Cynthia's Revels; Or, The Fountain of Self-LoveJonson, Ben
General
Cynthia's Revels; Or, The Fountain of Self-Love
Jonson, Ben
English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century
PHI. And then his several colours he wears; wherein he flourisheth
changeably, every day.
PHA. O, but his short hair, and his narrow eyes!
PHI. Why she doats more palpably upon him than ever his father did
upon her.
PHA. Believe me, the young gentleman deserves it. If she could
doat more, 'twere not amiss. He is an exceeding proper youth, and
would have made a most neat barber surgeon, if he had been put to
it in time.
PHI. Say you so? Methinks he looks like a tailor already.
PHA. Ay, that had sayed on one of his customer's suits. His face
is like a squeezed orange, or--
ARG. Well ladies, jest on: the best of you both would be glad of
such a servant.
MOR. Ay, I'll be sworn would they, though he be a little
shame-faced.
PHA. Shame-faced, Moria! out upon him. Your shame-faced servant
is your only gull.
MOR. Go to, beauties, make much of time, and place, and occasion,
and opportunity, and favourites, and things that belong to them,
for I'll ensure you they will all relinquish; they cannot endure
above another year; I know it out of future experience; and
therefore take exhibition, and warning: I was once a reveller
myself, and though I speak it, as mine own trumpet, I was then
esteem'd--
PHI. The very march-pane of the court, I warrant you.
PHA. And all the gallants came about you like flies, did they not?
MOR. Go to, they did somewhat; that's no matter now.
PHA. Nay, good Moria, be not angry. Put case, that we four now
had the grant from Juno, to wish ourselves into what happy estate
we could, what would you wish to be, Moria?
MOR. Who, I! let me see now. I would wish to be a wise woman,
and know all the secrets of court, city, and country. I would know
what were done behind the arras, what upon the stairs, what in the
garden, what in the nymphs' chamber, what by barge, and what by
coach. I would tell you which courtier were scabbed and which not;
which lady had her own face to lie with her a-nights and which not;
who put off their teeth with their clothes in court, who their
hair, who their complexion; and in which box they put it. There
should not a nymph, or a widow, be got with child in the verge, but
I would guess, within one or two, who was the right father, and in
what month it was gotten; with what words, and which way. I would
tell you which madam loved a monsieur, which a player, which a
page; who slept with her husband, who with her friend, who with her
gentleman-usher, who with her horse-keeper, who with her monkey,
and who with all; yes, and who jigg'd the cock too.
PHA. Fie, you'd tell all, Moria! If I should wish now, it should
be to have your tongue out. But what says Philautia? Who should
she be?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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