known it; Because I knew the news would but afflict you, sir.

LOVE Breathe less, and farther off! Why this is stranger: The neighbours tell me all here that the doors Have still been open--

FACE How, sir!

LOVE Gallants, men and women, And of all sorts, tag-rag, been seen to flock here In threaves, these ten weeks, as to a second Hogsden, In days of Pimlico and Eye-bright.

FACE Sir, Their wisdoms will not say so.

LOVE To-day they speak Of coaches and gallants; one in a French hood Went in, they tell me; and another was seen In a velvet gown at the window: divers more Pass in and out.

FACE They did pass through the doors then, Or walls, I assure their eye-sights, and their spectacles; For here, sir, are the keys, and here have been, In this my pocket, now above twenty days: And for before, I kept the fort alone there. But that 'tis yet not deep in the afternoon, I should believe my neighbours had seen double Through the black pot, and made these apparitions! For, on my faith to your worship, for these three weeks And upwards the door has not been open'd.

LOVE Strange! 1 NEI. Good faith, I think I saw a coach. 2 NEI. And I too, I'd have been sworn.

LOVE Do you but think it now? And but one coach? 4 NEI. We cannot tell, sir: Jeremy Is a very honest fellow.

FACE Did you see me at all? 1 NEI. No; that we are sure on. 2 NEI. I'll be sworn o' that.

LOVE Fine rogues to have your testimonies built on!

[RE-ENTER THIRD NEIGHBOUR, WITH HIS TOOLS.] 3 NEI. Is Jeremy come! 1 NEI. O yes; you may leave your tools; We were deceived, he says. 2 NEI. He has had the keys; And the door has been shut these three weeks. 3 NEI. Like enough.

LOVE Peace, and get hence, you changelings.

[ENTER SURLY AND MAMMON.] FACE [ASIDE]. Surly come! And Mammon made acquainted! they'll tell all. How shall I beat them off? what shall I do? Nothing's more wretched than a guilty conscience.

SUR No, sir, he was a great physician. This, It was no bawdy-house, but a mere chancel! You knew the lord and his sister.

MAM Nay, good Surly.--

SUR The happy word, BE RICH--

MAM Play not the tyrant.--

SUR "Should be to-day pronounced to all your friends." And where be your andirons now? and your brass pots, That should have been golden flagons, and great wedges?

MAM Let me but breathe. What, they have shut their doors, Methinks!

SUR Ay, now 'tis holiday with them.

MAM Rogues,

[HE AND SURLY KNOCK.] Cozeners, impostors, bawds!

FACE What mean you, sir?

MAM To enter if we can.

FACE Another man's house! Here is the owner, sir: turn you to him, And speak your business.

MAM Are you, sir, the owner?

LOVE Yes, sir.

MAM And are those knaves within your cheaters!

LOVE What knaves, what cheaters?

MAM Subtle and his Lungs.

FACE The gentleman is distracted, sir! No lungs, Nor lights have been seen here these three weeks, sir,

Within these doors, on my word.

SUR Your word, Groom arrogant!

FACE Yes, sir, I am the housekeeper, And know the keys have not been out of my hands.

SUR This is a new Face.

FACE You do mistake the house, sir: What sign was't at?

SUR You rascal! this is one Of the confederacy. Come, let's get officers, And force the door.

LOVE 'Pray you stay, gentlemen.

SUR No, sir, we'll come with warrant.

MAM Ay, and then We shall have your doors open.

[EXEUNT MAM. AND SUR.]

LOVE What means this?

FACE I cannot tell, sir.

I NEI These are two of the gallants That we do think we saw.

FACE Two of the fools! Your talk as idly as they. Good faith, sir, I think the moon has crazed 'em all.--

[ASIDE.] O me,

[ENTER KASTRIL.] The angry boy come too! He'll make a noise, And ne'er away till he have betray'd us all. KAS [KNOCKING]. What rogues, bawds, slaves, you'll open the door, anon! Punk, cockatrice, my suster! By this light I'll fetch the marshal to you. You are a whore To keep your castle--

FACE Who would you speak with, sir?

KAS The bawdy doctor, and the cozening captain, And puss my suster.

LOVE This is something, sure.

FACE On my trust, the doors were never open, sir.

KAS I have heard all their tricks told me twice over, By the fat knight and the lean gentleman.

LOVE Here comes another.

[ENTER ANANIAS AND TRIBULATION.]

FACE Ananias too! And his pastor! TRI [BEATING AT THE DOOR]. The doors are shut against us.

ANA Come forth, you seed of sulphur, sons of fire! Your stench it is broke forth; abomination Is in the house.

KAS Ay, my suster's there.

ANA The place, It is become a cage of unclean birds.

KAS Yes, I will fetch the scavenger, and the constable.

TRI You shall do well.

ANA We'll join to weed them out.

KAS You will not come then, punk devise, my sister!

ANA Call her not sister; she's a harlot verily.

KAS I'll raise the street.

LOVE Good gentlemen, a word.

ANA Satan avoid, and hinder not our zeal!

[EXEUNT ANA., TRIB., AND KAST.]

LOVE The world's turn'd Bethlem.

FACE These are all broke loose, Out of St. Katherine's, where they use to keep The better sort of mad-folks. 1 NEI. All these persons We saw go in and out here. 2 NEI. Yes, indeed, sir. 3 NEI. These were the parties.

FACE Peace, you drunkards! Sir, I wonder at it: please you to give me leave To touch the door, I'll try an the lock be chang'd.

LOVE It mazes me! FACE [GOES TO THE DOOR]. Good faith, sir, I believe There's no such thing: 'tis all deceptio visus.--

[ASIDE.] Would I could get him away. DAP [WITHIN]. Master captain! master doctor!

LOVE Who's that?

FACE Our clerk within, that I forgot!

[ASIDE.] I know not, sir. DAP [WITHIN]. For God's sake, when will her grace be at leisure?

FACE Ha! Illusions, some spirit o' the air--

[ASIDE.] His gag is melted, And now he sets out the throat. DAP [WITHIN]. I am almost stifled-- FACE [ASIDE]. Would you were altogether.

LOVE 'Tis in the house. Ha! list.

FACE Believe it, sir, in the air.

LOVE Peace, you. DAP [WITHIN]. Mine aunt's grace does not use me well. SUB [WITHIN]. You fool, Peace, you'll mar all. FACE [SPEAKS THROUGH THE KEYHOLE, WHILE LOVEWIT ADVANCES TO THE DOOR UNOBSERVED]. Or you will else, you rogue.

LOVE O, is it so? Then you converse with spirits!-- Come, sir. No more of your tricks, good Jeremy. The truth, the shortest way.

FACE Dismiss this rabble, sir.--

[ASIDE.] What shall I do? I am catch'd.

LOVE Good neighbours, I thank you all. You may depart.

[EXEUNT NEIGHBOURS.] --Come, sir, You know that I am an indulgent master; And therefore conceal nothing. What's your medicine, To draw so many several sorts of wild fowl?

FACE Sir, you were wont to affect mirth and wit-- But here's no place to talk on't in the street. Give me but leave to make the best of my fortune, And only pardon me the abuse of your house: It's all I beg. I'll help you to a widow, In recompence, that you shall give me thanks for, Will make you seven years younger, and a rich one. 'Tis but your putting on a Spanish cloak: I have her within. You need not fear the house; It was not visited.

LOVE But by me, who came Sooner than you expected.

FACE It is true, sir. 'Pray you forgive me.

LOVE Well: let's see your widow.

[EXEUNT.]

A ROOM IN THE SAME

ENTER SUBTLE, LEADING IN DAPPER, WITH HIS EYES BOUND AS BEFORE.

SUB How! you have eaten your gag?

DAP Yes faith, it crumbled Away in my mouth.

SUB You have spoil'd all then.

DAP No! I hope my aunt of Fairy will forgive me.

SUB Your aunt's a gracious lady; but in troth You were to blame.

DAP The fume did overcome me, And I did do't to stay my stomach. 'Pray you So satisfy her grace.

[ENTER FACE, IN HIS UNIFORM.] Here comes the captain.

FACE How now! is his mouth down?

SUB Ay, he has spoken!

FACE A pox, I heard him, and you too. --He's undone then.-- I have been fain to say, the house is haunted With spirits, to keep churl back.

SUB And hast thou done it?

FACE Sure, for this night.

SUB Why, then triumph and sing Of Face so famous, the precious king Of present wits.

FACE Did you not hear the coil About the door?

SUB Yes, and I dwindled with it.

FACE Show him his aunt, and let him be dispatch'd: I'll send her to you.

[EXIT FACE.]

SUB Well, sir, your aunt her grace Will give you audience presently, on my suit, And the captain's word that you did not eat your gag In any contempt of her highness.

[UNBINDS HIS EYES.]

DAP Not I, in troth, sir.

[ENTER DOL, LIKE THE QUEEN OF FAIRY.]

SUB Here she is come. Down o' your knees and wriggle: She has a stately presence.

[DAPPER KNEELS, AND SHUFFLES TOWARDS HER.] Good! Yet nearer, And bid, God save you!

DAP Madam!

SUB And your aunt.

DAP And my most gracious aunt, God save your grace.

DOL Nephew, we thought to have been angry with you; But that sweet face of yours hath turn'd the tide, And made it flow with joy, that ebb'd of love. Arise, and touch our velvet gown.

SUB The skirts, And kiss 'em. So!

DOL Let me now stroak that head. "Much, nephew, shalt thou win, much shalt thou spend, Much shalt thou give away, much shalt thou lend." SUB [ASIDE]. Ay, much! indeed.-- Why do you not thank her grace?

DAP I cannot speak for joy.

SUB See, the kind wretch! Your grace's kinsman right.

DOL Give me the bird. Here is your fly in a purse, about your neck, cousin; Wear it, and feed it about this day sev'n-night, On your right wrist--

SUB Open a vein with a pin, And let it suck but once a week; till then, You must not look on't.

DOL No: and kinsman, Bear yourself worthy of the blood you come on.

SUB Her grace would have you eat no more Woolsack pies, Nor Dagger frumety.

DOL Nor break his fast In Heaven and Hell.

SUB She's with you every where! Nor play with costarmongers, at mum-chance, tray-trip, God make you rich; (when as your aunt has done it); But keep The gallant'st company, and the best games--

DAP Yes, sir.

SUB Gleek and primero; and what you get, be true to us.

DAP By this hand, I will.

SUB You may bring's a thousand pound Before to-morrow night, if but three thousand Be stirring, an you will.

DAP I swear I will then.

SUB Your fly will learn you all games. FACE [WITHIN]. Have you done there?

SUB Your grace will command him no more duties?

DOL No: But come, and see me often. I may chance To leave him three or four hundred chests of treasure, And some twelve thousand acres of fairy land, If he game well and comely with good gamesters.

SUB There's a kind aunt! kiss her departing part.-- But you must sell your forty mark a year, now.

DAP Ay, sir, I mean.

SUB Or, give't away; pox on't!

DAP I'll give't mine aunt. I'll go and fetch the writings.

[EXIT.]

SUB 'Tis well--away!

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE Where's Subtle?

SUB Here: what news?

FACE Drugger is at the door, go take his suit, And bid him fetch a parson, presently; Say, he shall marry the widow. Thou shalt spend A hundred pound by the service!

[EXIT SUBTLE.] Now, queen Dol, Have you pack'd up all?

DOL Yes.

FACE And how do you like The lady Pliant?

DOL A good dull innocent.

[RE-ENTER SUBTLE.]

SUB Here's your Hieronimo's cloak and hat.

FACE Give me them.

SUB And the ruff too?

FACE Yes; I'll come to you presently.

[EXIT.]

SUB Now he is gone about his project, Dol, I told you of, for the widow.

DOL 'Tis direct Against our articles.

SUB Well, we will fit him, wench. Hast thou gull'd her of her jewels or her bracelets?

DOL No; but I will do't.

SUB Soon at night, my Dolly, When we are shipp'd, and all our goods aboard, Eastward for Ratcliff, we will turn our course To Brainford, westward, if thou sayst the word, And take our leaves of this o'er-weening rascal, This peremptory Face.

DOL Content, I'm weary of him.

SUB Thou'st cause, when the slave will run a wiving, Dol, Against the instrument that was drawn between us.

DOL I'll pluck his bird as bare as I can.

