TAI. What, he in the blush-coloured satin?
FUNG. Ay, he, sir; though his suit blush, he blushes not, look you, that's
the suit, sir: I would have mine such a suit without difference, such
stuff, such a wing, such a sleeve, such a skirt, belly and all; therefore,
pray you observe it. Have you a pair of tables?
FAST. Why, do you see, sir, they say I am fantastical; why, true, I know
it, and I pursue my humour still, in contempt of this censorious age.
'Slight, an a man should do nothing but what a sort of stale judgments
about him this town will approve in him, he were a sweet ass: I'd beg him,
i'faith. I ne'er knew any more find fault with a fashion, than they that
knew not how to put themselves into it. For mine own part, so I please
mine own appetite, I am careless what the fusty world speaks of me. Puh!
FUNG. Do you mark, how it hangs at the knee there?
TAI. I warrant you, sir.
FUNG. For God's sake do, not all; do you see the collar, sir?
TAI. Fear nothing, it shall not differ in a stitch, sir.
FUNG. Pray heaven it do not! you'll make these linings serve, and help me
to a chapman for the outside, will you?
TAI. I'll do my best, sir: you'll put it off presently.
FUNG. Ay, go with me to my chamber you shall have it -- but make haste of
it, for the love of a customer; for I'll sit in my old suit, or else lie a
bed, and read the 'Arcadia' till you have done.
[EXIT WITH HIS TAILOR.
RE-ENTER CARLO.
CAR. O, if ever you were struck with a jest, gallants, now, now, now, I do
usher the most strange piece of military profession that ever was
discovered in 'Insula Paulina'.
FAST. Where? where?
PUNT. What is he for a creature?
CAR. A pimp, a pimp, that I have observed yonder, the rarest superficies
of a humour; he comes every morning to empty his lungs in Paul's here; and
offers up some five or six hecatombs of faces and sighs, and away again.
Here he comes; nay, walk, walk, be not seen to note him, and we shall have
excellent sport.
ENTER SHIFT; AND WALKS BY, USING ACTION TO HIS RAPIER.
PUNT. 'Slid, he vented a sigh e'en now, I thought he would have blown up
the church.
CAR. O, you shall have him give a number of those false fires ere he depart.
FAST. See, now he is expostulating with his rapier: look, look!
CAR. Did you ever in your days observe better passion over a hilt?
PUNT. Except it were in the person of a cutlet's boy, or that the fellow
were nothing but vapour, I should think it impossible.
CAR. See again, he claps his sword o' the head, as who should say, well,
go to.
FAST. O violence! I wonder the blade can contain itself, being so provoked.
CAR. "With that the moody squire thumpt his breast,
And rear'd his eyen to heaven for revenge."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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