packthread into the street, and so 'scapt. E. Kno. Nor will I fail to break his match, Go thou along with justice Clement's man, SCENE VII. Matthew, Ed. Kno'well, Bobadill, Stephen; Mat. Sir, did your eyes ever taste the like clown of him, where we were to-day, Mr. Well-bred's half brother? I think the whole earth cannot shew his parallel, by this day-light. E. Kno. We were now speaking of him: captain Bobadill tells me he is fallen foul o' you too. Mat. O, I, sir, he threat'ned me with the bastinado. Bob. I, but I think, I taught you prevention this morning, for that- -You shall kill him beyond question: if you be so generously minded." Mat. Indeed, it is a most excellent trick! Bob. O, you do not give spirit enough to your motion, you are too tardy, too heavy! O, it must be done like lightning, hay? [He practises at a post. Brai. I, sir, there you shall have him. Yes invisible?" much wench, or much son! 'Slight, when he has staid there three or four hours, travailing with the expectation of wonders, and at length be deliver'd of air: O, the sport that I should then take to look on him if I durst! But now I mean to appear no more afore him in this shape. I have another trick to act yet. O that I were so happy as to light on a in anupson now of this justice's novice. Sir, I make you stay somewhat long. 12 Form. Not a whit, sir. Pray you what do you mean, sir? Brai. I was putting up some papersForm. You ha' been lately in the wars, sir, it seems. Brai. Marry have I, sir, to my loss; and expence of all; alınost 13 Form. Troth, sir, I would be glad to bestow a pottle of wine o' you, if it please you to accept it— Brai. O, sir Form. But to hear the manner of your services, and your devices in the wars, they say they be very strange, and not like those a inan reads in the Roman histories, or sees at Mile-end. Brai. No, I assure you, sir; why at any time when it please you, I shall be ready to discourse to you all I know: and more too somewhat. Form. No better time than now, sir; we'll go to the Wind-mill: there we shall have a cup of neat grist, we call it. I pray you, sir, let me request you to the Windmill. Brai. I'll follow you, sir; and make grist of you, if I have good luck. Mat. Rare captain! E. Kno. Captain, did you ever prove yourself upon any of our masters of defence here? Mat. O good sir! yes I hope he has. Bob. I will tell you, sir. Upon my first coming to the city, after my long travel, for knowledge (in that mystery only) there came three or four of 'em to me, at a gentleman's house, where it was my chance to be resident at that time, to intreat my presence at their schools; and withal so much importun'd me, that (I protest to you as I am a gentleman) I was asham'd of their rude demeanour out of all measure: well, I told 'em that to come to a public school, they should pardon me, it was opposite (in diameter) to my humour; but, if so be they would give their attendance at my lodging, I protested to do them what right or favour I could, as I was a gentleman, and so forth. E. Kno. So, sir, then you tried their skill. Bob. Alas, soon tried! you shall hear, sir. Within two or three days after, they came; and, by honesty, fair sir, believe me, I grac'd them exceedingly, shew'd them some two or three tricks of prevention, have purchas'd 'em since a credit to admiration! they cannot deny this: and yet nov "Yes? invisible? much wench, or much son !] Yes? invisible? That is, are you gone out of sight? What follows is proverbial; Much was a term of various senses, and often used as an expression of disdain and contempt. Much good may they do you, both wench, and son, if you find them. "To light on a NUPSON.] This word occurs once more in Jonson's works; the context determines the meaning to be a cully, or fool; but I know no other authority besides his. 13 And expence of all almost-] This is clear and good sense; but the oldest folio puts a stop after the word all, and improves the thought by it :-and expence of all; almost-as if he was going to specify a particular sum, if Formal had not interrupted him. they hate me, and why? because I am extellent, and for no other vile reason on the earth. E. Kno. This is strange and barbarous ! as ever I heard. : Bob. Nay, for a more instance of their preposterous natures; but note, sir. They have assaulted me some three, four, five, six of them together, as I have walk'd alone in divers skirts i' th' town, as Turn-bull, White-chapel, Shore-ditch, which were then my quarters; and since, upon the Exchange, at my lodging, and at my ordinary where I have driven them afore me the whole length of a street, in the open view of all our gallants, pitying to hurt them, believe me. Yet all this lenity will not o'ercome their spleen; they will be doing with the pismire, raising a hill a man may spurn abroad with his foot at pleasure. myself I could have slain them all, but I delight not in murder. I am loth to bear any other than this bastinado for 'em : yet I hold it good polity not to go disarm'd, for though I be skilful, I may be oppress'd with multitudes. By E. Kno. I, believe me, may you, sir: