The doctor, &c., vol. 2 (of 7)

by Robert Southey

² BEAUMONT and FLETCHER.

No, my Lord, as well as Aye, my Lord!

Never made man of woman born
Of a bullock's tail, a blowing-horn;
Nor can an ass's hide disguise
A lion, if he ramp and rise.³

³ PEELE.

“More fooling,” exclaims Dr. Dense: he takes off his spectacles, lays them on the table beside him, with a look of despair, and applies to the snuff-box for consolation. It is a capacious box, and the Doctor's servant takes care that his master shall never find in it a deficiency of the best rappee. “More fooling!” says that worthy Doctor.

Fooling, say you, my learned Dr. Dense? Chiabrera will tell you

——che non è ria
Una gentil follia,—

my erudite and good Doctor;

But do you know what fooling is? true fooling,—
The circumstances that belong unto it?
For every idle knave that shews his teeth,
Wants, and would live, can juggle, tumble, fiddle,
Make a dog-face, or can abuse his fellow,
Is not a fool at first dash.⁴

⁴ BEAUMONT and FLETCHER.