English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Acu_. O muffle muffle, good _Graccus_, do not taint thy sence
With sight of these infectious animalles,
'Less[233] reason in thee have the upper hand
To governe sence, to see and shun the sight.
Here's new discovered sins, past all the rest;
Men strive to practice how to sweare the best.'
_Scil_. I have quoted it, sir; by this bright Hore, Horeson, pronounce
ye, sir?
_Serv_. Horison!
_Scil_. Horison:--the Widowes mite, sir.
_Serv_. Not for the Soldans crown, sir.
_Scil_. Indeede yee shall, by this bright horison ye shall; beleeve me,
if I sweare, I think myself beholding for I know it to be no common
oath.
_Serv_. Were it common it past not these doores; Sir, I shift my oathes,
as I wash my hands, twice in the artificial day; for in dialoguising,
tis to be observ'd, your sentences, must ironically, metaphorically, and
altogether figuratively, [be] mixt with your morning oathes.
_Scil_. Faith, tis verie true.
_Accu_. That he neither knowes what he saies nor thou understandest.
_Serv_. As for example, by this illuminate welkin.
_Scil_. Oh excellent! it shall be downe to.
_Accut_. There's another Ducket. He utters his oathes apace.
Sure this Villaine has no soule, and for gold
Heele damn his body too, hee's at peace with hell
And brings his Merchandise from thence to sell.
_Boy_. I have heere two Mistresses, but if the best were chosen out, if
_Poliphemus_ tother eye were out his choice might be as good as _Argus_
broade waking, so difficult is the difference.
_Phy_. Boy, sleepe wayward thoughts?
_Boy_. Sir.
_Phy_. Is it not now most amyable and faire?
_Boy_. Yes sir, God be praised.
_Phy_. What meanst thou, Boy?
_Boy_. The weather, sir.
_Phy_. I meane my haire and face, Boy.
_Boy_. Twere amiable if it would not alter.
_Phy_. Wherfore I often repaire it.
_Boy_. Me thinkes that should weare it the sooner.
_Phy_. Not so Boy, for to trimme the Hayer well is a rare qualitie; to
bee rarelye quallified is to be wise; apply, Boy.
_Boy_. That you are wise in trimming your hayre, Maister?
_Phy_. Right, to be wise is to be rare, for it is rare to see a wise
man.
_Boy_. True, Maister, but if youle see a foole, looke in your Glasse,
maister!
_Phy_. Goe to, I must correct you, Boy.
_Boy_. You can correct no more then is your own; I am but halfe yours to
commaund, if you steale away any parte that is not your owne you are so
farre in daunger as the striking of an other mans servant.
_Scil_.[234] By this illuminate welkin! most sincere and singular: as a
small remembrance.
_Serv_. Not for to winne the faire _Angelica_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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