and, in my conceit, our whole nation should sustain the loss by it, if it were so. Bob. Alas, no: what's a peculiar man to a nation? not seen. E. Kno. O, but your skill, sir. Bob. Indeed, that might be some loss; but who respects it? I will tell you, sir, by the way of private, and under seal; I am a gentleman, and live here obscure, and to myself; but were I known to her majesty and the lords, (observe me,) I would undertake, upon this poor head and life, for the public benefit of the state, not only to spare the entire lives of her subjects in general; but to save the one half, pay, three parts of her yearly charge in holding war, and against what enemy soever. And how would I do it, think you? E. Kno. Nay, I know not, nor can I conGeive. Bob. Why thus, sir. I would select nineteen more, to myself, throughout the land; gentlemen they should be of good spirit, strong and able constitution, I would choose hem by an instinct, a character that I have: and I would teach these nineteen the special rules, as your punto, your reverso, your stoccata, your imbroccato, your passada, your montanto; till they could all play very near, or altogether as well as myself. This done, say the enemy were forty thousand strong, we twenty would come into the field the tenth of March, or thereabouts; and we would challenge twenty of the enemy; they could not in their honour refuse us; well, we would kill them; challenge twenty more, kill them; twenty more, kill them; twenty more, kill them too; and thus would we kill every man his twenty a day, that's twenty score; twenty score, that's two hundred; two hundred a day, five days a thousand; forty thousand; forty times five, five times forty, two hundred days kills them all up by computation. And this will I venture my poor gentleman-like carcass to perform, provided there be no treason practis'd upon us, by fair and discreet manhood; that is, civilly by the sword. E. Kno. Why are you so sure of your hand, captain, at all times? Bob. Tut, never miss thrust upon my reputation with you, E. Kno. I would not stand in Downright's state then, an' you meet him, for the wealth of any one street in London. Bob. Why, sir, you mistake me! if he were here now, by this welkin, I would not draw my weapon on him! let this gentleman do his mind: but I will bastinado him, by the bright sun, wherever I meet him. Mat. Faith, and I'll have a fling at him at my distance. E. Kno. Gods so, look where he is; yonder he goes. [Downright walks over the stage. Dow. What peevish luck have I, 1 cannot meet with these bragging rascals? Bob. It's not he; is it? E. Kno. Yes faith, it is he. Mat. I'll be hang'd then if that were he. E. Kno. Sir, keep your hanging good for some greater matter, for I assure you that was he. Step. Upon my reputation, it was he. Bob. Had I thought it had been he, he must not have gone so: but I can hardly be induced to believe it was he yet. E. Kno. That I think, sir. But see, he is come again. Dow. O, Pharaoh's foot, have I found you? Come draw to your tools; draw gipsie, or I'll thresh you. Bob. Gentleman of valour, I do believe in thee, hear me— Dow. Draw your weapon then. Bob. 14 Tall man, I never thought on it till now (body of me) I had a warrant of the 14 Bob. TALL MAN, I never thought on it till now.] Down-right is described soon after, to be a tall big man, or else the fears of Mr. Matthew misrepresented him as such. But the words tall man, in this place, were not designed to give us an idea of his height or bulk. Our ancestors used tall in the sense of stout, bold, or courageous: and this, I apprehend, is the meaning we must assign it here: thus the Lord Bacon tells us, "that Bishop Fox caused "his castle of Norham to be fortified; and mann'd it likewise with a very great number of "tall soldiers." Hist. of Henry VII. p. 173. and in a Discourse on Usury, wrote by Dr. Wilson, we may see how it was then used: "Here in England, he that can rob a man by the peace served on me, even now as I came along, by a water-bearer; this gentleman saw it, Mr. Matthew. Dow. 'Sdeath, you will not draw then ? [He beats him and disarms him, Matthew runs away. Bob. Hold, hold, under thy favour forbear. Dow. Prate again, as you like this, you whoreson foist you. You'll control the point, you? Your consort is gone? had he staid he had shar'd with you, sir. Bob. Well, gentlemen, bear witness, I was bound to the peace, by this good day. E. Kno. No faith, it's an ill day, captain, never reckon it other: but, say you were bound to the peace, the law allows you to defend yourself: that'll prove but a poor excuse. Bob. I cannot tell, sir. I desire good construction in fair sort. I never sustain'd the like disgrace, (by heaven,) sure I was struck with a planet thence, for I had no power to touch my weapon. E. Kno. I, like enough, I have heard of many that have been beaten under a planet : go, get you to a surgeon. 