SUB Yes, tell her, She must by any means address some present To the cunning man, make him amends for wronging His art with her suspicion; send a ring, Or chain of pearl; she will be tortured else Extremely in her sleep, say, and have strange things Come to her. Wilt thou?

DOL Yes.

SUB My fine flitter-mouse, My bird o' the night! we'll tickle it at the Pigeons, When we have all, and may unlock the trunks, And say, this's mine, and thine; and thine, and mine.

[THEY KISS.]

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE What now! a billing?

SUB Yes, a little exalted In the good passage of our stock-affairs.

FACE Drugger has brought his parson; take him in, Subtle, And send Nab back again to wash his face.

SUB I will: and shave himself?

[EXIT.]

FACE If you can get him.

DOL You are hot on it, Face, whate'er it is!

FACE A trick that Dol shall spend ten pound a month by.

[RE-ENTER SUBTLE.] Is he gone?

SUB The chaplain waits you in the hall, sir.

FACE I'll go bestow him.

[EXIT.]

DOL He'll now marry her, instantly.

SUB He cannot yet, he is not ready. Dear Dol, Cozen her of all thou canst. To deceive him Is no deceit, but justice, that would break Such an inextricable tie as ours was.

DOL Let me alone to fit him.

[RE-ENTER FACE.]

FACE Come, my venturers, You have pack'd up all? where be the trunks? bring forth.

SUB Here.

FACE Let us see them. Where's the money?

SUB Here, In this.

FACE Mammon's ten pound; eight score before: The brethren's money, this. Drugger's and Dapper's. What paper's that?

DOL The jewel of the waiting maid's, That stole it from her lady, to know certain--

FACE If she should have precedence of her mistress?

DOL Yes.

FACE What box is that?

SUB The fish-wives' rings, I think, And the ale-wives' single money. Is't not, Dol?

DOL Yes; and the whistle that the sailor's wife Brought you to know an her husband were with Ward.

FACE We'll wet it to-morrow; and our silver-beakers And tavern cups. Where be the French petticoats, And girdles and hangers?

SUB Here, in the trunk, And the bolts of lawn.

FACE Is Drugger's damask there, And the tobacco?

SUB Yes.

FACE Give me the keys.

DOL Why you the keys?

SUB No matter, Dol; because We shall not open them before he comes.

FACE 'Tis true, you shall not open them, indeed; Nor have them forth, do you see? Not forth, Dol.

DOL No!

FACE No, my smock rampant. The right is, my master Knows all, has pardon'd me, and he will keep them; Doctor, 'tis true--you look--for all your figures: I sent for him, indeed. Wherefore, good partners, Both he and she be satisfied; for here Determines the indenture tripartite 'Twixt Subtle, Dol, and Face. All I can do Is to help you over the wall, o' the back-side, Or lend you a sheet to save your velvet gown, Dol. Here will be officers presently, bethink you Of some course suddenly to 'scape the dock: For thither you will come else.

[LOUD KNOCKING.] Hark you, thunder.

SUB You are a precious fiend! OFFI [WITHOUT]. Open the door.

FACE Dol, I am sorry for thee i'faith; but hear'st thou? It shall go hard but I will place thee somewhere: Thou shalt have my letter to mistress Amo--

DOL Hang you!

FACE Or madam Caesarean.

DOL Pox on you, rogue, Would I had but time to beat thee!

FACE Subtle, Let's know where you set up next; I will send you A customer now and then, for old acquaintance: What new course have you?

SUB Rogue, I'll hang myself; That I may walk a greater devil than thou, And haunt thee in the flock-bed and the buttery.

[EXEUNT.]

AN OUTER ROOM IN THE SAME

ENTER LOVEWIT IN THE SPANISH DRESS, WITH THE PARSON.

LOUD KNOCKING AT THE DOOR

LOVE What do you mean, my masters? MAM [WITHOUT]. Open your door, Cheaters, bawds, conjurers. OFFI [WITHOUT]. Or we will break it open.

LOVE What warrant have you? OFFI [WITHOUT]. Warrant enough, sir, doubt not, If you'll not open it.

LOVE Is there an officer, there? OFFI [WITHOUT]. Yes, two or three for failing.

LOVE Have but patience, And I will open it straight.

[ENTER FACE, AS BUTLER.]

FACE Sir, have you done? Is it a marriage? perfect?

LOVE Yes, my brain.

FACE Off with your ruff and cloak then; be yourself, sir. SUR [WITHOUT]. Down with the door. KAS [WITHOUT]. 'Slight, ding it open. LOVE [OPENING THE DOOR]. Hold, Hold, gentlemen, what means this violence? [MAMMON, SURLY, KASTRIL, ANANIAS, TRIBULATION, AND OFFICERS, RUSH IN.]

MAM Where is this collier?

SUR And my captain Face?

MAM These day owls.

SUR That are birding in men's purses.

MAM Madam suppository.

KAS Doxy, my suster.

ANA Locusts Of the foul pit.

TRI Profane as Bel and the dragon.

ANA Worse than the grasshoppers, or the lice of Egypt.

LOVE Good gentlemen, hear me. Are you officers, And cannot stay this violence? 1 OFFI. Keep the peace.

LOVE Gentlemen, what is the matter? whom do you seek?

MAM The chemical cozener.

SUR And the captain pander.

KAS The nun my suster.

MAM Madam Rabbi.

ANA Scorpions, And caterpillars.

LOVE Fewer at once, I pray you. 2 OFFI. One after another, gentlemen, I charge you, By virtue of my staff.

ANA They are the vessels Of pride, lust, and the cart.

LOVE Good zeal, lie still A little while.

TRI Peace, deacon Ananias.

LOVE The house is mine here, and the doors are open; If there be any such persons as you seek for, Use your authority, search on o' God's name. I am but newly come to town, and finding This tumult 'bout my door, to tell you true, It somewhat mazed me; till my man, here, fearing My more displeasure, told me he had done Somewhat an insolent part, let out my house (Belike, presuming on my known aversion From any air o' the town while there was sickness,) To a doctor and a captain: who, what they are Or where they be, he knows not.

MAM Are they gone?

LOVE You may go in and search, sir.

[MAMMON, ANA., AND TRIB. GO IN.] Here, I find The empty walls worse than I left them, smoak'd, A few crack'd pots, and glasses, and a furnace: The ceiling fill'd with poesies of the candle, And madam with a dildo writ o' the walls: Only one gentlewoman, I met here, That is within, that said she was a widow--

KAS Ay, that's my suster; I'll go thump her. Where is she?

[GOES IN.]

LOVE And should have married a Spanish count, but he, When he came to't, neglected her so grossly, That I, a widower, am gone through with her.

SUR How! have I lost her then?

LOVE Were you the don, sir? Good faith, now, she does blame you extremely, and says You swore, and told her you had taken the pains To dye your beard, and umber o'er your face, Borrowed a suit, and ruff, all for her love; And then did nothing. What an oversight, And want of putting forward, sir, was this! Well fare an old harquebuzier, yet, Could prime his powder, and give fire, and hit, All in a twinkling!

[RE-ENTER MAMMON.]

MAM The whole nest are fled!

LOVE What sort of birds were they?

MAM A kind of choughs, Or thievish daws, sir, that have pick'd my purse Of eight score and ten pounds within these five weeks, Beside my first materials; and my goods, That lie in the cellar, which I am glad they have left, I may have home yet.

LOVE Think you so, sir?

MAM Ay.

LOVE By order of law, sir, but not otherwise.

MAM Not mine own stuff!

LOVE Sir, I can take no knowledge That they are yours, but by public means. If you can bring certificate that you were gull'd of them, Or any formal writ out of a court, That you did cozen your self, I will not hold them.

MAM I'll rather lose them.

LOVE That you shall not, sir, By me, in troth: on these terms, they are yours. What! should they have been, sir, turn'd into gold, all?

MAM No, I cannot tell--It may be they should.--What then?

LOVE What a great loss in hope have you sustain'd!

MAM Not I, the commonwealth has.

FACE Ay, he would have built The city new; and made a ditch about it Of silver, should have run with cream from Hogsden; That every Sunday, in Moorfields, the younkers, And tits and tom-boys should have fed on, gratis.

MAM I will go mount a turnip-cart, and preach The end of the world, within these two months. Surly, What! in a dream?

SUR Must I needs cheat myself, With that same foolish vice of honesty! Come, let us go and hearken out the rogues: That Face I'll mark for mine, if e'er I meet him.

FACE If I can hear of him, sir, I'll bring you word, Unto your lodging; for in troth, they were strangers To me, I thought them honest as my self, sir.

[EXEUNT MAM. AND SUR.]

[RE-ENTER ANANIAS AND TRIBULATION.]

TRI 'Tis well, the saints shall not lose all yet. Go, And get some carts--

LOVE For what, my zealous friends?

ANA To bear away the portion of the righteous Out of this den of thieves.

LOVE What is that portion?

ANA The goods sometimes the orphan's, that the brethren Bought with their silver pence.

LOVE What, those in the cellar, The knight sir Mammon claims?

ANA I do defy The wicked Mammon, so do all the brethren, Thou profane man! I ask thee with what conscience Thou canst advance that idol against us, That have the seal? were not the shillings number'd, That made the pounds; were not the pounds told out, On the second day of the fourth week, In the eighth month, on the table dormant, The year of the last patience of the saints, Six hundred and ten?

LOVE Mine earnest vehement botcher, And deacon also, I cannot dispute with you: But if you get you not away the sooner, I shall confute you with a cudgel.

ANA Sir!

TRI Be patient, Ananias.

ANA I am strong, And will stand up, well girt, against an host That threaten Gad in exile.

LOVE I shall send you To Amsterdam, to your cellar.

ANA I will pray there, Against thy house: may dogs defile thy walls, And wasps and hornets breed beneath thy roof, This seat of falsehood, and this cave of cozenage!

[EXEUNT ANA. AND TRIB.]

[ENTER DRUGGER.]

LOVE Another too?

DRUG Not I, sir, I am no brother. LOVE [BEATS HIM]. Away, you Harry Nicholas! do you talk?

[EXIT DRUG.]

FACE No, this was Abel Drugger. Good sir, go,

[TO THE PARSON.] And satisfy him; tell him all is done: He staid too long a washing of his face. The doctor, he shall hear of him at West-chester; And of the captain, tell him, at Yarmouth, or Some good port-town else, lying for a wind.

[EXIT PARSON.] If you can get off the angry child, now, sir--

[ENTER KASTRIL, DRAGGING IN HIS SISTER.]

KAS Come on, you ewe, you have match'd most sweetly, have you not? Did not I say, I would never have you tupp'd But by a dubb'd boy, to make you a lady-tom? 'Slight, you are a mammet! O, I could touse you, now. Death, mun' you marry, with a pox!

LOVE You lie, boy; As sound as you; and I'm aforehand with you.

KAS Anon!

LOVE Come, will you quarrel? I will feize you, sirrah; Why do you not buckle to your tools?

KAS Od's light, This is a fine old boy as e'er I saw!

LOVE What, do you change your copy now? proceed; Here stands my dove: stoop at her, if you dare.

KAS 'Slight, I must love him! I cannot choose, i'faith, An I should be hang'd for't! Suster, I protest, I honour thee for this match.

LOVE O, do you so, sir?

KAS Yes, an thou canst take tobacco and drink, old boy, I'll give her five hundred pound more to her marriage, Than her own state.

LOVE Fill a pipe full, Jeremy.

FACE Yes; but go in and take it, sir.

LOVE We will-- I will be ruled by thee in any thing, Jeremy.

KAS 'Slight, thou art not hide-bound, thou art a jovy boy! Come, let us in, I pray thee, and take our whiffs.

LOVE Whiff in with your sister, brother boy.

[EXEUNT KAS. AND DAME P.] That master That had received such happiness by a servant, In such a widow, and with so much wealth, Were very ungrateful, if he would not be A little indulgent to that servant's wit, And help his fortune, though with some small strain Of his own candour.

[ADVANCING.] --"Therefore, gentlemen, And kind spectators, if I have outstript An old man's gravity, or strict canon, think What a young wife and a good brain may do; Stretch age's truth sometimes, and crack it too. Speak for thy self, knave."

FACE "So I will, sir."

[ADVANCING TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE.] "Gentlemen, My part a little fell in this last scene, Yet 'twas decorum. And though I am clean Got off from Subtle, Surly, Mammon, Dol, Hot Ananias, Dapper, Drugger, all With whom I traded: yet I put my self On you, that are my country: and this pelf Which I have got, if you do quit me, rests To feast you often, and invite new guests."

