[ACT THE SECOND.
Scene 1.]
Enter Lentulus and Tulley.
Lentu. Not yours nor her owne, Terentia.—Yours in modestie, Flavia.
See, Tulley, what an active passive love hath plaide;
I love and am again beloved, but at the shrine
Where I do offer up my Cordiall sacrifice,
I am returnd with peremptorie scorne;
And where I stand but as a gazer, viewing
All alike, I am pursude
With violent passions, a speaking eye
Bindes favours and now discovering lines.[247]
Thy counsell now, deere friend; for at thy direction
Stands my thrall or freedome.
Tul. Oh my Lord, affection is unlimited,
Daring all dangers, having no tipe nor figure,
Beyond all arte.
Then tye not that (Great Lord,) to Tullies awe;
Fancy forswears all reason, love all lawe.
Lent. How well thy power can shun that which
I followe with obedience. Too true yfaith;
Thou mightst as well put out the eie of day,
Or cover sinne from heaven, or to erect
A towre of sand on the uncertain surge,
Or any thing that were more inficient,
Then to remoove one doting thought of mine
From her disdain. Thy aide, deere Tulley,
Be thou an Orratour for Lentulus,
My tongue stands tun[è]d to a harsher method;
Breath in her eares, those Organs of receite,
A quintessence distild of honny words,
And charme with a beguiling lullabye
Her free consent to thine and my request:
Which done, thats done which is my sole delight,
Which done, thats done that I can never quite.
Tull. All which to me are problematique mines,
Obscurde inigmaes, and to my studies
Incognite Language; yet, if my powers
Have power to cloath my tongue in love,
Ile be a Lover and in love so pleade
As if that Tully loved Terentia.
Lent. Thanks, sweete Cicero;
This day we dine with olde Flaminius,
The forward Father of my Aukeward love.
His willing minde doth strive to make the peace
Betwixt our discord thoughts; his free consent
Is given to Lentulus; there, Tulley, take on holde,
And, when a Sunne of thy intent shines fayre,
Onset loves fort with polliticke assaults
And conquer; conquest in obtaining that
Where victors are repulsed. But see! our talke
Hath over-tane our way; see, olde Flaminius
Comes to welcome us.
With him a looke like[248] the bright orient verge
At the uprising of Auroraes shine.
Enter Flaminius, Terentia, and Flavia.
Flam. And, my good Lorde, y'are happily met. Heartily welcome; young Tullie, welcome to; yee come wel to ease my charge, these Ladies find fault with their Guardian, I goe too softly for them: old blood is stiffe, & young Ladies will not beare with age; I resigne, I resigne, to you that followe.
Lent. If they admit us for their Guardian, Weele dare dangers ere we part from them.
Flam. Why well saide, my Lords, Soldiers will not flye indeede; I have seene the day, I could have crackt a tree of yew, made my bowstring whisper in mine eare in[249] the twang, tost my pike lustilye. Tis since the siedge of Parthia: bith-'mas a great while; I was lustie then at the service was done there, yet I love the discourse. Come my Lord, I chuse your companye, leave Tulley to the Ladies; he can tell them tales of Venus and Adonis and that best pleaseth them. Now I must heere of raps and blowes, and Bils and Guns, and swords and bucklers. I loved it once; come, our Cookes are backeward, discourse will beget stomacks; y'are like to tarrie long for leane Cates. [Exit.
Lent. Now, gentle Tulley, advocate my suite; Her fore-amazing person makes me mute.
Cicero. He beare these Ladies company if they Shall deeme acceptance. [Exit.
Teren. With interest of thankes to Cicero.
Flav. Faith, I like not this ods of female, an equallitie were better: yet of both twere fitter the woman should undergoe the oddes. I had rather a said three men to one woman, then two women to one man. Heeres Tulley addrest to Terentia, Terentia drawing neere to Tulley; her's smal comfot [sic] left for Flavia. Wel, gentles, ile leave ye to the Goddesse. So ho! my Lords, take me with ye.
Teren. Nay stay, good Flavia. Youle not loose the sight of Lentulus.
