I look'd on your feet afore, you cannot cozen me, Your shoe's not cloven, sir, you are whole hoof'd. Pug. Sir, that's a popular error, deceives many : But I am that I tell you. Fitz. What's your name? Pug. My name is Devil, sir. Pug. Indeed, sir. Fitz. 'Slid, there's some omen in this! What countryman? Pug. Of Derbyshire, sir, about the Peak. Fitz. That hole Belong'd to your ancestors? Pug. Yes, Devil's arse, sir. Fitz. I'll entertain him for the name sake. Ha! And turn away my t'other man, and save Four pound a year by that! there's luck and thrift too! And cannot be without. Pug. Yes, if I do not Offend, you can, sure. Fitz. Faith, Devil, very hardly : I'll call you by your surname, 'cause I love it. Enter, behind, ENGINE, with a cloke on his arm, WITTIPOL, and MANLY. go Eng. Yonder he walks, sir, I'll lift him for you. Wit. To him, good Engine, raise him up by de grees, the lie might be given, without subjecting the speaker to the absolute necessity of receiving a challenge. To this Fitzdottrel alludes in the next hemistich-for I'll not quarrel. The remainder of the speech refers to the vulgar opinion respecting the devil, which is also noticed by Shakspeare, "I look down towards his feet;-but that's a fable." Othello. Gently, and hold him there too, you can do it. Eng. I'll warrant you, for half a piece. [ENGINE goes to FITZDOTTREL and takes him aside. Man. Is't possible there should be such a man! Wit. You shall be your own witness; I'll not labour To tempt you past your faith. Man. And is his wife Wit. I have not seen her Since I came home from travel; and they say I saw her once; but so, as she hath stuck Deep in the eyes, she hardly leaves the inn. How does he keep her? Wit. Very brave; however Himself be sordid, he is sensual that way: In every dressing he does study her. Man. And furnish forth himself so from the brokers? Wit. Yes, that's a hired suit he now has on, To see the DEVIL IS AN ASS, to day, in. This Engine gets three or four pound a week by him-He dares not miss a new play or a feast, What rate soever clothes be at; and thinks Himself still new, in other men's old. Man. But stay, Does he love meat so? Wit. Faith, he does not hate it. But that's not it: his belly and his palate Just what it list: it ravishes him forth He has of his own great and catholic strengths, Fitz. [after saying on the cloke.] A fair garment, By my faith, Engine! Eng. It was never made, sir, For threescore pound, I assure you: 'twill yield thirty. The plush, sir, cost three pound ten shillings a yard: And then the lace and velvet! Fitz. I shall, Engine, Be look'd at, prettily, in it: art thou sure The play is play'd to-day? Eng. O here's the bill, sir: I had forgot to give it you. [He gives him the play-bill. I will not lose you, sirrah. But, Engine, think you So mad upon the matter, that he'll part Eng. Trust not your Engine, Break me to pieces else, as you would do A rotten crane, or an old rusty jack, That has not one true wheel in him. Do but talk with him. Fitz. I shall do that, to satisfy you, Engine, And myself too. [comes forward.]-With your leave, gentlemen. 4 Which of you is it, is so mere idolater Which of you is it, &c.] This adventure of the cloke, as Langbaine observes, is from Boccacio, Day 3. Nov. 5. It is there told of Francisco Vergellesi, who parts with a horse on the conditions stipulated in the text. Jonson has judiciously adapted his bribe to the disposition of his characters; but for a person who is To my wife's beauty, and so very prodigal Wit. I am that venturer, sir. Fitz. Good time! your name Is Wittipol? Wit. The same, sir. Fitz. And 'tis told me You have travell❜d lately? Fitz. Truly, have alter'd your complexion; Your travels may have alter'd But sure your wit stood still. Wit. It may well be, sir ; All heads have not like growth. Fitz. The good man's gravity, That left you land, your father, never taught you Wit. No, nor can his mirth, With whom I make them, put me off. Fitz. You are Resolved then? Wit. Yes, sir. Fitz. Beauty is the saint, You'll sacrifice your self into the shirt to? Wit. So I may still clothe and keep warm your wisdom. Fitz. You lade me, sir!5 Wit. I know what you will bear, sir. now, perhaps, for the first time indebted to a preceding writer for any part of his plot, the incident seems scarcely worth the borrowing. You lade me, sir !] you do not spare me. The word occurs me. This is equivalent to the modern phrase, You lay what imputations you please upon again in this sense, p. 33. * Fitz. Well, to the point. 'Tis only, sir, you say, Wit. Only to speak to her. Fitz. For the short space You do demand, the fourth part of an hour, Wit. I ask no more. Fitz. Please you, walk toward my house, Speak what you list; that time is yours; my right A minute, or a second, look for. Length, And drawing out may advance much to these matches. Silent petitions still with willing lovers. Wit. Lovers! how falls that o' your phantasy? I do know somewhat; I forbid all lip-work. Wit. I am not eager at forbidden dainties : Fitz. You say well, sir; 'twas prettily said, that same: He does indeed. I'll have no touches therefore, All melting joints and fingers, that's my bargain, 6 I do defend them any thing like action.] To defend, from the Fr. defendre, is to forbid. This sense of the word is common in |