'Slid, an' these be your tricks, your passadoes, and your montantoes, I'll none of them. O, ́manners! that this age should bring forth such creatures! that nature should be at leisure to make 'em! Come, couz. Step. Mass, I'll ha' this cloke. E.Kno. God's will, 'tis Down-right's. Step. Nay, it's mine now, another might have ta'en't up as well as I, I'll wear it, so I will. E. Kno. How an' he see it? he'll challenge it, assure yourself. Step. I, but he shall not ha' it: I'll say I bought it. E. Kno. Take heed you buy it not too dear, couz. unless he play? What's a tall man unless he fight? For indeed all this my wise brothe stands upon absolutely; and that made me fall in with him so resolutely. Dame. I, but what harin might have come of it, brother? Wel. Might, sister? so might the good warm clothes your husband wears be poison'd, for any thing he knows; or the wholesome wine he drank, even now at the table Kit. Now, God forbid: O me. Now I remember [cup, My wife drank to me last; and chang'd the And bade me wear this cursed suit to-day. See, if heav'n suffer murder undiscover'd! I feel me ill; give me some mithridate, Some mithridate and oil, good sister, fetch me; O, I am sick at heart! I burn, I burn. If you will save my life, gv, fetch it me. Wel. O strange humour! my very breath has poison'd him. Brai. Good brother, be content, what do you mean? [kill you. The strength of these extreme conceits will Dame. Beshrew your heart-blood,brother Well-bred, now, For putting such a toy into his head. Wel. Is a fit simile a toy? will he be poison'd with a simile? Brother Kitely, what a strange and idle imagination is this? For shame, be wiser. O' my soul there's no such matter. Kit. Am I not sick? how am I then, not poison'd? Am I not poison d? how am I then so sick? Dume. It you be sick, your own thoughts make you sick. Wel. His jealousy is the poison he has taken. Bra. Mr. Kitely, my master Justice Clement salutes you; and desires to speak with you with all possible speed. [He comes disguised like Justice Clement's "the highway, is called a tall fellow." Lond. 1584. The word occurs likewise in Shakspeare, who seems, in more places than one, to ridicule the frequent use of it by bravoes and bullies. Thus he makes Pistol say, "Thy spirits are most tall." And Mercutio reckons the phrase, a tall man! amongst the affected fancies of the time. F asleep, and borrowed his suit to deliver this counterfeit message in, leaving a rusty armour, and an old brown bill to watch him till my return; which shall be, when I ha' pawn'd his apparel, and spent the better part o' the money, perhaps. Wel. Well, thou art a successful merry knave, Brain-worm, his absence will be a good subject for more mirth. I pray thee, return to thy young master, and will him to meet me and my sister Eridget at the Tower instantly; for, here tell him the house is so stor'd with jealousy, there is no room for Jove to stand upright in. We must get our fortunes committed to some larger prison, say; and than the Tower, I know no better air; nor where the liberty of the house may do us more present service. Away. Kit. Come hither, Thomas. Now, my secret's ripe, And thou shalt have it: lay to both thine Follow 'em, Thomas, or else hang on him, And, if they do but whisper, break 'em off: Cash. As truth's self, sir. Kit. Why, I believe thee; where is Cob, now? Cob! Da. He's ever calling for Cob! I wonder how he employs Cob so! Wel. Indeed, sister, to ask how he employs Cob, is a necessary question, for you that are his wife, and a thing not very easy for you to be satisfied in; but this I'll assure you, Cob's wife is an excelient bawd, sister, and oftentimes your husband haunts her house; marry, to what end; I cannot altogether accuse him, imagine you what you think convenient. But i have known fair hides have foul hearts, ere now, sister. Dame. Never said you truer than that, brother, so much I can tell you for your learning. Thomas, fetch your cloke and go with me, I'll after him presently: I would to fortune I could take him there, i'iaith, I'd return him his own, I warrant him. Wel. So let 'em go: this may make sport anon. Now, my fair sister-in-law, that you knew but how happy a thing it were to be lair and beautiful? Brid. That touches not me, brother. Wel. That's true; that's even the fault of it: for indeed, beauty stands a woman in no stead, unless it procure her touching." But, sister, whether it touch you or no, it touches your beauties; and I am sure, they will abide the touch; an' they do not, a plague of al ceruse, say ; and it touches me too in part, though not in the Wll, there's a dear and respected friend of mine, sister, stands very strongly and worthily affected towards you, and hath vow'd to inflame whole bonfires of zeal at his heart in honour of your perfections. I have already engag'd my promise to bring you, where you shall hear him confirm much more. Ned Kno'well is the man, sister. There's no exception against the party. You are ripe for a husband; and a minute's loss to such an occasion, is a great trespass in a wise beauty. What say you, sister? On my soul he loves you, will you give him the meeting? Brid. Faith I had very little confidence in mine own constancy, brother, if I durst not meet a man: but this motion of yours savours of an old knight