Fla. Nor you of Tulley; come, if you tel, ile blab.
Cice. But, sweete Lady, Tulley is not heere.
Fla. But Cicero is, his neere friend, thats as good.
Cice. He was, Lady, till hee changed his habit by putting on the office of an unskillful Servingman, intending to garde Terentia to her father's house.
Fla. Then Flavia must gard her self; wel use good words and good action, and stalke well before your Ladie; she's kinde, yfaith, and a little thing will please her.
Ter. Will it please Flavia to partake?
Fla. Oh fye! twere an injurie I could [not] brook myself, therefore ile leave ye; but be breefe, stand not on pointes, cut them all first; & if ye fall to kissing, kisse not too long for feare ye kisse the post.
Teren. Goe to, youle still be a wagge, Flavia. But what saies Tulley to Terentia?
[Exit[250] Flavia.
Cicero. Lady I must maintain my former argument. Tullie's not heere but heere is Tullies friend; For, ere I speake, I must intreate you wil Transforme poore Tulley into Lentulus.
Teren. I have no power of Metamorphosing; If Tulley be not heere, you must concede,[251] I cannot make of Tulley Lentulus.
Cice. Nor can the world make Cicero so worthy.
Yet for an houre['s] discourse a Pesant's shape
May represent the person of a king;
Then in the person of the great Lentulus
I doe salute Sunne-bright Terentia.
Lady, vouchsafe a Saint-like smile on him
(From that angell forme) whose honord minde
Lies prostrate lowly at Terentia's feete;
Who hath put off a Golden victors honour
And left the Parthyan spoyle to Lepido;
Whome many Ladies have bedecked with favours
Of rich esteeme, oh proud he deignd to weare them,
Yet guiftes and givers hee did slight esteeme;
For why? the purpose of his thoughts were bent
To seek the love of faire Terentia.
The choce is such as choiser cannot bee
Even with a nimble eye; his vertues through
His smile is like the Meridian Sol
Discern'd a dauncing in the burbling brook;
His frowne out-dares the Austerest face
Of warre or Tyranny to sease upon;
His shape might force the Virgine huntresse
With him for ever live a vestall life;
His minde is virtues over-matcht, yet this
And more shall dye if this and more want force
To win the love of faire Terentia.
Then, gentle Lady, give a gentle do[o]me;
Never was brest the Land-lord to a heart
More loving, faithful, or more loyall then is
The brest of noble—
Teren. Tullie!
Tul. Lentulus!
Ter. And why not Tullie?
Tul. It stands not aptly.
Tere. I wants a sillible.
Tul. It doth.
Tere. Then noble Cicero.
Tul. Thats too deere.
Tere. Gentle is as good: Then say the best of gentle Cicero.
Tul. Good Lady, wrong not your honour so
To seate unworthy Tully with your worth.
Oh looke upon the worth of Lentulus,
Let your faire hand be beame unto the ballance
And with a stedded peyze lift up that beame.
In th'one[252] scale put the worth of Lentulus,
His state, his honors, and his revenewes;
Against that heavy waite put povertie,
The poore and naked name of Cicero,
A partner of unregarded Orators;
Then shall you see with what celeritie
One title of his worth will soone pull up
Poore Tullies dignitie.
Tere. Just to the height of Terentias heart
Where I will keepe and Character that name,
And to that name my heart shall adde that love
That shall wey downe the worth of Lentulus.
Tul. Deare Madam.
Tere. Speake still, if thou wilt, but not for him;
The more thou speak'st the more augments my love,
If that thou can'st adde more to infinite;
The more thou speakest the more decreaseth his,
If thou canst take away ought from nothing;
Thinke, Tulley, if Lentulus can love me,
So much and more Terentia doth love thee.
Tull. Oh Madam, Tulley is poore, and poore is counted base.
Ter. Vertue is ritch and blots a poore disgrace.
Tul. Lentulus is great, his frowne's my woe, And of a friend he will become my foe.
Ter. As he is friend, we will intreate his love; As he is great, his threatenings shall not make me love.
