Mos. Without a partner, sir; confirmed this morning; the wax is warm yet, and the ink scarce dry upon the parchment. Volt. Happy, happy, me! Mos. by what good chance, sweet Mosca ? I know no second cause. Volt. Thy modesty Mos. is not to know it: well, we shall requite it. men of your large profession, that could speak and (re)-return; could make knots, and undo them : B. JONSON SCENE FROM THE FOX MOSCA―VOLPONE, after practising upon the avarice of an old gentleman CORBACCIO Volp. [leaping from his couch] O, I shall burst! Mos. . let out my sides, let out my sides Contain your flux of laughter, sir; you know this hope Volp. O, but thy working and thy placing it! I cannot hold; good rascal, let me kiss thee: Mos. Alas, sir, I but do, as I am taught; follow your grave instructions; give them words; pour oil into their ears, and send them hence. Volp. Tis true tis true. What a rare punishment is avarice to itself! Mos. Ay, with our help, sir. Volp. So many cares, so many maladies, so many fears attending on old age, yea, death so often called on, as no wish can be more frequent with them, their limbs faint, with charms, like Æson, have his youth restored: and all turns air! B. JONSON 12 Wel. SCENE FROM EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR WELL-BRED-CAPTAIN BOBADILL-E. KNOWELL Captain Bobadill, why muse you so? Know. He is melancholy too. Bob. 'Faith, sir, I was thinking of a most honourable piece of service, was performed to-morrow, being St Mark's to-day, shall be some ten years now. Know. In what place, captain? Bob. Why, at the beleaguering of Strigonium, where no less than two hours, seven hundred resolute gentlemen, as any were in Europe, lost their lives upon the breach. I'll tell you, gentlemen, it was the first but the best leaguer that ever I beheld with these eyes, except the taking in of—what do you call it? last year—by the Genoways; but that of all other was the most fatal and dangerous exploit that ever I was ranged in, since I first bore arms before the face of the enemy, as I am a gentleman and a soldier! Know. Then you were a servitor at both, it seems; at Strigonium, and what do you call 't? Bob. By St George, I was the first man that entered the breach, and had I not effected it with resolution, I had been slain, if I had had a million of lives- -observe me judicially, sweet sir: they had planted me three demi-culverins just in the mouth of the breach; now, sir, as we were to give on, their master-gunner (a man of no mean skill and mark, you must think), confronts me with his linstock, ready to give fire; I, spying his intendment, discharged my petronel in his bosom, and with these single arms, my poor rapier, ran violently upon the Moors that guarded the ordinance and put 'em pell-mell to the sword. B. JONSON 13 SCENE FROM THE ALCHEMIST FACE, the house-keeper, in order to conceal what had been going on in his Master LOVEWIT's house, during his absence, tries to persuade him that it was shut up on account of being visited by an apparition. Face. Good sir, come from the door. Face. Yet farther, you are too near yet. 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, Love. the cat that kept the buttery, had it on her conveyed away in the night : and so I shut How ! Face. Purposing then, sir, t' have burnt rose-vinegar, treacle tar, and have made it sweet, that you should 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, they tell me, men and women, and of all sorts, tag-rag, been seen to flock here— Face. They did pass through the doors then, or walls, I assure their eye-sights and their spec- for here, sir, are the keys, and here have been, B. JONSON 14 SCENE FROM THE GUARDIAN DURAZZO reproved by CAMILLO for indulging the extravagance of his nephew and ward. Dur. Tell me of his expenses! which of you Cam. Dur. .Cam. Dur. stands bound for a gazet? he spends his own; Your age gives privilege to this harsh language. My age! do not use that word again; if you do, I shall grow young and swinge you soundly. I would have you know though I write fifty odd, I do not carry an almanack in my bones to predeclare what weather we shall have; nor do I kneel before my doctor. This is from the purpose I cannot cut a caper, or groan like you ride a barbed horse, or take a leap after me, following my hounds or hawks, and you'll confess I am in the May of my abilities and you in your December. Dur. that understand myself and them, they are no more than how to cipher well or do his tricks by the square root; grant him no plea sure but quoits and nine-pins: suffer him to converse with none but clowns and coblers. 15 THE PARASITE P. MASSINGER WHAT art, vocation, trade or mystery can match with your fine parasite? Painter ! He! a mere dauber; A vile drudge the Farmer: to jeer, to quibble, faith sirs! and to drink, and feed upon the rich. Now mark me right! The |