[EXEUNT.] *****

GLOSSARY ABATE, cast down, subdue. ABHORRING, repugnant (to), at variance. ABJECT, base, degraded thing, outcast. ABRASE, smooth, blank. ABSOLUTE(LY), faultless(ly). ABSTRACTED, abstract, abstruse. ABUSE, deceive, insult, dishonour, make ill use of. ACATER, caterer. ACATES, cates. ACCEPTIVE, willing, ready to accept, receive. ACCOMMODATE, fit, befitting. (The word was a fashionable one and used on all occasions. ," pt. 2, iii. 4). ACCOST, draw near, approach. ACKNOWN, confessedly acquainted with. ACME, full maturity. ADALANTADO, lord deputy or governor of a Spanish province. ADJECTION, addition. ADMIRATION, astonishment. ADMIRE, wonder, wonder at. ADROP, philosopher's stone, or substance from which obtained. ADSCRIVE, subscribe. ADULTERATE, spurious, counterfeit. ADVANCE, lift. ADVERTISE, inform, give intelligence. ADVERTISED, "be--," be it known to you. ADVERTISEMENT, intelligence. ADVISE, consider, bethink oneself, deliberate.

" have you found that out? AFFECT, love, like; aim at; move. AFFECTED, disposed; beloved. AFFECTIONATE, obstinate; prejudiced. AFFECTS, affections. AFFRONT, "give the--," face. AFFY, have confidence in; betroth. AFTER, after the manner of. AGAIN, AGAINST, in anticipation of. AGGRAVATE, increase, magnify, enlarge on.

AGNOMINATION See Paranomasie. AIERY, nest, brood. AIM, guess. ALL HID, children's cry at hide-and-seek. ALL-TO, completely, entirely ("all-to-be-laden"). ALLOWANCE, approbation, recognition. ALMA-CANTARAS (astronomy), parallels of altitude. ALMAIN, name of a dance. ALMUTEN, planet of chief influence in the horoscope. ALONE, unequalled, without peer. ALUDELS, subliming pots. AMAZED, confused, perplexed. AMBER, AMBRE, ambergris. AMBREE, MARY, a woman noted for her valour at the siege of Ghent, 1458. AMES-ACE, lowest throw at dice. AMPHIBOLIES, ambiguities. AMUSED, bewildered, amazed. AN, if. ANATOMY, skeleton, or dissected body. ANDIRONS, fire-dogs. ANGEL, gold coin worth 10 shillings, stamped with the figure of the archangel Michael. ANNESH CLEARE, spring known as Agnes le Clare. ANSWER, return hit in fencing. ANTIC, ANTIQUE, clown, buffoon. ANTIC, like a buffoon. ANTIPERISTASIS, an opposition which enhances the quality it opposes.

APOZEM, decoction. APPERIL, peril. APPLE-JOHN, APPLE-SQUIRE, pimp, pander. APPLY, attach. APPREHEND, take into custody. APPREHENSIVE, quick of perception; able to perceive and appreciate. APPROVE, prove, confirm. APT, suit, adapt; train, prepare; dispose, incline. APT(LY), suitable(y), opportune(ly). APTITUDE, suitableness. ARBOR, "make the--," cut up the game (Gifford). ARCHES, Court of Arches. and Charles I. ARGAILE, argol, crust or sediment in wine casks. ARGENT-VIVE, quicksilver. ARGUMENT, plot of a drama; theme, subject; matter in question; token, proof. ARRIDE, please. ARSEDINE, mixture of copper and zinc, used as an imitation of gold-leaf. , of Arthur's knights. ARTICLE, item. ARTIFICIALLY, artfully. ASCENSION, evaporation, distillation. ASPIRE, try to reach, obtain, long for. ASSALTO (Italian), assault. ASSAY, draw a knife along the belly of the deer, a ceremony of the hunting-field. ASSOIL, solve.

ASSURE, secure possession or reversion of. ATHANOR, a digesting furnace, calculated to keep up a constant heat. ATONE, reconcile. ATTACH, attack, seize. AUDACIOUS, having spirit and confidence.

AGNOMINATION AUTHENTIC(AL), of authority, authorised, trustworthy, genuine. AVISEMENT, reflection, consideration. get rid of. AWAY WITH, endure. AZOCH, Mercurius Philosophorum. BABION, baboon. BABY, doll. BACK-SIDE, back premises. BAFFLE, treat with contempt. BAGATINE, Italian coin, worth about the third of a farthing. BAIARD, horse of magic powers known to old romance. BALDRICK, belt worn across the breast to support bugle, etc. BALE (of dice), pair. BALK, overlook, pass by, avoid. BALLACE, ballast. BALLOO, game at ball. BALNEUM (BAIN MARIE), a vessel for holding hot water in which other vessels are stood for heating. BANBURY, "brother of--," Puritan. BANDOG, dog tied or chained up. BANE, woe, ruin. BANQUET, a light repast; dessert. BARB, to clip gold. BARBEL, fresh-water fish. BARE, meer; bareheaded; it was "a particular mark of state and grandeur for the coachman to be uncovered" (Gifford).

BARLEY-BREAK, game somewhat similar to base. BASE, game of prisoner's base. BASES, richly embroidered skirt reaching to the knees, or lower. BASILISK, fabulous reptile, believed to slay with its eye. BASKET, used for the broken provision collected for prisoners. , were beaten by the attendant mob when bad characters were "carted." BATE, be reduced; abate, reduce. BATOON, baton, stick. BATTEN, feed, grow fat. BAWSON, badger. BEADSMAN, prayer-man, one engaged to pray for another. spy. BEAR IN HAND, keep in suspense, deceive with false hopes. BEARWARD, bear leader.

BEDPHERE See Phere. ) wooden pin in the side of the bedstead for supporting the bedclothes (Johnson); one of the sticks or "laths"; a stick used in making a bed. BEETLE, heavy mallet. BEG, "I'd--him," the custody of minors and idiots was begged for; likewise property fallen forfeit to the Crown ("your house had been begged"). BELL-MAN, night watchman. BENJAMIN, an aromatic gum. BERLINA, pillory. BESCUMBER, defile. BESLAVE, beslabber. BESOGNO, beggar. BESPAWLE, bespatter. BETHLEHEM GABOR, Transylvanian hero, proclaimed King of Hungary. BEVER, drinking. BEVIS, SIR, knight of romance whose horse was equally celebrated. BEWRAY, reveal, make known. BEZANT, heraldic term: small gold circle. BEZOAR'S STONE, a remedy known by this name was a supposed antidote to poison. BID-STAND, highwayman. BIGGIN, cap, similar to that worn by the Beguines; nightcap. BILIVE (belive), with haste. BILK, nothing, empty talk. BILL, kind of pike.

BILLET, wood cut for fuel, stick. BIRDING, thieving. BLACK SANCTUS, burlesque hymn, any unholy riot. BLANK, originally a small French coin. BLANK, white. BLANKET, toss in a blanket. BLAZE, outburst of violence. ) blazon; publish abroad. all that pertains to good birth and breeding. BLIN, "withouten--," without ceasing. BLOW, puff up. BLUE, colour of servants' livery, hence "--order," "--waiters." BLUSHET, blushing one. BOB, jest, taunt. BOB, beat, thump. BODGE, measure. BODKIN, dagger, or other short, pointed weapon; long pin with which the women fastened up their hair. BOLT, roll (of material). BOLT, dislodge, rout out; sift (boulting-tub). BOLT'S-HEAD, long, straight-necked vessel for distillation. BOMBARD SLOPS, padded, puffed-out breeches. BONA ROBA, "good, wholesome, plum-cheeked wench" (Johnson) --not always used in compliment. BONNY-CLABBER, sour butter-milk. BOOKHOLDER, prompter.

BOOT, "to--," into the bargain; "no--," of no avail. BORACHIO, bottle made of skin. BORDELLO, brothel. BORNE IT, conducted, carried it through. BOTTLE (of hay), bundle, truss. BOTTOM, skein or ball of thread; vessel. BOURD, jest. BOVOLI, snails or cockles dressed in the Italian manner (Gifford).

BEDPHERE BOW-POT, flower vase or pot. BOYS, "terrible--," "angry--," roystering young bucks. (See Nares). BRABBLES (BRABBLESH), brawls. BRACH, bitch. BRADAMANTE, a heroine in "Orlando Furioso." BRADLEY, ARTHUR OF, a lively character commemorated in ballads. BRAKE, frame for confining a horse's feet while being shod, or strong curb or bridle; trap. BRANCHED, with "detached sleeve ornaments, projecting from the shoulders of the gown" (Gifford). BRANDISH, flourish of weapon. BRASH, brace. BRAVE, bravado, braggart speech. ), gaily, finely (apparelled). BRAVERIES, gallants. BRAVERY, extravagant gaiety of apparel. BRAVO, bravado, swaggerer. BRAZEN-HEAD, speaking head made by Roger Bacon. BREATHE, pause for relaxation; exercise. BREATH UPON, speak dispraisingly of. BREND, burn. BRIDE-ALE, wedding feast. ) breve. BRISK, smartly dressed. BRIZE, breese, gadfly. BROAD-SEAL, state seal. BROCK, badger (term of contempt).

BROKE, transact business as a broker. BROOK, endure, put up with. BROUGHTON, HUGH, an English divine and Hebrew scholar. BRUIT, rumour. BUCK, wash. BUCKLE, bend. BUFF, leather made of buffalo skin, used for military and serjeants' coats, etc. BUFO, black tincture. BUGLE, long-shaped bead. ) bolled, swelled. BULLIONS, trunk hose. BULLY, term of familiar endearment. BUNGY, Friar Bungay, who had a familiar in the shape of a dog. BURDEN, refrain, chorus. BURGONET, closely-fitting helmet with visor. BURGULLION, braggadocio. BURN, mark wooden measures ("--ing of cans"). BURROUGH, pledge, security. BUSKIN, half-boot, foot gear reaching high up the leg. BUTT-SHAFT, barbless arrow for shooting at butts. BUTTER, NATHANIEL ("Staple of News"), a compiler of general news. (See Cunningham). BUTTERY-HATCH, half-door shutting off the buttery, where provisions and liquors were stored.

BUY, "he bought me," formerly the guardianship of wards could be bought. BUZ, exclamation to enjoin silence. BUZZARD, simpleton. BY AND BY, at once. BY(E), "on the __," incidentally, as of minor or secondary importance; at the side. BY-CHOP, by-blow, bastard. CADUCEUS, Mercury's wand. CALIVER, light kind of musket. CALLET, woman of ill repute.

BEDPHERE CALLOT, coif worn on the wigs of our judges or serjeants-at-law (Gifford). CALVERED, crimped, or sliced and pickled. (See Nares). CAMOUCCIO, wretch, knave. CAMUSED, flat. CAN, knows. CANDLE-RENT, rent from house property. CANDLE-WASTER, one who studies late. CANTER, sturdy beggar. CAP OF MAINTENCE, an insignia of dignity, a cap of state borne before kings at their coronation; also an heraldic term. CAPABLE, able to comprehend, fit to receive instruction, impression. CAPANEUS, one of the "Seven against Thebes." ; value, worth. CARANZA, Spanish author of a book on duelling. CARCANET, jewelled ornament for the neck. CARE, take care; object. CAROSH, coach, carriage. CARPET, table-cover. CARRIAGE, bearing, behaviour. CARWHITCHET, quip, pun. CASAMATE, casemate, fortress. CASE, a pair. CASE, "in--," in condition. CASSOCK, soldier's loose overcoat. CAST, flight of hawks, couple. CAST, throw dice; vomit; forecast, calculate.

CAST, cashiered. CASTING-GLASS, bottle for sprinkling perfume. CASTRIL, kestrel, falcon. CAT, structure used in sieges. CATAMITE, old form of "ganymede." CATASTROPHE, conclusion. CATCHPOLE, sheriff's officer. CATES, dainties, provisions. CATSO, rogue, cheat. CAUTELOUS, crafty, artful. CENSURE, criticism; sentence. CENSURE, criticise; pass sentence, doom. CERUSE, cosmetic containing white lead. CESS, assess. CHANGE, "hunt--," follow a fresh scent. CHAPMAN, retail dealer. CHARACTER, handwriting. CHARGE, expense. CHARM, subdue with magic, lay a spell on, silence. CHARMING, exercising magic power. CHARTEL, challenge. CHEAP, bargain, market. CHEAR, CHEER, comfort, encouragement; food, entertainment. CHECK AT, aim reproof at. CHEQUIN, gold Italian coin. CHEVRIL, from kidskin, which is elastic and pliable. CHIAUS, Turkish envoy; used for a cheat, swindler. CHILDERMASS DAY, Innocents' Day. CHOKE-BAIL, action which does not allow of bail.