Tul. Your fathers graunt makes Lentulus your Lord.
Teren. But if thereto his daughter not accord, That graunt is cancel'd; fathers may commaund Life before love, for life to true love's paund.
Tul. How will Flaminius brooke my povertie?
Ter. Well, when Flaminius see's no remedie. Lord how woman-like are men when they are woe'd! Tully, weigh me not light, nere did immodest blush Colour these cheeckes, but ardent.
Tully. Silence, sweet Lady, heere comes Flavia.
Enter[253] Flavia.
Fla. Fie, Fie, how tedius ye are; yonders great looking for Tulley, the old senate has put on his spectacles, and Lentulus and he are turning the leaves of a dog-hay [?], leaves of a worm-eaten Chronicle, and they want Tullies judgment.
Tul. About what, sweet Lady?
Fla. To know what yeare it was the showers of raine fell in Aprill.
Tul. I can resolve it by rote, Lady, twas that yeare the Cuckoo sung in May: another token Lady; there raigned in Rome a great Tyrant that yeare, and many Maides lost their heads for using flesh on Fish-daies.
Fla. And some were sacrificed as a burnt offering to the Gods of Hospitallitie, were they not?
Tul. Y'are a wag, Flavia, but talk and you must needes have a parting blowe.
Flav. No matter so we stand out and close not.
Tull. Or part faire at the close and too't again.
Flav. Nay, if we should too't againe, Terentia would growe jealous.
Tul. Ladies, I take my leave And my love.
Ter. Take heede ye sigh not, nor looke red at the table, Tully.
[Exit [Tully].
Flav. Your shoe wrings you, Lady.
Ter. Goe to, ye are a wanton, Flavia.
Fla. How now Terentia, in your nine Muses? Theres none must pleade in your case but an Orator.
Ter. I want one indeede Wench, but thou hast two, and the gentle destinies may send thee three; neere blush, for smoke and the fire of a womans love cannot bee hid. Oh a fine tongue dipt in Helicon! a comedian tongue is the onely perswasive ornament to win a Lady; why his discourse is as pleasant—
Fla. As how, I prethee?
Ter. And keepes as good decorum; his prologue with obedience to the skirt; a rough Sceane of ciuill Warres and a clapping conclusion; perhappes a Jigge;[254] if not, the Tragicomicall tale of Mars and Venus; then must she take the Tale by the end, where he defending Mars, & she Venus, must fall from billing to byting, from byting to blowes, to get the supremacie.
Fla. A good policie to praise Cicero, For feare I rob you of your Lentulus.
Ter. Faith, a Souldier is not for thy[255] humor; now I crie a Warrier; he fights stoutly in a field-bed, discharges his work sure, under his Curtaines would I fight. But come, our Lovers melt while we meditate; thou for thy Scholler, I for my soldier; and if we can not please them so, weele shake off this loose habit and turn Pages to suit their humors.
[Exeunt.
[Scene 2.]
Enter Accutus and Graccus.
Grac. Come, Accutus, discharge your follower; lets leave rubbing a while, since the byas runs so much the wrong way. Sirra! these bowles which we roule and turn in our lower sypher are by use made wodden worldlings right, for every one strives who shall lye neerest the mistris.[256]
Ac. They post indeed, as their nature is, in an even way, but they are cowards, theile abide no danger, they rub at everie mole-hil; if they tyre in going up a hill, they retire and come back againe.
Grac. Well let them alley, bet all, then to rest away, begone.
Acut.[257] S'foote Graccus, heeres a couple of our old gamsters. Oh! for quick conceite to beget a jest! heeres two, that either a man must be aquainted or quarrell with, & of two evils ile chose the latter; I hope I make it the lesser. If I should be acquainted, the foole will haunt me, if I quarrell I may be so blest, as to be rid of a foole.
Grac. I have a womans wit for a suddaine stratageme.
Enter Scil. and Servulis.[258]
Scil. No, by my troth, by this bright horrison—
Accut. An excellent Cuckoo, hee keepes his note in Winter.