adventurer's servant a little too much methinks. Wel. What's that, sister? Wel. No matter if it did, I would be such an one for my friend. But see! who is return'd to hinder us? Kit. "What villainy is this? call'd out on a false message? [Bridget, This was some plot! I was not sent for. Where's your sister? Brid. I think she be gone forth, sir. Brid. She's gone abroad with Thomas. dors me. He hath discover'd all unto my wife! [you Beast that I was to trust him; whither I pray Went she? "Beauty stands a woman in no stead, unless it procure her TOUCHING.] Jonson hath here used the word touching, in that acceptation which the Latin rotic writers sometimes assign the verb tangere: So in the Silent Woman he employs the phrase several times in the same sense, and generally on the authority of Orid. 16 Kitely. What dilluing is this? &c.] The entrances and exits of the persons of the drama, are not always so punctually marked in our ancient plays, as in the modern ones: we have had in this very scene, both Kitely and his wife go out, and return again, without any change or variation; though I believe, according to critical propriety, the departure of a speaker, or at least his entrance, should give occasion to a new scene. Brid. I know not, sir. Kit. Whither, good brother? Kit. I will, I will: to Cob's house? doth She's gone a purpose now to cuckold me, Wel. Come, he is once more gone, Sister, let's lose no time; th' affair is worth it. SCENE IX. Matthew, Bobadill; Brain-worm; Downright, [to them.] Mat. I wonder, captain, what they will say of my going away? ha? Bob. Why, what should they say? but as of a discreet gentleman? quick, wary, respectful of nature's fair lineaments? and that's all. Mat. Why so! but what can they say of your beating? Bob. A rude part, a touch with soft wood, a kind of gross battery used, laid on strongly, borne most patiently; and that's all. Mat. I, but would any man have offered it in Venice? as you say? Bob. Tut, I assure you, no: you shall have there your Nobilis, your Gentelezza, come in bravely upon your reverse, stand you close, stand you firin, stand you fair, save your retricato with his left leg, come to the assalto with the right, thrust with brave steel, defy your base wood! But wherefore do I awake this remembrance? | was fascinated by Jupiter; fascinated; but I will be unwitch'd," and reveng'd by law. Mat. Do you hear? is't not best to get a warrant, and have him arrested and brought before justice Clement? Bob. It were not amiss, would we had it. Mat. Why here comes his man, let's speak to him. Bob. Agreed, do you speak. Brai. With all my heart, sir. Mat. Sir, there is one Down-right hath abus'd this gentleman and myself, and we determine to make our amends by law; now, if you would do us the favour to pro cure a warrant, to bring him afore your maste, you shall be well consider'd, i assure you, sir. Brai. Sir, you know my service is my living; such favours as these gotten of my master is his only preferment, and therefore you must consider me as I may make benėfit of my place. Mat. How is that, sir? Brai. Faith, sir, the thing is extraordinary, and the gentleman may be of great account; yet, be he what he will, it you will lay me down a brace of angels in my hand you shall have it, otherwise no'. Mat. How shall we do, capta n? he asks a brace of anges, you have no money? Bob. Not a cross, by fortune. Mat. Nor I, as i am a gentleman, but two-pence left of my two shillings in the morning for wine and radish: let's find him some pawn. Bob. Pawn? we have none to the value of his demand. Mat. O, yes: 18 I'll pawn this jewel in my ear, and you may pawn your silk-stockings, and pull up your boo's, they will ne'er be mist: it must be done now. Bob. Well, an' there be no remedy: I'll step aside and pull 'em off. Mat. Do you hear, sir? we have no store of money at this time, but you shall have good pawns: look you, sir, this jewel, and that gentleman's silk-stockings, ecause we would have it dispatch'd ere we went to our chambers. Brai. I am content, sir; I will get you the warrant presentiy; what's his naine, say you? Down-right? Mut. I, I, George Down-right. Brai. What manner of man is he? Mat. A tall big man, sir; he goes in a cloke most commonly of silk-russet, laid about with russet-lace. Brai. 'Tis very good, sir. Mat. Here, sir, here's my jewel. Brai. Well, gentlemen, I'll procure you this warrant presently; but who will you " I was fascinated; but I will be unwitch'd.] In our ancient law, when causes were decided by single combat, the parties were obliged to swear, before the encounter began, that they had used no unlawful arts or charms, either to debilitate their adversary, or to render themselves invulnerable, and Bobadill here thinks that Down-right had been practising in that way upon him; and it is probable he means the same too, in a preceding scene, where he engages to kill the enemy by a score a day, provided no treachery was practised. 18 I'll pawn this jewel in my ear.] A fashion at that time for the men to wear rings in their ears, ridiculed by Shakspeare, and the other comic writers. |