English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Cap_. Why, this was spoke like one of us; canst doo't
Agen? thy voice is more authentick, soundes
As I have heard a Cavalliers in taverne,
Or like the merry master of the _Dragon_,
Small _Neptune_, that controlls the rich Canaries,
When he Comaunds the Tritons of his cellar
'Skud, and bring wine, you varlotts, with a flavour
For my Nobilitie.' Wee were conspiring
To goe to'th taverne.
_Cou_. Ile make one, gentlemen, to wash away some melancholy.
_Cap_. Spoke boldlie, like an _Argonaute_.
_Cou_. I am not now in _London_,
Upon a hall day marching with the puisnes,
Twenty on's in a teame, to _Westminster_
In our torne gownes, embroiderd with _Strand_ dirt,
To heare the Law.
_Cap_. Is not thy father dead, thou talkst so well?
How I was cosend in thee: come away.
_Enter Thomas_.
_Un_. Here's my man _Thomas_.
_Cap_. Now the Newes, Sir _Tristram_.
_Tho_. Oh the Gentleman is mad.
_Un_. What gentleman?
_Tho_. Why, Mr. Engine that did faint last night.
_Un_. With feare of being hang'd for his projections.
_Cou_. My Uncle told me of him.
_Cap. Let him to _Bedlam_ then; what makes he here?
Clean straw and a good whip are held restoratives.
_Tho_. He walkes and talkes the madliest; twenty midwives
Are nothing to him, he drownes all their noise.
His tongue is twenty ring of Bells, and yett
He seemes so merry.
_Enter Engine_.
_En_. Save you, gentlemen, gallants, Cavalliers. How farre travell you:
me thinkes you are very finely accomodated. Are you a Doctor, sir?
_Cap_. No, but I can tell you how to purge, and please you.
_En_. You say very well. Troth, gentlemen you must pardon me: cry you
mercy, your name is Captaine _Underwit_.
_Un_. Yes, sir, but my mother came of the _Over-muches_ by the _Peake_.
She broke my father's hart, and Sir _Richard_ buried her: things must be
as please the starres.
_En_. What thinke you of the blazeing starre in _Germany_? according to
_Ptolmy_ tis very strange. Does the race hold at _Newmarket_ for the
Cup[254]? When is the Cocking, gentlemen? There are a parcell of rare
Jewells to be sold now, and a man had money. I doe meane to build a very
fine house next summer and fish ponds. What did you heare of the new
play. I am afraid the witts are broke; there be men will make affidavit
that [they] have not heard a good jest since _Tarleton_[255] dyed. Pray,
may I crave your name, sir?
_Cou_. My name is _Courtwell_, sir.
_En_. In your eare; I have a cast of the best Marlins[256] in England,
but I am resolv'd to goe no more by water but in my Coach. Did you ever
see the great ship?[257]
_Cap_. I have been one of twenty that have dind in her lanterne.
_En_. It may be so; she is a good sailer. But ile tell you one thing: I
intend to have the best pack of hounds in _Europe_; Sir Richard loves
the sport well. And then if I can but find out the reason of the
loadstone I were happie and would write _Non Ultra_.
_Cap_. The philosophers stone were better in my opinion. Have you no
project to gett that?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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