Scil. I haue no appetite at all to live in the countrie any more; now, as they say, I have got a smacke on the Cittie. Slid, I thinke (as the proverbe goes) I was wrapt in my mother's smocke the day I was begotten, I thank the Goddesse Cupid for it. I am so favourd of the Women, my hostes loves me execrably.
Accut. Good reason, fooles make good sport.
Grac. Sever, sever, ere wee bee discovered.
Ser. Sir, the respective regard of your well governed partes do challenge a mellifluous species of enduement or contumelious estimation.
Grac. Gentles, God save ye, well over-taken Gallants.
Scil. Welcome, by the welkin.
Grac. This is verie pleasant weather.
Ser. Sir the ayre is frugall.
Grac. Is that Gentleman of your Company?
Scil. Our company sir, no, we are no companions for lame Souldiers.
Grac. Propper man, pittie he is so regardles. A good legge, it seemes he has some greefe in it.
Scil. Nay, and he be lame, ile talke to him; there's so many lustie knaves walkes now a daies will not sticke to give a man hard words, if he be not disposed to charitie. Harke ye sir, I understand ye are a propper man, and that you have a good legge.
Accut. And what of that, Sir?
Scil. What of that! slid, he answers me like a sturdie beggar alreadie! by the five elements, or sences, I aske ye for no hurt, ile bestowe my charitie as franke as—
Acut. Stoope and looke out, zounds a Gentleman cannot come by a misfortune in service or so, but everie foole wil ride him. Take that. [Exit.
Gra. Sirra, stay, ile combat thee in his defence.
Serv. Sir, be pacifical, the impotent must be lightly regarded.
Grac. Give me leave Gentlemen, ile follow him.
Scil. Nay, I pray you be malcontented, I have no great hurt, but in revenge hee's a rascall for using me so; he may thank God, discretion governed me, tis wel known I have always bene a man of peace; ile not strike yee the least mouse in anger, nor hurt the poorest Conney that goes in the street, for I know of fighting comes quarrelling, of quarrelling comes brawling, and of brawling growes hard words, and as the learned puerelis[259] writes, tis good sleeping in a whole skin.
Grac. Sir, your discretion shall governe me at this time. Your name, I pray ye sir?
Scil. My name is signior Scillicet.
Grac. Even so sir? nay, sir, I doe not forget your Argument.
Enter Accutus.
Acut. Save ye, sir, saw ye not a Gentleman come this way even now, somewhat hurt in one of his Legges?
Scil. He went by even now, sir; is he a friend of yours?
Acu. A deare friend, and a propper Gentleman, sir.
Scil. By the horison hee's a propper man indeede, he gave me the time of day as he went by, I have a gallon of wine for him at any time. If ye see anything in me worth Commendations, I pray ye commend me to him.
Acut. I will sir;—twere best you gave me good words, but ile trie ye farther yet;—fare ye well, sir.
Scil. I pray you remember me to him.—You see my anger is over already. [Exit[260] Acutus.
Grac. Would ye not strike him? lets followe.
Scil. Indeede ye shall not, I hate it.
Ser. I will not be barren of my armorie, in my future perambulation for the lower element.
Grac. You are too patient in wrongs, sir.—Zoundes I know not how to picke a quarrell.
Serv. Sir, the grievous youth is inwardlye possest of a supple spirit, he can brooke impugnying, but tis adverse to my spirit if I were armed.
Enter Accutus.
Accut. Save ye, gallants, sawe ye not a fellowe come halting this way of late?
Scil. Hath he done any hurt, or is hee a friend of yours?
Acut. Hee's a Rascall and ile maintaine him so.
Scil. Hee's a verie Rascall indeede, and he used mee like a knave: if ere I meete him, I shall hardly put it up; I have it in blacke and blue to shew heere.
Serv. Say, I breath defyance to his front.
Acut. Challenge him the field.