CHRYSOPOEIA, alchemy. CHRYSOSPERM, ways of producing gold. CIBATION, adding fresh substances to supply the waste of evaporation. CIMICI, bugs. CINOPER, cinnabar. CIOPPINI, chopine, lady's high shoe. CIRCLING BOY, "a species of roarer; one who in some way

BEDPHERE drew a man into a snare, to cheat or rob him" (Nares). CIRCUMSTANCE, circumlocution, beating about the bush; ceremony, everything pertaining to a certain condition; detail, particular. CITRONISE, turn citron colour. CITTERN, kind of guitar. CITY-WIRES, woman of fashion, who made use of wires for hair and dress. CIVIL, legal. CLAP, clack, chatter. CLAPPER-DUDGEON, downright beggar. CLAPS HIS DISH, a clap, or clack, dish (dish with a movable lid) was carried by beggars and lepers to show that the vessel was empty, and to give sound of their approach. CLARIDIANA, heroine of an old romance. CLARISSIMO, Venetian noble. CLEM, starve. CLICKET, latch. , wordy heroes of romance. CLIMATE, country. CLOSE, secret, private; secretive. CLOSENESS, secrecy. CLOTH, arras, hangings. CLOUT, mark shot at, bull's eye. CLOWN, countryman, clodhopper. COACH-LEAVES, folding blinds. COALS, "bear no--," submit to no affront. COAT-ARMOUR, coat of arms.

COAT-CARD, court-card. COB-HERRING, HERRING-COB, a young herring. COB-SWAN, male swan. COCK-A-HOOP, denoting unstinted jollity; thought to be derived from turning on the tap that all might drink to the full of the flowing liquor. COCKATRICE, reptile supposed to be produced from a cock's egg and to kill by its eye--used as a term of reproach for a woman. COCK-BRAINED, giddy, wild. COCKER, pamper. COCKSCOMB, fool's cap. COCKSTONE, stone said to be found in a cock's gizzard, and to possess particular virtues. CODLING, softening by boiling. COFFIN, raised crust of a pie. COG, cheat, wheedle. COIL, turmoil, confusion, ado. COKELY, master of a puppet-show (Whalley). COKES, fool, gull. COLD-CONCEITED, having cold opinion of, coldly affected towards. COLE-HARBOUR, a retreat for people of all sorts. COLLECTION, composure; deduction. COLLOP, small slice, piece of flesh. COLLY, blacken. COLOUR, pretext. COLOURS, "fear no--," no enemy (quibble).

COLSTAFF, cowlstaff, pole for carrying a cowl=tub. COME ABOUT, charge, turn round. COMFORTABLE BREAD, spiced gingerbread. COMING, forward, ready to respond, complaisant. COMMENT, commentary; "sometime it is taken for a lie or fayned tale" (Bullokar, 1616).

BEDPHERE COMMODITY, "current for--," allusion to practice of money-lenders, who forced the borrower to take part of the loan in the shape of worthless goods on which the latter had to make money if he could. COMMUNICATE, share. COMPASS, "in--," within the range, sphere. COMPLEMENT, completion, completement; anything required for the perfecting or carrying out of a person or affair; accomplishment. COMPLEXION, natural disposition, constitution. COMPLIMENT, See Complement. COMPLIMENTARIES, masters of accomplishments. COMPOSITION, constitution; agreement, contract. COMPOSURE, composition. COMPTER, COUNTER, debtors' prison. CONCEALMENT, a certain amount of church property had been retained at the dissolution of the monasteries; Elizabeth sent commissioners to search it out, and the courtiers begged for it. CONCEIT, idea, fancy, witty invention, conception, opinion. CONCEIT, apprehend. ); disposed to joke; of opinion, possessed of an idea.

CONCEIVE, understand. CONCENT, harmony, agreement. CONCLUDE, infer, prove. CONCOCT, assimilate, digest. CONDEN'T, probably conducted. CONDUCT, escort, conductor. CONEY-CATCH, cheat. CONFECT, sweetmeat. CONFER, compare. CONGIES, bows. CONNIVE, give a look, wink, of secret intelligence. CONSORT, company, concert. CONSTANCY, fidelity, ardour, persistence. CONSTANT, confirmed, persistent, faithful. CONSTANTLY, firmly, persistently. CONTEND, strive. CONTINENT, holding together. CONTROL (the point), bear or beat down. CONVENT, assembly, meeting. CONVERT, turn (oneself). CONVEY, transmit from one to another. CONVINCE, evince, prove; overcome, overpower; convict. COP, head, top; tuft on head of birds; "a cop" may have reference to one or other meaning; Gifford and others interpret as "conical, terminating in a point." COPE-MAN, chapman. COPESMATE, companion. copia), abundance, copiousness. CORN ("powder--"), grain.

COROLLARY, finishing part or touch. CORSIVE, corrosive. ) wall between two towers, etc. CORYAT, famous for his travels, published as "Coryat's Crudities."

BEDPHERE COSSET, pet lamb, pet. COSTARD, head. COSTARD-MONGER, apple-seller, coster-monger. COSTS, ribs. COTE, hut. COTHURNAL, from "cothurnus," a particular boot worn by actors in Greek tragedy. COTQUEAN, hussy. COUNSEL, secret. COUNTENANCE, means necessary for support; credit, standing.

COUNTER See Compter. COUNTER, pieces of metal or ivory for calculating at play. COUNTER, "hunt--," follow scent in reverse direction. COUNTERFEIT, false coin. COUNTERPANE, one part or counterpart of a deed or indenture. COUNTERPOINT, opposite, contrary point. quotes from Bp. caused his carver to cut him out a court-dish, that is, something of every dish, which he sent him as part of his reversion," but this does not sound like short allowance or small receptacle. COURT-DOR, fool. COURTEAU, curtal, small horse with docked tail. COURTSHIP, courtliness. COVETISE, avarice. COWSHARD, cow dung. COXCOMB, fool's cap, fool. COY, shrink; disdain. COYSTREL, low varlet. COZEN, cheat. CRACK, lively young rogue, wag. CRACK, crack up, boast; come to grief. CRAMBE, game of crambo, in which the players find rhymes for a given word. CRANCH, craunch.

CRANION, spider-like; also fairy appellation for a fly (Gifford, who refers to lines in Drayton's "Nimphidia"). CRIMP, game at cards. CRINCLE, draw back, turn aside. CRISPED, with curled or waved hair. CROP, gather, reap. CROPSHIRE, a kind of herring. D.) CROSS, any piece of money, many coins being stamped with a cross. CROSS AND PILE, heads and tails. CROSSLET, crucible. CROWD, fiddle. CRUDITIES, undigested matter. CRUMP, curl up. CRUSADO, Portuguese gold coin, marked with a cross. ); cry up. CUCKING-STOOL, used for the ducking of scolds, etc. CUCURBITE, a gourd-shaped vessel used for distillation. CUERPO, "in--," in undress. CULLICE, broth. CULLION, base fellow, coward. CULLISEN, badge worn on their arm by servants. CULVERIN, kind of cannon. CUNNING, skill. CUNNING, skilful. CUNNING-MAN, fortune-teller. CURE, care for. CURIOUS(LY), scrupulous, particular; elaborate, elegant(ly), dainty(ly) (hence "in curious").

CURST, shrewish, mischievous. CURTAL, dog with docked tail, of inferior sort. CUSTARD, "quaking--," "--politic," reference to a large custard which formed part of a city feast and afforded huge entertainment, for the fool jumped

COUNTER into it, and other like tricks were played. " ii. 5, 40.) CUTWORK, embroidery, open-work. CYPRES (CYPRUS) (quibble), cypress (or cyprus) being a transparent material, and when black used for mourning. DAGGER ("--frumety"), name of tavern. DARGISON, apparently some person known in ballad or tale. DAUPHIN MY BOY, refrain of old comic song. DAW, daunt. DEAD LIFT, desperate emergency. DEAR, applied to that which in any way touches us nearly. DECLINE, turn off from; turn away, aside. DEFALK, deduct, abate. DEFEND, forbid. DEGENEROUS, degenerate. DEGREES, steps. DELATE, accuse. DEMI-CULVERIN, cannon carrying a ball of about ten pounds. DENIER, the smallest possible coin, being the twelfth part of a sou. DEPART, part with. DEPENDANCE, ground of quarrel in duello language. DESERT, reward. DESIGNMENT, design. DESPERATE, rash, reckless. DETECT, allow to be detected, betray, inform against. DETERMINE, terminate. DETRACT, draw back, refuse.

, puppet. DEVISE, exact in every particular. DEVISED, invented. DIAPASM, powdered aromatic herbs, made into balls of perfumed paste. (See Pomander.) ) dagger (Cunningham). DIFFUSED, disordered, scattered, irregular. DIGHT, dressed. DILDO, refrain of popular songs; vague term of low meaning. DIMBLE, dingle, ravine. DIMENSUM, stated allowance. DISBASE, debase. DISCERN, distinguish, show a difference between. DISCHARGE, settle for. DISCIPLINE, reformation; ecclesiastical system. DISCLAIM, renounce all part in. DISCOURSE, process of reasoning, reasoning faculty. DISCOURTSHIP, discourtesy. DISCOVER, betray, reveal; display. DISFAVOUR, disfigure. DISPARAGEMENT, legal term applied to the unfitness in any way of a marriage arranged for in the case of wards. DISPENSE WITH, grant dispensation for. DISPLAY, extend. DIS'PLE, discipline, teach by the whip. DISPOSED, inclined to merriment. DISPOSURE, disposal. DISPRISE, depreciate.

DISPUNCT, not punctilious. DISQUISITION, search. DISSOLVED, enervated by grief. ) proper measure. DISTASTE, offence, cause of offence. DISTASTE, render distasteful. DISTEMPERED, upset, out of humour.

), variation, modulation. DOG-BOLT, term of contempt. DOLE, given in dole, charity. DOLE OF FACES, distribution of grimaces. DOOM, verdict, sentence. DOP, dip, low bow. DOR, beetle, buzzing insect, drone, idler. ) buzz; "give the--," make a fool of. DOSSER, pannier, basket. DOTES, endowments, qualities. DOTTEREL, plover; gull, fool. DOUBLE, behave deceitfully. DOXY, wench, mistress. DRACHM, Greek silver coin. DRESS, groom, curry. DRESSING, coiffure. DRIFT, intention. DRYFOOT, track by mere scent of foot. DUCKING, punishment for minor offences. DUILL, grieve. DUMPS, melancholy, originally a mournful melody. DURINDANA, Orlando's sword. DWINDLE, shrink away, be overawed. EAN, yean, bring forth young. EASINESS, readiness. EBOLITION, ebullition. EDGE, sword. EECH, eke. EGREGIOUS, eminently excellent. EKE, also, moreover. E-LA, highest note in the scale. EGGS ON THE SPIT, important business on hand.

ELF-LOCK, tangled hair, supposed to be the work of elves. EMMET, ant. ENGAGE, involve.

ENGHLE See Ingle. ENGHLE, cajole; fondle. ENGIN(E), device, contrivance; agent; ingenuity, wit. ENGINER, engineer, deviser, plotter. ENGINOUS, crafty, full of devices; witty, ingenious. ENGROSS, monopolise. ENS, an existing thing, a substance. ENSIGNS, tokens, wounds. ENSURE, assure. ENTERTAIN, take into service. ENTREAT, plead. ENTREATY, entertainment. ENTRY, place where a deer has lately passed. ENVOY, denouement, conclusion. ENVY, spite, calumny, dislike, odium. EPHEMERIDES, calendars. EQUAL, just, impartial. ERECTION, elevation in esteem. ERINGO, candied root of the sea-holly, formerly used as a sweetmeat and aphrodisiac. ERRANT, arrant. ESSENTIATE, become assimilated. ESTIMATION, esteem. ESTRICH, ostrich. ETHNIC, heathen. EURIPUS, flux and reflux. EVEN, just equable. EVENT, fate, issue. EVENT(ED), issue(d). EVERT, overturn. EXACUATE, sharpen. EXAMPLESS, without example or parallel. EXCALIBUR, King Arthur's sword.

