But talk, sir, what you willUse all the tropes Engine, God be wi' you! Wit. Sir, I must condition To have this gentleman by, a witness. Fitz. Well, I am content, so he be silent. Man. Yes, sir. Fitz. Come, Devil, I'll make you room straight: but I'll shew you First to your mistress, who's no common one, You must conceive, that brings this gain to see her. I hope thou'st brought me good luck. Pug. I shall do't, sir. [They all enter the house. SCENE III. A Room in FITZDOTTREL's House. Enter WITTIPOL, MANLY, and ENGINE. Wittipol. NGINE, you hope of your half piece? 'tis there, sir. Be gone. [Exit ENGINE.]-Friend Manly, who's within here? fixed! [Knocks him on the breast. Man. I am directly in a fit of wonder What will be the issue of this conference. our old writers. Thus Chaucer, in The Wife of Bath's Prologue, v. 59, And Spenser, "Where can you say in any manir age That ever God defendid marriage ?" "That, O ye heavens, defend! and turn away." Faerie Queene, B. 5. C. 8. St. 10. Wit. For that ne'er vex yourself till the event. How like you him? Man. I would fain see more of him. Wit. What think you of this? Man. I am past degrees of thinking. Old Afric, and the new America, With all their fruit of monsters, cannot shew Wit. Could you have believed, Without your sight, a mind so sordid inward, Man. I believe any thing now, though I confess His vices are the most extremities I ever knew in nature. But why loves he Wit. O, sir! for hidden treasure He hopes to find; and has proposed himself So infinite a mass, as to recover, He cares not what he parts with, of the present, Man. But have you faith, That he will hold his bargain? Wit. O dear sir! He will not off on't; fear him not: I know him. Man. A wondrous handsome creature, as I live! Enter FITZDOTTREL, with Mrs. FRANCES his wife. Fitz. Come, wife, this is the gentleman; nay, blush not. Mrs. Fitz. Why, what do you mean, sir, have you your reason? Fitz. Wife, I do not know that I have lent it forth Of disputation. Mrs. Fitz. Are you not enough The talk of feasts and meetings, but you'll still Fitz. Why, careful wedlock, If I have a longing to have one tale more As bitterly on me, where both are laugh'd at. Fitz. Laugh'd at, sweet bird! is that the scruple? come, come, Thou art a niaise." Which of your great houses, I think they may do something may be laugh'd at; 7 Thou art a niaise.] A marginal note in the old copy says, "a niaise is a young hawk taken crying out of the nest." This explanation could scarcely come from Jonson; for it explains nothing. A niaise (or rather an eyas, of which it is a corruption) is unquestionably a young hawk, but the niaise of the poet is the French term for, "a simple, witless, inexperienced gull," &c. The word is very common in our old writers. Which I can sell for thirty, when I have seen Of being laugh'd at! Yes, wusse. Let them laugh, wife. Is all I'll borrow of thee.-Set your watch, sir. These pragmatic young men at their own weapons. All London in't and London has seen me.] Had Pope read this passage? "Europe he saw, and Europe saw him too." [Aside. Wit. I'll set it, sir, with yours. Mrs. Fitz. I must obey. Man. Her modesty seems to suffer with her beauty, And so, as if his folly were away, It were worth pity. Fitz. Now they are right; begin, sir.9 But first, let me repeat the contract briefly. I am, sir, to enjoy this cloke I stand in, Freely, and as your gift; upon condition You may as freely speak here to my spouse, Your quarter of an hour, always keeping The measured distance of your yard or more, From my said spouse; and in my sight and hearing. This is your covenant? Wit. Yes, but you'll allow For this time spent now? Fitz. Set them so much back. Wit. I think I shall not need it. Fitz. Well, begin, sir, There is your bound, sir; not beyond that rush. I hope I stand the nearer to my pardon. Now they are right,] i. e. the watches. Whalley says that the old copy has Now thou art right, meaning his wife; but he is mistaken, it reads as in the text. |