Scil. Doos't thinke heele answere me? I'l challenge him at the pich-fork, or the Flaile, or ile wrastle a fall with him for a bloody nose; anye weapon I have bene brought up in ile—
Accut. What will ye? heere he is, you minime, that will be friend with friends and foe with foes; and you that will defie Hercules, and out-brave Mars and feares not the Devil; passe, bladder, ile make ye swell.
Scil. By Gods-lid, if I had knowne it had bene you, I would not have said so to your face. [Exeunt.
Accut. Away, with your Champion, goe.
Grac. This was excellentlye performed, ifaith a better breathing then a game at bowles.
Accut. Theile give you the good salve at any time this month, for I am sure they have salving enough for so long.
Grac. I pittie the foole yfaith, but the tother Horseleach I wish his blowes trebled. I converst with him, but a Rogue so stuft with the lybrary of new minted[261] words, so tearing the sence, I never met with.
Accut. But now we have spoilde our determinate dinner at my hostesse of the Hobbye; we shall nowe bee knowne.
Grac. That holds well still, I am taken for a prooved friend, and thou shalt be disguised, till, I have wrought a league by vertue of a pottle of Canarie.
Acut. Content, mine Host shall be accessarie and ile be a serviter to observe myracles.
Grac. They are good subjects for idle houres:—but soft, what second course is entring heere?
Enter Phy., Bos, and Boy.
Phy. For I did but kisse her; Bos, how lik'st thou my relish?
Bos. Oh sir, relish but your licour, as you doe your song, you may goe drunke to bed any day in the weeke.
Phy. Sister,[262] awake, close not, &c. Does my face hold colour still?
Bos. I, and you would but scaviage the pavilion of your nose.
Gra. I, marrie, Accutus, how lik'st thou this Gentlewoman Gallant?
Accut. A good states-man, for common-wealth of Brownists; the Rogue hates a Church like the Counter.
Gra. I, and if my Ladie Argentile were dead, he wold rather live upon almes then fall to worke.
Accut. So he might have tolleration.—What, shal's close with them?
Gra. In any case, but in some mild imbrace, for if we should continue thus rough, we should be shunned like an Appoplex.
Accut. Gallants, the fortune of the day runs with ye: what all at mumchance?[263] how is't? how is't?
Phy. Sir, I think twas you bestowed some abuse of me tother day.
Accu. Which I would wipe out of your memorie With satisfaction of a double courtesie.
Phy. I accept it ifaith, sir, I am not prone to anger, I assure ye the following night knew not my anger. Your acquaintance, Signior.
Gra. Fye, without ceremony lets yoake this triplicity as we did in the daies of olde, with mirth and melody.
Phy. I, say you? so then Coll[264] her and clip her and kisse her, too, &c.
Bos. The triplicitie! heere's those has supt at an ordinarie.
Accu. This gallant humors.
Gra. But the other walkes aloofe.
Bos. The triplicite! heere's those has crackt glasses and drawn blood of a Tapster.
Gra. The visitation of your hand, sir.
Bos. The Triplicitie! will colours change?
Acut. Sir, take no offence, I beseech ye, we gave onlye satisfaction for an olde injurie, but in the degree of amitie your selfe sits in the superlative.
Bos. No sir, but in respect.
Gra. What kinde is your Dogge of, sir?
Bos. Verie kinde to anything but his meat, that hee devours with great alacritie.
Grac. Where was he bred?
Bos. In a Bitch.
Gra. What Countrie?
Bos. A kind of Mungrill, he will carrie but not fetch, marrie hee is to be put to a dauncing schoole for instruction.
Acut. The tricke of the rope were excellent in him, & that ile teach him, if I misse not my mark. Come, Gallants, we waste time, the first Taverne we arrive at weel see the race of an houre-glasse.
Phy. Can ye a part in a Song?
Gra. Verie tollerably.
Phy. Weele have a catch then, if with sol, sol, la: Gentlemen have you any good herbe? you have match, boy.
Boy. Your pipe shall want no fire sir.
Acut. Oh, without ceremony: now, Graccus, if we can but pawne their senses in Sack and Sugar, let mee alone to pursue the sequell.
Gra. Follow it away.