EXEMPLIFY, make an example of. EXEMPT, separate, exclude. EXEQUIES, obsequies. EXHALE, drag out. EXHIBITION, allowance for keep, pocket-money. EXORBITANT, exceeding limits of propriety or law, inordinate. EXORNATION, ornament. EXPECT, wait. EXPIATE, terminate. EXPLICATE, explain, unfold. EXTEMPORAL, extempore, unpremeditated. EXTRACTION, essence. EXTRAORDINARY, employed for a special or temporary purpose. EXTRUDE, expel. EYE, "in--," in view. ) a malt liquor in which the herb of this name was infused, or a person who sold the same (Gifford). EYE-TINGE, least shade or gleam. FACE, appearance. FACES ABOUT, military word of command. FACINOROUS, extremely wicked. FACKINGS, faith. FACT, deed, act, crime. FACTIOUS, seditious, belonging to a party, given to party feeling. FAECES, dregs. FAGIOLI, French beans. FAIN, forced, necessitated. FAITHFUL, believing. FALL, ruff or band turned back on the shoulders; or, veil.

FALSIFY, feign (fencing term). FAME, report. FAMILIAR, attendant spirit. FANTASTICAL, capricious, whimsical. FARCE, stuff.

FAR-FET See Fet. FARTHINGAL, hooped petticoat. FAUCET, tapster. FAULT, lack; loss, break in line of scent; "for--," in default of. FAUTOR, partisan. FAYLES, old table game similar to backgammon. FEAR(ED), affright(ed). FEAT, activity, operation; deed, action. FEAT, elegant, trim. FEE, "in--" by feudal obligation. FEIZE, beat, belabour. FELLOW, term of contempt. FENNEL, emblem of flattery. FERE, companion, fellow. FERN-SEED, supposed to have power of rendering invisible. FET, fetched. FETCH, trick. vautrier), dog-keeper. FEWMETS, dung. FICO, fig. ) jugglery. FIGMENT, fiction, invention. FIRK, frisk, move suddenly, or in jerks; "--up," stir up, rouse; "firks mad," suddenly behaves like a madman. FIT, pay one out, punish. FITNESS, readiness. FITTON (FITTEN), lie, invention. FIVE-AND-FIFTY, "highest number to stand on at primero" (Gifford). FLAG, to fly low and waveringly. ). ). FLAP-DRAGON, game similar to snap-dragon.

FLASKET, some kind of basket. FLAW, sudden gust or squall of wind. FLAWN, custard. FLEA, catch fleas. FLEER, sneer, laugh derisively. FLESH, feed a hawk or dog with flesh to incite it to the chase; initiate in blood-shed; satiate. FLICKER-MOUSE, bat. FLIGHT, light arrow. FLITTER-MOUSE, bat. FLOUT, mock, speak and act contemptuously. FLOWERS, pulverised substance. FLY, familiar spirit. FOIL, weapon used in fencing; that which sets anything off to advantage. FOIST, cut-purse, sharper. FOND(LY), foolish(ly). FOOT-CLOTH, housings of ornamental cloth which hung down on either side a horse to the ground. FOOTING, foothold; footstep; dancing. FOPPERY, foolery. FOR, "--failing," for fear of failing. FORBEAR, bear with; abstain from. FORCE, "hunt at--," run the game down with dogs. FOREHEAD, modesty; face, assurance, effrontery. FORESLOW, delay. FORESPEAK, bewitch; foretell. FORETOP, front lock of hair which fashion required to be worn upright.

FORGED, fabricated. FORM, state formally. FORMAL, shapely; normal; conventional. FORTHCOMING, produced when required. FOUNDER, disable with over-riding. FOURM, form, lair. FOX, sword.

FAR-FET FRAIL, rush basket in which figs or raisins were packed. FRAMPULL, peevish, sour-tempered. FRAPLER, blusterer, wrangler. cause the outward coat of the new horns to fall off" (Gifford). FREIGHT (of the gazetti), burden (of the newspapers). FREQUENT, full. FRICACE, rubbing. FRICATRICE, woman of low character. FRIPPERY, old clothes shop. FROCK, smock-frock. ); couplets wrapped round sweetmeats (Cunningham). FRONTLESS, shameless. FROTED, rubbed. FRUMETY, hulled wheat boiled in milk and spiced. FRUMP, flout, sneer. FUCUS, dye. ). FULLAM, false dice. FULMART, polecat. FULSOME, foul, offensive. FURIBUND, raging, furious. GALLEY-FOIST, city-barge, used on Lord Mayor's Day, when he was sworn into his office at Westminster (Whalley). GALLIARD, lively dance in triple time. GAPE, be eager after. GARAGANTUA, Rabelais' giant. gerbe); manner, fashion, behaviour. GARD, guard, trimming, gold or silver lace, or other ornament.

GARDED, faced or trimmed. GARNISH, fee. ). GAZETTE, small Venetian coin worth about three-farthings. GEANCE, jaunt, errand. GEAR (GEER), stuff, matter, affair. GELID, frozen. GEMONIES, steps from which the bodies of criminals were thrown into the river. GENERAL, free, affable. GENIUS, attendant spirit. GENTRY, gentlemen; manners characteristic of gentry, good breeding. GIB-CAT, tom-cat. GIGANTOMACHIZE, start a giants' war. GIGLOT, wanton. GIMBLET, gimlet. GING, gang. "), crystal or beryl. GLEEK, card game played by three; party of three, trio; side glance. GLICK (GLEEK), jest, gibe. GLIDDER, glaze. GLORIOUSLY, of vain glory. GODWIT, bird of the snipe family. GOLD-END-MAN, a buyer of broken gold and silver. GOLL, hand. GONFALIONIER, standard-bearer, chief magistrate, etc. GOOD, sound in credit. GOOD-YEAR, good luck. GOOSE-TURD, colour of. (See Turd).

FAR-FET GORCROW, carrion crow. GORGET, neck armour. GOSSIP, godfather. GOWKED, from "gowk," to stand staring and gaping like a fool. GRANNAM, grandam. ) grease, fat. GRATEFUL, agreeable, welcome. GRATIFY, give thanks to. GRATITUDE, gratuity. GRATULATE, welcome, congratulate. GRAVITY, dignity. GRAY, badger. GRICE, cub. GRIEF, grievance. GRIPE, vulture, griffin. GRIPE'S EGG, vessel in shape of. GROAT, fourpence. GROGRAN, coarse stuff made of silk and mohair, or of coarse silk. GROOM-PORTER, officer in the royal household. GROPE, handle, probe. GROUND, pit (hence "grounded judgments"). GUARD, caution, heed. GUARDANT, heraldic term: turning the head only. GUILDER, Dutch coin worth about 4d. GULES, gullet, throat; heraldic term for red. GULL, simpleton, dupe. GUST, taste. HAB NAB, by, on, chance. HABERGEON, coat of mail. HAGGARD, wild female hawk; hence coy, wild. HALBERD, combination of lance and battle-axe.

" a cry to clear the room for the dancers. HANDSEL, first money taken. HANGER, loop or strap on a sword-belt from which the sword was suspended. HAP, fortune, luck. HAPPILY, haply. HAPPINESS, appropriateness, fitness. HAPPY, rich. HARBOUR, track, trace (an animal) to its shelter. HARD-FAVOURED, harsh-featured. HARPOCRATES, Horus the child, son of Osiris, figured with a finger pointing to his mouth, indicative of silence. ). HARROT, herald. HARRY NICHOLAS, founder of a community called the "Family of Love." HAY, net for catching rabbits, etc. HAY! ), you have it (a fencing term). HAY IN HIS HORN, ill-tempered person. HAZARD, game at dice; that which is staked. a newly-ennobled man. HEADBOROUGH, constable. HEARKEN AFTER, inquire; "hearken out," find, search out. HEARTEN, encourage. HEAVEN AND HELL ("Alchemist"), names of taverns. HECTIC, fever. HEDGE IN, include. HELM, upper part of a retort. HER'NSEW, hernshaw, heron.

HIERONIMO (JERONIMO), hero of Kyd's "Spanish Tragedy." HOBBY, nag. HOBBY-HORSE, imitation horse of some light material, fastened round the waist of the morrice-dancer, who

FAR-FET imitated the movements of a skittish horse. HODDY-DODDY, fool. HOIDEN, hoyden, formerly applied to both sexes (ancient term for leveret? Gifford). HOLLAND, name of two famous chemists. HONE AND HONERO, wailing expressions of lament or discontent. HOOD-WINK'D, blindfolded. HORARY, hourly. HORN-MAD, stark mad (quibble). HORN-THUMB, cut-purses were in the habit of wearing a horn shield on the thumb. HORSE-BREAD-EATING, horses were often fed on coarse bread. HORSE-COURSER, horse-dealer. HOSPITAL, Christ's Hospital. HOWLEGLAS, Eulenspiegel, the hero of a popular German tale which relates his buffooneries and knavish tricks. HUFF, hectoring, arrogance. HUFF IT, swagger. huissier), usher. HUM, beer and spirits mixed together. HUMANITIAN, humanist, scholar. HUMOROUS, capricious, moody, out of humour; moist. HUMOUR, a word used in and out of season in the time of Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, and ridiculed by both. HUMOURS, manners.

HUMPHREY, DUKE, those who were dinnerless spent the dinner-hour in a part of St. Paul's where stood a monument said to be that of the duke's; hence "dine with Duke Humphrey," to go hungry. HURTLESS, harmless. IDLE, useless, unprofitable. ILL-AFFECTED, ill-disposed. ILL-HABITED, unhealthy. ILLUSTRATE, illuminate. IMBIBITION, saturation, steeping. IMBROCATA, fencing term: a thrust in tierce. IMPAIR, impairment. IMPART, give money. IMPARTER, any one ready to be cheated and to part with his money. IMPEACH, damage. IMPERTINENCIES, irrelevancies. IMPERTINENT(LY), irrelevant(ly), without reason or purpose. IMPOSITION, duty imposed by. IMPOTENTLY, beyond power of control. IMPRESS, money in advance. IMPULSION, incitement. IN AND IN, a game played by two or three persons with four dice. INCENSE, incite, stir up. INCERATION, act of covering with wax; or reducing a substance to softness of wax.

INCH, "to their--es," according to their stature, capabilities. INCH-PIN, sweet-bread. INCONVENIENCE, inconsistency, absurdity. INCONY, delicate, rare (used as a term of affection). INCUBEE, incubus. INCUBUS, evil spirit that oppresses us in sleep, nightmare. INCURIOUS, unfastidious, uncritical. INDENT, enter into engagement.

FAR-FET INDIFFERENT, tolerable, passable. INDIGESTED, shapeless, chaotic. INDUCE, introduce. INDUE, supply. INEXORABLE, relentless. INFANTED, born, produced. INFLAME, augment charge. INGENIOUS, used indiscriminantly for ingenuous; intelligent, talented. INGENUITY, ingenuousness. INGENUOUS, generous.

INGINE See Engin. INGINER, engineer. (See Enginer). INGLE, OR ENGHLE, bosom friend, intimate, minion. INHABITABLE, uninhabitable. INJURY, insult, affront. IN-MATE, resident, indwelling. INNATE, natural. INNOCENT, simpleton. INQUEST, jury, or other official body of inquiry. INQUISITION, inquiry. INSTANT, immediate. INSTRUMENT, legal document. INSURE, assure. INTEGRATE, complete, perfect. INTELLIGENCE, secret information, news. INTEND, note carefully, attend, give ear to, be occupied with. INTENDMENT, intention. INTENT, intention, wish. INTENTION, concentration of attention or gaze. INTENTIVE, attentive. INTERESSED, implicated. INTRUDE, bring in forcibly or without leave. INVINCIBLY, invisibly. INWARD, intimate. IRPE (uncertain), "a fantastic grimace, or contortion of the body: (Gifford). JACK, Jack o' the clock, automaton figure that strikes the hour; Jack-a-lent, puppet thrown at in Lent. JACK, key of a virginal.

