_Lau_. My Inclinations, Sir, have given you more--pray let me wait on you
to your Lodgings, lest a farther Insolence shou’d be offer’d you.
_Gal_. Sir, you oblige too fast.
[_They go out_.
Sir _Sig_. Ah, _che Diavilo Ayles_, these hot-brain’d fellows, sure,
they’re drunk.
_Pet_. Oh, fy, Signior, drunk, for a Man of Quality--’tis intolerable.
Sir _Sig_. Ay: why how so, Signior _Morigoroso_?
_Pet. Imbriaco_ had made it a fine Speech indeed.
Sir _Sig_. Why, faith, and so it had, as thus,--_ach Diavilo Ayles_,
these are hot-brain’d Fellows, sure they are _imbriaco_,--Now, wou’d not
I be drunk for a thousand Crowns: _Imbriaco_ sounds _Cinquante per cent_
better.--Come, noble Signior, let’s _andiamo a casa_, which is as much as
to say, let’s amble home.--
_Tick_. In troth, wondrous expert--_Certo_, Signior, he’s an apt Scholar.
Sir _Sig_. Ah, Sir, you shall see, when I come to my Civilities.--
_Pet_. Where the first Lesson you shall learn, is, how to give and how to
receive with a Bon-Grace.
_Tick_. That receiving Lesson I will learn my self.
_Pet_. This unfrequented part of the Garden, Signior, will fit our
purpose as well as your Lodgings.--first then--Signiors, your Address.
[_Puts himself in the middle_.
[Petro _bows on both sides, they do the like_.
--Very well, that’s at the Approach of any Person of
Quality, after which you must take out your Snuff-Box.
Sir _Sig_. Snuff-Box; why, we take no Snuff, Signior.
_Pet_. Then, Sir, by all means you must learn: for besides the Mode and
Gravity of it, it inviveates the _Pericranium_; that is, sapientates the
Brain,--that is, inspires Wit, Thought, Invention, Understanding, and the
like--you conceive me, Signiors--
[_Bowing_.
Sir _Sig_. Most profoundly, Signior.--
[_Bowing_.
_Pet_.--Then, Signiors, it keeps you in confidence, and Countenance; and
whilst you gravely seem to take a snush, you gain time to answer to the
purpose, and in a politick Posture--as thus--to any intricate Question.
_Tick_. Hum--_certo_, I like that well; and ‘twere admirable if a Man
were allow’d to take it when he’s out in’s Sermon.
_Pet_. Doubtless, Signior, you might, it helps the Memory better than
Rosemary: therefore I have brought each of you a Snuff-Box.
Sir _Sig_. By no means: excuse me Signior.
[_Refuses to take ‘em_.
_Pet_. Ah, Baggatelles, Signior, Baggatelles; and now, Signiors, I’ll
teach you how to take it with a handsom Grace: Signior, your Hand--and
yours, Signior;
[_Lays Snuff on their hands_.
--so, now draw your hand to and fro under your Noses, and snuff it hard
up--Excellent well.
[_They daub all their Noses, and make Grimaces, and sneeze_.
Sir _Sig_. Methinks, Signior, this Snuff stinks most damnably: pray, what
scent do you call this?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account