[Exeunt.
[Scene 3.]
Enter Hostis, Cittizens wife, Servulus, and Scillicet.
Hostis. Come, come, bring them out of the ayre: alas good hearts, what rogorous villaine would commit with him? ile tell ye Gosip, hee's eene as kinde an animall, he would not wrong them y'faith.
Citty wife. Tush, feare nothing woman, I hope to make him so again. Alacke, alacke, how fell you out all a head?[265] Oh Butcher! are ye hurt in another place?
Hostis. Did he not throw you against the stones? If he did, doe not conceale, I dare say you gave them not a foule word.
Scil. By the illuminate welkin not a word till my mouth was full of blood, and so made my words foule.
Citty wife. Is not this Gentleman hurt too?
Serv. Onelye the extravagant Artire[266] of my arme is brused.
Cittie wi. See, see, the extravagant of his arme is brused to. Alas, how could ye quarrell so?
Serv. I will demonstrate: in the defence of the generous youth I did appugne my adverse, let violently flie.
Cittie wife. Ah good hearts! would I had stood between you, when he let flie so violently.
Ser. We voide of hostile armes.
Hostis. I, if they had had horses, they had sav'd their armes.
Serv. Be capable, I meane, void of armorie.
Citty-wife. Untill ye had armor on.
Serv. Had I bene accompanied, with my Toledo or morglay.[267]
Cittie wife. I, your Dogge or Bitch.
Serv. Continue, I beseech, I meane my sword, sole lye my sword.
Cittie wife. Or solely your sword, better a bad toole then none at all.
Serv. In the concourse—
Cittie w. Nay, the concourse will light on him for it, I warrant.
Serv. I, for the tuition of my Capitall, did mount my Semisphere, three degrees, that as a strong, & stony guard did defend my Capitall.
Citty w. Twas well ye kept him out, for if he had entered on your stony Guard, he would have spoilede your Capitall.
Serv. In fine, being mortally assaild, he did preambulate [sic] or walk off.
Scil. Yes, faith, he did preambulate, and walke mee finely.
Cittie w. Good heartes, how many were there of them?
Serv. About the number of seaven.
Scil. I, there was seaven.
Serv. Or eight.
Scil. Or eight.
Serv. Rather more.
Citty w. I, more at least, I warrant ye.
Hostis. Alasse ye cannot chuse but be more hurt, but ile search you throughly, be assured.
Citty w. And if she cannot helpe ye fewe can; shee knowes what belongs to a Tent,[268] or a bruse, and experience is good in those cases.
Serv. I have a concupiscent forme of trust in your skil, it will malladise.
Citty wi. I, feare not, put both your concupisences in me for that matter.
Serv. The generous will disburse coynage for satisfaction of your metaphisicall endevour.
Scil. Yes, yes, I will discharge all.
Cittie wife. Wee make no doubt of that; come into a chamber, ye shall lye downe awhile; perhaps youle bee stiffe anon, then you shall use your legges, the more you strive with it the better. Alas, good hearts!
[Exeunt.
Phy. Sol, sol, la! Tapster, give attendance! Gentlemen, I hope all we are friends, the welkin is skie colour still, and men must grow by degrees; you must pardon me, I must sp—speak my minde.
Grac. The uttermost of your minde at this time cannot be offensive.
Phy. The fryer was in the—sol, sol, draw the tother quart. I hope you are not angrie gallants; and ye come to my lodging, ye shall be welcome; my Hostes shall bid you welcome, shee's a good wench; if I say the word, she wil fa—fullfill it.
Acut. Sirra drawer, for the other thats a sleepe; let him so remaine; for the Dog, let him be bound to a post for his appearance, till I take order for his undooing.
Draw. The foole and the Dogge shall both take rest at your commaund, Sir.
Phy. Gentlemen, I hope we are all friends: sol, sol, shal's have a catch?
Grac. I, come, come, everie one catch a part. [Sing.
Phy. Hey good boies ifaith, now a three man's song, or the olde downe a downe; well things must be as they may, fils the other quart; muskadine,[269] with an egg is fine, there's a time for all things. Bonos nocthus.[270] [Sleepe.