JACOB'S STAFF, an instrument for taking altitudes and distances. JADE, befool. JEALOUSY, JEALOUS, suspicion, suspicious. JERKING, lashing. JEW'S TRUMP, Jew's harp. JIG, merry ballad or tune; a fanciful dialogue or light comic act introduced at the end or during an interlude of a play. JOINED (JOINT)-STOOL, folding stool. JOLL, jowl. JOLTHEAD, blockhead. JUMP, agree, tally. JUST YEAR, no one was capable of the consulship until he was forty-three. KELL, cocoon. KELLY, an alchemist. KEMB, comb. KEMIA, vessel for distillation. KIBE, chap, sore. KILDERKIN, small barrel. KILL, kiln. KIND, nature; species; "do one's--," act according to one's nature. KIRTLE, woman's gown of jacket and petticoat. KISS OR DRINK AFORE ME, "this is a familiar expression, employed when what the speaker is just about to say is anticipated by another" (Gifford). KIT, fiddle. KNACK, snap, click. KNIPPER-DOLING, a well-known Anabaptist. KNITTING CUP, marriage cup.

KNOCKING, striking, weighty. KNOT, company, band; a sandpiper or robin snipe (Tringa canutus); flower-bed laid out in fanciful design. KURSINED, KYRSIN, christened. LABOURED, wrought with labour and care. LADE, load(ed). LADING, load. LAID, plotted. LANCE-KNIGHT (Lanzknecht), a German mercenary foot-soldier. LAP, fold. LAR, household god. LARD, garnish. LARGE, abundant. LARUM, alarum, call to arms. LATTICE, tavern windows were furnished with lattices of various colours. LAUNDER, to wash gold in aqua regia, so as imperceptibly to extract some of it. LAVE, ladle, bale. LAW, "give--," give a start (term of chase). LAXATIVE, loose. LAY ABOARD, run alongside generally with intent to board. LEAGUER, siege, or camp of besieging army. LEASING, lying. LEAVE, leave off, desist.

LEER, leering or "empty, hence, perhaps, leer horse, a horse without a rider; leer is an adjective meaning uncontrolled, hence 'leer drunkards'" (Halliwell); according to Nares, a leer (empty) horse meant also a led horse; leeward, left. LEESE, lose. LEGS, "make--," do obeisance. LEIGER, resident representative. LEIGERITY, legerdemain. LEMMA, subject proposed, or title of the epigram. LENTER, slower. LET, hinder. LET, hindrance. in which one hunted another from his seat. Hence used for any noisy riot (Halliwell). LEWD, ignorant. LEYSTALLS, receptacles of filth. LIBERAL, ample. LIEGER, ledger, register. LIFT(ING), steal(ing); theft. LIGHT, alight. LIGHTLY, commonly, usually, often. LIKE, please. LIKELY, agreeable, pleasing. LIME-HOUND, leash-, blood-hound. LIMMER, vile, worthless. LIN, leave off. Line, "by--," by rule. LINSTOCK, staff to stick in the ground, with forked head to hold a lighted match for firing cannon. LIQUID, clear.

LIST, listen, hark; like, please. LIVERY, legal term, delivery of the possession, etc. LOGGET, small log, stick. LOOSE, solution; upshot, issue; release of an arrow. LOSE, give over, desist from; waste. LOUTING, bowing, cringing. LUCULENT, bright of beauty. LUDGATHIANS, dealers on Ludgate Hill. LURCH, rob, cheat. LUTE, to close a vessel with some kind of cement. MACK, unmeaning expletive. MADGE-HOWLET or OWL, barn-owl. MAIM, hurt, injury.

MAIN, chief concern (used as a quibble on heraldic term for "hand"). MAINPRISE, becoming surety for a prisoner so as to procure his release. MAINTENANCE, giving aid, or abetting. MAKE, mate. MAKE, MADE, acquaint with business, prepare(d), instruct(ed). MALLANDERS, disease of horses. MALT HORSE, dray horse. MAMMET, puppet. MAMMOTHREPT, spoiled child. MANAGE, control (term used for breaking-in horses); handling, administration. MANGO, slave-dealer. MANGONISE, polish up for sale. MANIPLES, bundles, handfuls. MANKIND, masculine, like a virago. MANKIND, humanity. ). MARCHPANE, a confection of almonds, sugar, etc. MARK, "fly to the--," "generally said of a goshawk when, having 'put in' a covey of partridges, she takes stand, marking the spot where they disappeared from view until the falconer arrives to put them out to her" (Harting, Bibl. Accip. Gloss. 226). MARLE, marvel. MARROW-BONE MAN, one often on his knees for prayer.

exclamation derived from the Virgin's name. MARRY GIP, "probably originated from By Mary Gipcy = St. ). MARTAGAN, Turk's cap lily. MARYHINCHCO, stringhalt. MASORETH, Masora, correct form of the scriptural text according to Hebrew tradition. for master. MAUND, beg. MAUTHER, girl, maid. MEAN, moderation. MEASURE, dance, more especially a stately one. MEAT, "carry--in one's mouth," be a source of money or entertainment. MEATH, metheglin. MECHANICAL, belonging to mechanics, mean, vulgar. MEDITERRANEO, middle aisle of St. Paul's, a general resort for business and amusement. MEET WITH, even with. MELICOTTON, a late kind of peach. MENSTRUE, solvent. MERCAT, market. MERD, excrement. MERE, undiluted; absolute, unmitigated. MESS, party of four. METHEGLIN, fermented liquor, of which one ingredient was honey. METOPOSCOPY, study of physiognomy. MIDDLING GOSSIP, go-between. MIGNIARD, dainty, delicate. MILE-END, training-ground of the city.

MINE-MEN, sappers. MINION, form of cannon. ). MISCELLANY MADAM, "a female trader in miscellaneous articles; a dealer in trinkets or ornaments of various kinds, such as kept shops in the New Exchange" (Nares).

MISCELLINE, mixed grain; medley. MISCONCEIT, misconception. MISPRISE, MISPRISION, mistake, misunderstanding. MISTAKE AWAY, carry away as if by mistake. MITHRIDATE, an antidote against poison. MOCCINIGO, small Venetian coin, worth about ninepence. MODERN, in the mode; ordinary, commonplace. MOMENT, force or influence of value. MONTANTO, upward stroke. MONTH'S MIND, violent desire. MOORISH, like a moor or waste. MORGLAY, sword of Bevis of Southampton. , in which certain personages were represented. MORTALITY, death. MORT-MAL, old sore, gangrene. MOSCADINO, confection flavoured with musk. MOTHER, Hysterica passio. MOTION, proposal, request; puppet, puppet-show; "one of the small figures on the face of a large clock which was moved by the vibration of the pendulum" (Whalley). MOTION, suggest, propose. MOTLEY, parti-coloured dress of a fool; hence used to signify pertaining to, or like, a fool. MOTTE, motto.

MOURNIVAL, set of four aces or court cards in a hand; a quartette. MOW, setord hay or sheaves of grain. expressive of irony and incredulity. MUCKINDER, handkerchief. MULE, "born to ride on--," judges or serjeants-at-law formerly rode on mules when going in state to Westminster (Whally). MULLETS, small pincers. MUM-CHANCE, game of chance, played in silence. MUN, must. MUREY, dark crimson red. MUSCOVY-GLASS, mica. MUSE, wonder. MUSICAL, in harmony. MUSS, mouse; scramble. MYROBOLANE, foreign conserve, "a dried plum, brought from the Indies." MYSTERY, art, trade, profession. NAIL, "to the--" (ad unguem), to perfection, to the very utmost. NATIVE, natural. NEAT, cattle. NEAT, smartly apparelled; unmixed; dainty. NEATLY, neatly finished. NEATNESS, elegance. NEIS, nose, scent. NEUF (NEAF, NEIF), fist. NEUFT, newt. NIAISE, foolish, inexperienced person. NICE, fastidious, trivial, finical, scrupulous. NICENESS, fastidiousness.

NICK, exact amount; right moment; "set in the--," meaning uncertain. , exactly hit on, hit off. NOBLE, gold coin worth 6s. 8d. NOCENT, harmful. NIL, not will. NOISE, company of musicians. NOMENTACK, an Indian chief from Virginia. NONES, nonce.

NOTABLE, egregious. NOTE, sign, token. NOUGHT, "be--," go to the devil, be hanged, etc. NOWT-HEAD, blockhead. NUMBER, rhythm. NUPSON, oaf, simpleton. OADE, woad. OBARNI, preparation of mead. OBJECT, oppose; expose; interpose. OBLATRANT, barking, railing. OBNOXIOUS, liable, exposed; offensive. OBSERVANCE, homage, devoted service. OBSERVANT, attentive, obsequious. OBSERVE, show deference, respect. OBSERVER, one who shows deference, or waits on another. OBSTANCY, legal phrase, "juridical opposition." OBSTREPEROUS, clamorous, vociferous. OBSTUPEFACT, stupefied. ODLING, (?) "must have some relation to tricking and cheating" (Nares). OMINOUS, deadly, fatal. ONCE, at once; for good and all; used also for additional emphasis. ONLY, pre-eminent, special. OPEN, make public; expound. OPPILATION, obstruction. OPPONE, oppose. OPPOSITE, antagonist. OPPRESS, suppress. ORIGINOUS, native. ORT, remnant, scrap.

OUT, "to be--," to have forgotten one's part; not at one with each other. OUTCRY, sale by auction. OUTRECUIDANCE, arrogance, presumption. OUTSPEAK, speak more than. OVERPARTED, given too difficult a part to play.

OWLSPIEGEL See Howleglass. OYEZ! call of the public crier when about to make a proclamation. PACKING PENNY, "give a--," dismiss, send packing. PAD, highway. PAD-HORSE, road-horse. PAINED (PANED) SLOPS, full breeches made of strips of different colour and material. PAINFUL, diligent, painstaking. PAINT, blush. PALINODE, ode of recantation. PALL, weaken, dim, make stale. PALM, triumph. PAN, skirt of dress or coat. PANNEL, pad, or rough kind of saddle. PANNIER-ALLY, inhabited by tripe-sellers. PANNIER-MAN, hawker; a man employed about the inns of court to bring in provisions, set the table, etc. PANTOFLE, indoor shoe, slipper. PARAMENTOS, fine trappings. PARANOMASIE, a play on words. ) peremptory. PARCEL, particle, fragment (used contemptuously); article. PARCEL, part, partly. PARCEL-POET, poetaster. PARERGA, subordinate matters. PARGET, to paint or plaster the face. PARLE, parley. PARLOUS, clever, shrewd. PART, apportion.

PARTAKE, participate in. PARTED, endowed, talented. PARTICULAR, individual person. PARTIZAN, kind of halberd. PARTRICH, partridge. PARTS, qualities, endowments. PASH, dash, smash. PASS, care, trouble oneself. PASSADO, fencing term: a thrust. PASSAGE, game at dice. PASSINGLY, exceedingly. PASSION, effect caused by external agency. PASSION, "in--," in so melancholy a tone, so pathetically. PATOUN, (?) Fr. ) variant of Petun, South American name of tobacco. PATRICO, the recorder, priest, orator of strolling beggars or gipsies. PATTEN, shoe with wooden sole; "go--," keep step with, accompany. PAUCA VERBA, few words. PAVIN, a stately dance. PEACE, "with my master's--," by leave, favour. PECULIAR, individual, single. PEDANT, teacher of the languages. PEEL, baker's shovel. PEEP, speak in a small or shrill voice. PEEVISH(LY), foolish(ly), capricious(ly); childish(ly). PELICAN, a retort fitted with tube or tubes, for continuous distillation.

PENCIL, small tuft of hair. PERDUE, soldier accustomed to hazardous service. PEREMPTORY, resolute, bold; imperious; thorough, utter, absolute(ly). PERIMETER, circumference of a figure.

OWLSPIEGEL PERIOD, limit, end. PERK, perk up. PERPETUANA, "this seems to be that glossy kind of stuff now called everlasting, and anciently worn by serjeants and other city officers" (Gifford). PERSPECTIVE, a view, scene or scenery; an optical device which gave a distortion to the picture unless seen from a particular point; a relief, modelled to produce an optical illusion. PERSPICIL, optic glass. PERSTRINGE, criticise, censure. PERSUADE, inculcate, commend. PERSWAY, mitigate. PERTINACY, pertinacity. PESTLING, pounding, pulverising, like a pestle. PETASUS, broad-brimmed hat or winged cap worn by Mercury. PETITIONARY, supplicatory. PETRONEL, a kind of carbine or light gun carried by horsemen. PETULANT, pert, insolent.

