To his fair love! And then he goes about For to perfume her rare perfection With some sweet-smelling pink epitheton; Then with a melting look he writhes his head, And straight in passion riseth in his bed; And having kiss'd his hand, stroke up his hair, Made a French conge, cries, "O cruel fear!" 70 To the antic bedpost. I laugh'd amain, That down my cheeks the mirthful drops did rain. Well, he's no Janus, but substantial, In show and essence a good natural; When as thou hear'st me ask spruce Duceus From whence he comes; and he straight answers us, From Lady Lilla; and is going straight To the Countess of (----), for she doth wait His coming, and will surely send her coach, Unless he make the speedier approach: 80 Art not thou ready for to break thy spleen At laughing at the fondness thou hast seen In this vain-glorious fool, when thou dost know He never durst unto these ladies show His pippin face? Well, he's no accident, But real, real, shameless, impudent; And yet he boasts, and wonders that each man Can call him by his name, sweet Ducean; And is right proud that thus his name is known. Ay, Duceus, ay, thy name is too far blown: 90 The world too much, thyself too little know'st, Thy private self. Why, then, should Duceus boast? But, humble Satire, wilt thou deign display These open nags, which purblind eyes bewray? Come, come, and snarl more dark at secret sin, Which in such labyrinths enwrappèd bin, That, Ariadne, I must crave thy aid To help me find where this foul monster's laid; Then will I drive the Minotaur from us, And seem to be a second Theseus. 100 [383] The maze at Woodstock. [384] I suppose that "nitty" = _spruce_ (_Lat._ nitidus). The usual meaning of "nitty" is--_lousy_. [385] Carried by the sheriff's officer when he arrested a man for debt. [386] In the original, the couplet "Why, so ... humorise," follows l. 36. Mr. Gosse pointed out this error (Grosart's _Marston_, p. li.); he proposes to put the couplet about the goat lower down. [387] Anointed with the white of an egg.--Old eds. "glazed." SATIRE IV. _Reactio._