Grac. Good night to you sirs.
Accut. So now, Graccus, see what a polluted lumpe,
A deformed Chaos of unsteddy earth
Man is, being in this ill kinde unmand seeming somthing
Bestial man, brutish animall. Well tis thus decreede,
He shall be what he seemes, that's deade.
For what in him shows life but a breathing ayre?
Which by a free constraint it self ingenders
In things without life, as twixt a pair of bellowes
We feele a forcible aire, having of it self
Force and being, no more is this breathing block
But for his use in kinde.—Give out in some bursse or congregation
Among the multitude Philautus[271] death.
Let all the customarie rights of funerall,
His knell or what else, be solemnly observed.
Ile take order for his winding sheete,
And further, to furnish it with further suertie,
Ile have a potion that for twentie houres
Shall quench the motion of his breath. Goe, spread,
Let me alone to effect it.
Gra. Ile sow it, I warrant thee; thou talkst of bursse,—I have a way worth ten on't, ile first give it out in my Barbers shop, then at my ordinarie, and that's as good as abroad; and as I cross Tiber my waterman shall attach it, heele send it away with the tide, then let it come out to an Oyster wenches eare, and sheele crie it up and down the streetes.
Acut. Let's first secure him from eyes, and at night he shall be portered to our chamber; so, now away.
Grac. Oh a couple that would spred rarely,[272] lets give it for loves sake.
Enter Hostis and Cittizens wife.
Acut. Call, call.
Grac. Hem, hem.
Citty wife. A pox on your hemmings, do you think we care for your hemmings?
Hostis. Tis some stinking troublesome knave, I warrant ye.
Citty wife. Hang him, regard him not; theres hemming indeede, like a Cat, God blesse us, with a burre in her throate. [Exeunt
Grac. S'hart, how we are ript up for this?
Ac. Oh man, this hemming is the most hatefulst thing, theres not the most publique punck,[273] nor worm-eaten bawd that can abide it, and honestie would run madde to heare it. But come we waste time, tis now about the mid of day; we must sowe arithmatike by the houres, that at[274] the morrowes highth Philautus awake again, at which time he shall be on his Hearse, and all the Guestes of the Hobbye invited to accompany his ghost, when being awake, himselfe and all shall see if drunkenesse be not mad misterie.
Grac. But I prethee, practise some milder behaviour at the ordinarie, be not al madman.
Acut. Push,[275] ile bee all observative, and yet ifaith I grieve to see this double garded[276] age, all side-coate, all foole. Fye thou keepest the sports from the marke; away, and returne. What newes is now in progresse.
Grac. I have the newest. Terentia, Daughter to the olde Senate, thogh Lentulus left the field to come to her, yet she hath forsaken him in the open field, and shee's for our young Oratour, Tully; she has vowd by Venus legge and the little God of Love, he shall be her captaine; sheele serve under him, till death us depart,[277] and thereto, I plight thee my troth.
Acut. More Ladies Terentias, I crie still,
That prise a saint before a Silken foole.
She that loves true learning and pomp disdaines
Treads on Tartarus and Olimpus gaines.
Grac. I, marrie, but then would learning be in colours, proud, proud; then would not foure nobles purchase a benefice, two Sermons in a yeare.
Accut. I, Graccus, now thou hitst the finger right
Upon the shoulder of Ingratitude.
Thou hast clapt an action of flat felony;
Now, ill betide that partiall judgement
That doomes a farmers rich adultus
To the supremacie of a Deanrie,
When needie, yet true grounded Discipline,
Is govern'd with a threed bare Vycarage.
Grac. I, thou speakst well of their sides that are liberally overseene in the sciences. I take no hold on't, but were all men of thy minde, then would everie Schoole-maister bee a Senate, and there would never come Cobler to be Constable againe.
Accut. Ynough, ynough, Graccus, let silence seale up our secret thoughts and libertie say,
Virtus sola summa gloria,
Quae format homines vero honore.