PHERE See Fere. PHLEGMA, watery distilled liquor (old chem. "water"). PHRENETIC, madman. PICARDIL, stiff upright collar fastened on to the coat (Whalley). PICT-HATCH, disreputable quarter of London. or 22s. PIECES OF EIGHT, Spanish coin: piastre equal to eight reals. PIED, variegated. pied-poudreux, dusty-foot), court held at fairs to administer justice to itinerant vendors and buyers. PILCHER, term of contempt; one who wore a buff or leather jerkin, as did the serjeants of the counter; a pilferer. PILED, pilled, peeled, bald. PILL'D, polled, fleeced. PIMLICO, "sometimes spoken of as a person--perhaps master of a house famous for a particular ale" (Gifford). PINE, afflict, distress. PINK, stab with a weapon; pierce or cut in scallops for ornament. PINNACE, a go-between in infamous sense. PISMIRE, ant. PISTOLET, gold coin, worth about 6s. PITCH, height of a bird of prey's flight. PLAGUE, punishment, torment. PLAIN, lament.

PLAIN SONG, simple melody. PLAISE, plaice. PLANET, "struck with a--," planets were supposed to have powers of blasting or exercising secret influences. PLAUSIBLE, pleasing. PLAUSIBLY, approvingly. PLOT, plan. PLY, apply oneself to. POESIE, posy, motto inside a ring. POINT IN HIS DEVICE, exact in every particular. POINTS, tagged laces or cords for fastening the breeches to the doublet. ). POISE, weigh, balance. POKING-STICK, stick used for setting the plaits of ruffs. POLITIC, politician. POLITIC, judicious, prudent, political. POLITICIAN, plotter, intriguer. POLL, strip, plunder, gain by extortion. POMANDER, ball of perfume, worn or hung about the person to prevent infection, or for foppery. POMMADO, vaulting on a horse without the aid of stirrups. PONTIC, sour. POPULAR, vulgar, of the populace. POPULOUS, numerous. PORT, gate; print of a deer's foot. PORT, transport. PORTAGUE, Portuguese gold coin, worth over 3 or 4 pounds.

PORTCULLIS, "--of coin," some old coins have a portcullis stamped on their reverse (Whalley). PORTENT, marvel, prodigy; sinister omen.

PHERE PORTENTOUS, prophesying evil, threatening. near seven feet high" (Whalley). POSSESS, inform, acquaint. POST AND PAIR, a game at cards. POSY, motto. (See Poesie). POTCH, poach. POULT-FOOT, club-foot. POUNCE, claw, talon. PRACTICE, intrigue, concerted plot. PRACTISE, plot, conspire. PRAGMATIC, an expert, agent. PRAGMATIC, officious, conceited, meddling. PRECEDENT, record of proceedings. PRECEPT, warrant, summons. PRECISIAN(ISM), Puritan(ism), preciseness. PREFER, recommend. PRESENCE, presence chamber. PRESENT(LY), immediate(ly), without delay; at the present time; actually. PRESS, force into service. PREST, ready. PRETEND, assert, allege. PREVENT, anticipate. PRICE, worth, excellence. PRICK, point, dot used in the writing of Hebrew and other languages. PRICK, prick out, mark off, select; trace, track; "--away," make off with speed. PRIMERO, game of cards. PRINCOX, pert boy. PRINT, "in--," to the letter, exactly. PRISTINATE, former.

PRIVATE, private interests. PRIVATE, privy, intimate. PROCLIVE, prone to. PRODIGIOUS, monstrous, unnatural. PRODIGY, monster. PRODUCED, prolonged. PROFESS, pretend. PROJECTION, the throwing of the "powder of projection" into the crucible to turn the melted metal into gold or silver. PROLATE, pronounce drawlingly. PROPER, of good appearance, handsome; own, particular. PROPERTIES, stage necessaries. PROPERTY, duty; tool. PRORUMPED, burst out. failure of personal credit, etc. PROVANT, soldier's allowance--hence, of common make. PROVIDE, foresee. PROVIDENCE, foresight, prudence. ). PUCKFIST, puff-ball; insipid, insignificant, boasting fellow. PUFF-WING, shoulder puff. PUISNE, judge of inferior rank, a junior. PULCHRITUDE, beauty. PUMP, shoe. PUNGENT, piercing. PUNTO, point, hit. PURCEPT, precept, warrant. PURE, fine, capital, excellent. PURELY, perfectly, utterly. PURL, pleat or fold of a ruff.

PURSE-NET, net of which the mouth is drawn together with a string.

PHERE PURSUIVANT, state messenger who summoned the persecuted seminaries; warrant officer. PURSY, PURSINESS, shortwinded(ness). ). PUT OFF, excuse, shift. PUT ON, incite, encourage; proceed with, take in hand, try. QUACKSALVER, quack. QUAINT, elegant, elaborated, ingenious, clever. QUAR, quarry. QUARRIED, seized, or fed on, as prey. QUEAN, hussy, jade. QUEASY, hazardous, delicate. QUELL, kill, destroy. QUEST, request; inquiry. QUESTION, decision by force of arms. QUESTMAN, one appointed to make official inquiry. QUIB, QUIBLIN, quibble, quip. QUICK, the living. QUIDDIT, quiddity, legal subtlety. QUIRK, clever turn or trick. QUIT, requite, repay; acquit, absolve; rid; forsake, leave. QUITTER-BONE, disease of horses. QUODLING, codling. QUOIT, throw like a quoit, chuck. QUOTE, take note, observe, write down. RACK, neck of mutton or pork (Halliwell). RAKE UP, cover over. RAMP, rear, as a lion, etc. RAPT, carry away. RAPT, enraptured.

RASCAL, young or inferior deer. RASH, strike with a glancing oblique blow, as a boar with its tusk. RATSEY, GOMALIEL, a famous highwayman. RAVEN, devour. REACH, understand. REAL, regal. REBATU, ruff, turned-down collar. RECTOR, RECTRESS, director, governor. REDARGUE, confute. REDUCE, bring back. REED, rede, counsel, advice. REEL, run riot. REFEL, refute. REFORMADOES, disgraced or disbanded soldiers. REGIMENT, government. REGRESSION, return. ). RELIGION, "make--of," make a point of, scruple of. RELISH, savour. REMNANT, scrap of quotation. REMORA, species of fish. RENDER, depict, exhibit, show. REPAIR, reinstate. REPETITION, recital, narration. REREMOUSE, bat. RESIANT, resident. RESIDENCE, sediment. RESOLUTION, judgment, decision. RESOLVE, inform; assure; prepare, make up one's mind; dissolve; come to a decision, be convinced; relax, set at ease. RESPECTIVE, worthy of respect; regardful, discriminative. RESPECTIVELY, with reverence.

RESPECTLESS, regardless. RESPIRE, exhale; inhale. RESPONSIBLE, correspondent. REST, musket-rest. REST, "set up one's--," venture one's all, one's last stake (from game of primero). REST, arrest.

PHERE RESTIVE, RESTY, dull, inactive. RETCHLESS(NESS), reckless(ness).

RETIRE, cause to retire. RETRICATO, fencing term. RETRIEVE, rediscovery of game once sprung. RETURNS, ventures sent abroad, for the safe return of which so much money is received. REVERBERATE, dissolve or blend by reflected heat. , in fencing. REVISE, reconsider a sentence. RHEUM, spleen, caprice. RIBIBE, abusive term for an old woman. RID, destroy, do away with. RIFLING, raffling, dicing. RING, "cracked within the--," coins so cracked were unfit for currency. RISSE, risen, rose. RIVELLED, wrinkled. ROARER, swaggerer. ROCHET, fish of the gurnet kind. ROCK, distaff. RODOMONTADO, braggadocio. ROGUE, vagrant, vagabond. RONDEL, "a round mark in the score of a public-house" (Nares); roundel. ROOK, sharper; fool, dupe. ROSAKER, similar to ratsbane. ROSA-SOLIS, a spiced spirituous liquor. ROSES, rosettes. ROUND, "gentlemen of the--," officers of inferior rank.

ROUND TRUNKS, trunk hose, short loose breeches reaching almost or quite to the knees. ROUSE, carouse, bumper. ROVER, arrow used for shooting at a random mark at uncertain distance. ROWLY-POWLY, roly-poly. RUDE, RUDENESS, unpolished, rough(ness), coarse(ness). RUFFLE, flaunt, swagger. RUG, coarse frieze. RUG-GOWNS, gown made of rug. RUSH, reference to rushes with which the floors were then strewn. RUSHER, one who strewed the floor with rushes. RUSSET, homespun cloth of neutral or reddish-brown colour. SACK, loose, flowing gown. SADLY, seriously, with gravity. SAD(NESS), sober, serious(ness). SAFFI, bailiffs.

ST THOMAS A WATERINGS, place in Surrey where criminals were executed. SAKER, small piece of ordnance. SALT, leap. SALT, lascivious. SAMPSUCHINE, sweet marjoram. SARABAND, a slow dance. SATURNALS, began December 17. SAUCINESS, presumption, insolence. SAUCY, bold, impudent, wanton. ), a gesture of contempt. SAVOUR, perceive; gratify, please; to partake of the nature. SAY, sample. SAY, assay, try. SCALD, word of contempt, implying dirt and disease. SCALLION, shalot, small onion. SCANDERBAG, "name which the Turks (in allusion to Alexander the Great) gave to the brave Castriot, chief of Albania, with whom they had continual wars. His romantic life had just been translated" (Gifford). SCAPE, escape. SCARAB, beetle. SCARTOCCIO, fold of paper, cover, cartouch, cartridge. SCONCE, head. SCOPE, aim. SCOT AND LOT, tax, contribution (formerly a parish assessment). SCOTOMY, dizziness in the head. SCOUR, purge. SCOURSE, deal, swap.

SCRATCHES, disease of horses. SCROYLE, mean, rascally fellow. SCRUPLE, doubt. SEAL, put hand to the giving up of property or rights. SEALED, stamped as genuine. SEAM-RENT, ragged. SEAMING LACES, insertion or edging. SEAR UP, close by searing, burning. SEARCED, sifted. SECRETARY, able to keep a secret. SECULAR, worldly, ordinary, commonplace. SECURE, confident. SEELIE, happy, blest. SEISIN, legal term: possession. SELLARY, lewd person. SEMBLABLY, similarly. SEMINARY, a Romish priest educated in a foreign seminary. SENSELESS, insensible, without sense or feeling. SENSIBLY, perceptibly. SENSIVE, sensitive. SENSUAL, pertaining to the physical or material. SERENE, harmful dew of evening. SERICON, red tincture. SERVANT, lover. SERVICES, doughty deeds of arms. SESTERCE, Roman copper coin. SET, stake, wager. SET UP, drill. SETS, deep plaits of the ruff. SEWER, officer who served up the feast, and brought water for the hands of the guests.

SHAPE, a suit by way of disguise. SHIFT, fraud, dodge. SHIFTER, cheat. SHITTLE, shuttle; "shittle-cock," shuttlecock. SHOT, tavern reckoning. SHOT-CLOG, one only tolerated because he paid the shot (reckoning) for the rest. SHOT-FREE, scot-free, not having to pay.

ST SHOVE-GROAT, low kind of gambling amusement, perhaps somewhat of the nature of pitch and toss. SHOT-SHARKS, drawers. SHREWD, mischievous, malicious, curst. SHREWDLY, keenly, in a high degree. SHRIVE, sheriff; posts were set up before his door for proclamations, or to indicate his residence. SHROVING, Shrovetide, season of merriment. SIGILLA, seal, mark. SILENCED BRETHERN, MINISTERS, those of the Church or Nonconformists who had been silenced, deprived, etc. SILLY, simple, harmless. SIMPLE, silly, witless; plain, true. SIMPLES, herbs. SINGLE, term of chase, signifying when the hunted stag is separated from the herd, or forced to break covert. SINGLE, weak, silly. SINGLE-MONEY, small change. SINGULAR, unique, supreme. SI-QUIS, bill, advertisement. SKELDRING, getting money under false pretences; swindling. SKILL, "it--s not," matters not. SKINK(ER), pour, draw(er), tapster. SKIRT, tail. SLEEK, smooth. ).

