Act II. Scene VII. Compalle. Pleasance. Com. Stay Mrs. Pleasance, I must aske you a question: Ha' you any fuites in Law? Ple. I, Mr. Compalle? Com. Answer me briefly, it is dinner time. They say you have retain'd brisk Mr. Practife s Here, of your Councell; and are to be joyn'd 5 A Patentee with him. Ple. In what? who fayes fo? You are difpos'd to jeft. Cam. No, I am in earnest. It is given out i' the house fo, I affure you; But keepe your right to your selfe, and not acquaint 10 A common Lawyer with your cafe. If hee Once find the gap; a thousand will leape after. If I could understand it. I will studie it. Chorus. Dam. But whom doth your Poët meane now by this-Mr. Bias? what Lords Secretary, doth hee purpose to personate, or perstringe? Boy. You might as well aske mee, what Alderman, 5 or Aldermans Mate, hee meant by Sir Moath Interest? or what eminent Lawyer, by the ridiculous Mr. Practife? who hath rather his name invented for laughter, then any offence, or injury it can stick on the reverend Profeffors of the Law: And fo the wife ones will thinke. 10 Pro. It is an infidious Question, Brother Damplay! Iniquity it felfe would not have urg'd it. It is picking the Lock of the Scene; not opening it the faire way with Act... Pleasance.] om. G 12 anone. [Exit. G 14 [Exit. G Chorus.] om. G a Key. A Play, though it apparell, and present vices in generall, flies from all particularities in persons. Would you aske of Plautus, and Terence, (if they both liv'd 15 now) who were Davus, or Pfeudolus in the Scene? who Pyrgopolinices, or Thrajo? who Euclio or Menede mus? Boy. Yes, he would: And inquire of Martial, or any other Epigrammatift, whom he meant by Titius, or Seius (the common John à Noke, or Iohn à Style) under whom they note all vices, and errors taxable to the Times? As if there could not bee name for a Folly fitted to the Stage, but there must be a person in nature, found out to owne it. Dam. Why, I can phant'sie a person to my selfe Boy, who shall hinder me? 20 25 Boy. And, in not publishing him, you doe no man an injury. But if you will utter your owne ill meaning on that person, under the Authors words, you make a Libell 30 of his Comady. Dam. O, hee told us that in a Prologue, long since. Boy. If you doe the fame reprehenfible ill things, still the fame reprehension will ferve you, though you heard it afore: They are his owne words. I can invent 35 no better, nor he. Pro. It is the folemne vice of interpretation, that deformes the figure of many a faire Scene, by drawing it awry; and indeed is the civill murder of moft good Playes: If I fee a thing vively presented on the Stage, 40 that the Glasse of custome (which is Comedy) is so held up to me, by the Poet, as I can therein view the daily examples of mens lives, and images of Truth, in their manners, so drawne for my delight, or profit, as I may (either way) use them and will I, rather (then make 45 that true use) hunt out the Per/ons to defame, by my malice of misapplying? and imperill the innocence, and candor of the Author, by his calumnie? It is an un just way of hearing, and beholding Playes, this, and 50 most unbecomming a Gentleman to appeare malignantly witty in anothers Worke. Boy. They are no other but narrow, and shrunke natures, shriveld up, poore things, that cannot thinke well of themselves, who dare to detract others. That 55 Signature is upon them, and it will last. A halfe-witted Barbari/me! which no Barbers art, or his bals, will ever expunge or take out. Dam. Why, Boy? This were a strange Empire, or rather a Tyrannie, you would entitle your Poet to, 60 over Gentlemen, that they should come to heare, and fee Playes, and lay nothing for their money. Boy. O, yes; say what you will: so it be to purpose, and in place. Dam. Can any thing be out of purpose at a Play? 65 I fee no reason, if I come here, and give my eighteene pence, or two fhillings for my Seat, but I should take it out in cenfure, on the Stage. Boy. Your two fhilling worth is allow'd you but you will take your ten shilling worth, your twenty fhilling 70 worth, and more: And teach others (about you) to doe the like, that follow your leading face; as if you were to cry up or downe every Scene, by confederacy, be it right or wrong. Dam. Who should teach us the right, or wrong at 75 a Play? Boy. If your owne science can not doe it, or the love of Modesty, and Truth; all other intreaties, or attempts -are vaine. You are fitter Spectators for the Beares, then us, or the Puppets. This is a popular ignorance 80 indeed, somewhat better appareld in you, then the 48 his] this W, f People but a hard handed, and stiffe ignorance, worthy a Trewel, or a Hammer-man; and not onely fit to be fcorn'd, but to be triumph'd ore. Dam. By whom, Boy? Boy. No particular, but the general neglect, and 85 filence. Good Master Damplay, be your selfe still, without a second: Few here are of your opinion to day, I hope; to morrow, I am sure there will bee none, when they have ruminated this. Pro. Let us mind what you come for, the Play, which 9° will draw on to the Epitafis now. Act III. Scene I. Item. Needle. Keepe. Plea/ance. Iem. Here's Mr. Doctor? Nee. O Mr. Tim Item, His learned Pothecary! you are welcome: He is within at dinner. Ite. Dinner! Death! Doe bring him newes, from all the points o' the Compasse. (That's all the parts of the sublunary Globe.) Of times, and double times. Nee. In, in, fweet Item, And a perfwading Palate (like his name: S. D. A Room in lady Loadstone's House. Enter Timothy Item, Needle, and Nurse Keep. G Iem.] Item. 1692, f 20 Hee hath begun three draughts of fack in Doctrines, Nee. No, Sir Diaphanous is a Recufant With an allay of water. In, in, Item, Kee. I have a moneths mind, Sweet Mas' Needle. 25 How are they set? Nee. At the boords end my Lady—. Kee. And my young Mrs. by her? Nee. Yes, the Parfon On the right hand (as hee'l not lose his place A noise within. Ple. Ple. Nurse Keepe, nurse Keepe! Nee. What noise is that within ? Come to my Miftris, all their weapons are out. Nee. Mischiefe of men! what day, what houre is this? Kec. Run for the cellar of strong waters, quickly. To them after. Com. Were you a mad man to doe this at table? 23 peeping. [Exit Item. G 34 Ple. [within.] G 35 Ple. S. D. Another Room in the Same. Enter Ironside, followed by Compass. G |