FAST. Ay, especially a rustic or a clown, madam, that it is not possible
for the sharpest-sighted wit in the world to discern any sparks of the
gentleman in him, when he does it.
SAV. O, monsieur Brisk, be not so tyrannous to confine all wits within the
compass of your own; not find the sparks of a gentleman in him, if he be a
gentleman!
FUNG. No, in truth, sweet lady, I believe you cannot.
SAV. Do you believe so? why, I can find sparks of a gentleman in you, sir.
PUNT. Ay, he is a gentleman, madam, and a reveller.
FUNG. Indeed, I think I have seen your ladyship at our revels.
SAV. Like enough, sir; but would I might see this wonder you talk of; may
one have a sight of him for any reasonable sum?
PUNT. Yes, madam, he will arrive presently.
SAV. What, and shall we see him clown it?
FAST. I'faith, sweet lady, that you shall; see, here he comes.
ENTER MACILENTE AND SOGLIARDO.
PUNT. This is he! pray observe him, lady.
SAV. Beshrew me, he clowns it properly indeed.
PUNT. Nay, mark his courtship.
SOG. How does my sweet lady? hot and moist? beautiful and lusty? ha!
SAV. Beautiful, an it please you, sir, but not lusty.
SOG. O ho, lady, it pleases you to say so, in truth: And how does my
sweet lady? in health? 'Bonaroba, quaeso, que novelles? que novelles?'
sweet creature!
SAV. O excellent! why, gallants, is this he that cannot be deciphered?
they were very blear-witted, i'faith, that could not discern the gentleman
in him.
PUNT. But you do, in earnest, lady?
SAV. Do I sir! why, if you had any true court-judgment in the carriage of
his eye, and that inward power that forms his countenance, you might
perceive his counterfeiting as clear as the noon-day; alas -- nay, if you
would have tried my wit, indeed, you should never have told me he was a
gentleman, but presented him for a true clown indeed; and then have seen if
I could have deciphered him.
FAST. 'Fore God, her ladyship says true, knight: but does he not affect
the clown most naturally, mistress?
PUNT. O, she cannot but affirm that, out of the bounty of her judgment.
SAV. Nay, out of doubt he does well, for a gentleman to imitate: but I
warrant you, he becomes his natural carriage of the gentleman, much better
than his clownery.
FAST. 'Tis strange, in truth, her ladyship should see so far into him!
PUNT. Ay, is it not?
SAV. Faith, as easily as may be; not decipher him, quoth you!
FUNG. Good sadness, I wonder at it
MACI. Why, has she deciphered him, gentlemen?
PUNT. O, most miraculously, and beyond admiration.
MACI. Is it possible?
FAST. She hath gather'd most infallible signs of the gentleman in him,
that's certain.
SAV. Why, gallants, let me laugh at you a little: was this your device,
to try my judgment in a gentleman?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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