'SLID, 'SLIGHT, 'SPRECIOUS, irreverent oaths. SLIGHT, sleight, cunning, cleverness; trick. SLIP, counterfeit coin, bastard. SLIPPERY, polished and shining. SLOPS, large loose breeches. SLOT, print of a stag's foot. SLUR, put a slur on; cheat (by sliding a die in some way). SMELT, gull, simpleton. SNORLE, "perhaps snarl, as Puppy is addressed" (Cunningham). SNOTTERIE, filth. SNUFF, anger, resentment; "take in--," take offence at. SNUFFERS, small open silver dishes for holding snuff, or receptacle for placing snuffers in (Halliwell). SOCK, shoe worn by comic actors. SOD, seethe. SOGGY, soaked, sodden. SOIL, "take--," said of a hunted stag when he takes to the water for safety. SOL, sou. SOLDADOES, soldiers. SOLICIT, rouse, excite to action. SOOTH, flattery, cajolery. SOOTHE, flatter, humour. SOPHISTICATE, adulterate. SORT, company, party; rank, degree. SORT, suit, fit; select. SOUSE, ear.

read "sou't," which Dyce interprets as "a variety of the spelling of "shu'd": to "shu" is to scare a bird away." (See his "Webster," page 350). SOWTER, cobbler. SPAGYRICA, chemistry according to the teachings of Paracelsus. SPAR, bar. SPEAK, make known, proclaim. SPECULATION, power of sight.

ST SPED, to have fared well, prospered. SPEECE, species. SPIGHT, anger, rancour. SPINNER, spider. SPINSTRY, lewd person. SPITTLE, hospital, lazar-house. SPLEEN, considered the seat of the emotions. SPLEEN, caprice, humour, mood. SPRUNT, spruce. SPURGE, foam. SPUR-RYAL, gold coin worth 15s. SQUIRE, square, measure; "by the--," exactly. STAGGERING, wavering, hesitating. STAIN, disparagement, disgrace. STALE, decoy, or cover, stalking-horse. STALE, make cheap, common. STALK, approach stealthily or under cover. STALL, forestall. STANDARD, suit. STAPLE, market, emporium. STARK, downright. STARTING-HOLES, loopholes of escape. STATE, dignity; canopied chair of state; estate. STATUMINATE, support vines by poles or stakes; used by Pliny (Gifford). STAY, gag. STAY, await; detain. STICKLER, second or umpire. STIGMATISE, mark, brand. STILL, continual(ly), constant(ly). STINKARD, stinking fellow. STINT, stop. STIPTIC, astringent.

STOCCATA, thrust in fencing. STOCK-FISH, salted and dried fish. STOMACH, pride, valour. STOMACH, resent. STOOP, swoop down as a hawk. STOP, fill, stuff. STOPPLE, stopper. STOTE, stoat, weasel. STOUP, stoop, swoop=bow. STRAIGHT, straightway. stramazzone), a down blow, as opposed to the thrust. STRANGE, like a stranger, unfamiliar. STRANGENESS, distance of behaviour. STREIGHTS, OR BERMUDAS, labyrinth of alleys and courts in the Strand. STRIGONIUM, Grau in Hungary, taken from the Turks in 1597. STRIKE, balance (accounts). STRINGHALT, disease of horses. STROKER, smoother, flatterer. of "strike." as "a long, loose and dishevelled head of hair." STUDIES, studious efforts. STYLE, title; pointed instrument used for writing on wax tablets. SUBTLE, fine, delicate, thin; smooth, soft. SUBTLETY (SUBTILITY), subtle device. SUBURB, connected with loose living. SUCCUBAE, demons in form of women. SUCK, extract money from. SUFFERANCE, suffering.

SUMMED, term of falconry: with full-grown plumage. SUPER-NEGULUM, topers turned the cup bottom up when it was empty. SUPERSTITIOUS, over-scrupulous. SUPPLE, to make pliant. SURBATE, make sore with walking. SURCEASE, cease.

ST SUR-REVERENCE, save your reverence. SURVISE, peruse. SUSCITABILITY, excitability. SUSPECT, suspicion. SUSPEND, suspect. SUSPENDED, held over for the present. SUTLER, victualler. SWAD, clown, boor. SWATH BANDS, swaddling clothes. SWINGE, beat. TABERD, emblazoned mantle or tunic worn by knights and heralds. TABLE(S), "pair of--," tablets, note-book. TABOR, small drum. TABRET, tabor. TAFFETA, silk; "tuft-taffeta," a more costly silken fabric. TAINT, "--a staff," break a lance at tilting in an unscientific or dishonourable manner. TAKE IN, capture, subdue. TAKE ME WITH YOU, let me understand you. TAKE UP, obtain on credit, borrow. TALENT, sum or weight of Greek currency. TALL, stout, brave. TANKARD-BEARERS, men employed to fetch water from the conduits. TARLETON, celebrated comedian and jester. TARTAROUS, like a Tartar. TAVERN-TOKEN, "to swallow a--," get drunk. TELL, count. TELL-TROTH, truth-teller. TEMPER, modify, soften.

TENDER, show regard, care for, cherish; manifest. TENT, "take--," take heed. TERSE, swept and polished. TERTIA, "that portion of an army levied out of one particular district or division of a country" (Gifford). TESTON, tester, coin worth 6d. THIRDBOROUGH, constable. THREAD, quality. THREAVES, droves. THREE-FARTHINGS, piece of silver current under Elizabeth. THREE-PILED, of finest quality, exaggerated. THRIFTILY, carefully. THRUMS, ends of the weaver's warp; coarse yarn made from. THUMB-RING, familiar spirits were supposed capable of being carried about in various ornaments or parts of dress. TIBICINE, player on the tibia, or pipe. TICK-TACK, game similar to backgammon. TIGHTLY, promptly. ) expressive of a climax of nonentity. TIMELESS, untimely, unseasonable. TINCTURE, an essential or spiritual principle supposed by alchemists to be transfusible into material things; an imparted characteristic or tendency. TINK, tinkle.

TIPPET, "turn--," change behaviour or way of life. TIPSTAFF, staff tipped with metal. TIRE, head-dress. TIRE, feed ravenously, like a bird of prey. TITILLATION, that which tickles the senses, as a perfume. TOD, fox. TOILED, worn out, harassed. TOKEN, piece of base metal used in place of very small

ST coin, when this was scarce. TONNELS, nostrils. TOP, "parish--," large top kept in villages for amusement and exercise in frosty weather when people were out of work. TOTER, tooter, player on a wind instrument. TOUSE, pull, rend. TOWARD, docile, apt; on the way to; as regards; present, at hand. TOY, whim; trick; term of contempt. TRACT, attraction. TRAIN, allure, entice. TRANSITORY, transmittable. TRANSLATE, transform. TRAY-TRIP, game at dice (success depended on throwing a three) (Nares). TREACHOUR (TRECHER), traitor. TREEN, wooden. TRENCHER, serving-man who carved or served food. TRENDLE-TAIL, trundle-tail, curly-tailed. , without blazoning. TRIG, a spruce, dandified man. TRILL, trickle. TRILLIBUB, tripe, any worthless, trifling thing. TRIPOLY, "come from--," able to perform feats of agility, a "jest nominal," depending on the first part of the word (Gifford). TRITE, worn, shabby. TRIVIA, three-faced goddess (Hecate).

TROJAN, familiar term for an equal or inferior; thief. TROLL, sing loudly. TROMP, trump, deceive. TROPE, figure of speech. TROW, think, believe, wonder. TROWLE, troll. TROWSES, breeches, drawers. TRUCHMAN, interpreter. TRUNDLE, JOHN, well-known printer. TRUNDLE, roll, go rolling along. TRUNDLING CHEATS, term among gipsies and beggars for carts or coaches (Gifford). TRUNK, speaking-tube. TRUSS, tie the tagged laces that fastened the breeches to the doublet. TUBICINE, trumpeter. toccato), introductory flourish on the trumpet. TUITION, guardianship. TUMBLER, a particular kind of dog so called from the mode of his hunting. TUMBREL-SLOP, loose, baggy breeches. TURD, excrement. ). TWIRE, peep, twinkle. TWOPENNY ROOM, gallery. TYRING-HOUSE, attiring-room.

ULENSPIEGEL See Howleglass. UMBRATILE, like or pertaining to a shadow. UMBRE, brown dye. UNBATED, unabated. ) excessively bored. UNCARNATE, not fleshly, or of flesh. UNCOUTH, strange, unusual. UNDERTAKER, "one who undertook by his influence in the House of Commons to carry things agreeably to his Majesty's wishes" (Whalley); one who becomes surety for. UNEQUAL, unjust. UNEXCEPTED, no objection taken at. UNFEARED, unaffrighted. UNHAPPILY, unfortunately. UNICORN'S HORN, supposed antidote to poison. UNKIND(LY), unnatural(ly). UNMANNED, untamed (term in falconry). UNQUIT, undischarged. UNREADY, undressed. UNRUDE, rude to an extreme. UNSEASONED, unseasonable, unripe. UNSEELED, a hawk's eyes were "seeled" by sewing the eyelids together with fine thread. UNTIMELY, unseasonably. UNVALUABLE, invaluable. UPBRAID, make a matter of reproach. UPSEE, heavy kind of Dutch beer (Halliwell); "--Dutch," in the Dutch fashion.

UPTAILS ALL, refrain of a popular song. URGE, allege as accomplice, instigator. URSHIN, URCHIN, hedgehog. USE, interest on money; part of sermon dealing with the practical application of doctrine. USE, be in the habit of, accustomed to; put out to interest. USQUEBAUGH, whisky. USURE, usury. UTTER, put in circulation, make to pass current; put forth for sale. VAIL, bow, do homage. VAILS, tips, gratuities.

VALL See Vail. VALLIES (Fr. valise), portmanteau, bag. VAPOUR(S) (n. and v.), used affectedly, like "humour," in many senses, often very vaguely and freely ridiculed by Jonson; humour, disposition, whims, brag(ging), hector(ing), etc. VARLET, bailiff, or serjeant-at-mace. VAUT, vault. VEER (naut.), pay out. VEGETAL, vegetable; person full of life and vigour. VELLUTE, velvet.

VELVET CUSTARD Cf. "Taming of the Shrew," iv. 3, 82, "custard coffin," coffin being the raised crust over a pie. VENT, vend, sell; give outlet to; scent, snuff up. VENUE, bout (fencing term). ), hangman, executioner. VERGE, "in the--," within a certain distance of the court. VEX, agitate, torment. VICE, the buffoon of old moralities; some kind of machinery for moving a puppet (Gifford). VIE AND REVIE, to hazard a certain sum, and to cover it with a larger one. VINCENT AGAINST YORK, two heralds-at-arms. VINDICATE, avenge. VIRGE, wand, rod. VIRGINAL, old form of piano. VIRTUE, valour. VIVELY, in lifelike manner, livelily. VIZARD, mask. VOGUE, rumour, gossip. VOICE, vote. VOID, leave, quit. VOLARY, cage, aviary. VOLLEY, "at--," "o' the volee," at random (from a term of tennis). VORLOFFE, furlough. WADLOE, keeper of the Devil Tavern, where Jonson and his friends met in the 'Apollo' room (Whalley).

WAIGHTS, waits, night musicians, "band of musical watchmen" (Webster), or old form of "hautboys." WANNION, "vengeance," "plague" (Nares). WARD, a famous pirate. WARD, guard in fencing. WATCHET, pale, sky blue. WEAL, welfare. WEED, garment. WEFT, waif. WEIGHTS, "to the gold--," to every minute particular. WELKIN, sky. WELL-SPOKEN, of fair speech. WELL-TORNED, turned and polished, as on a wheel. WELT, hem, border of fur. WHER, whether. ). WHIFF, a smoke, or drink; "taking the--," inhaling the tobacco smoke or some such accomplishment. WHIGH-HIES, neighings, whinnyings. WHIMSY, whim, "humour." ) whining, weakly. ) a mere jot. WHITEMEAT, food made of milk or eggs. WICKED, bad, clumsy. WICKER, pliant, agile. fruit of wild apple or crab tree (Webster). : I have the perquisites (of the office) which you are to share (Cunningham). WINNY, "same as old word "wonne," to stay, etc." (Whalley). WISE-WOMAN, fortune-teller. WISH, recommend.

WISS (WUSSE), "I--," certainly, of a truth. WITHOUT, beyond. WITTY, cunning, ingenious, clever. WOOD, collection, lot. WOODCOCK, term of contempt. WOOLSACK ("--pies"), name of tavern. WORT, unfermented beer.

VELVET CUSTARD WOUNDY, great, extreme. WREAK, revenge. WROUGHT, wrought on. WUSSE, interjection. (See Wiss). YEANLING, lamb, kid. ZANY, an inferior clown, who attended on the chief fool and mimicked his tricks.

INTRODUCTION