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? Bona roba, quæso, que novelles? que novelles? sweet creature! Sav. O excellent! why, gallants, is this he 3 Hot and moist?] These two important words have been produced by Steevens as a striking proof of Jonson's malignity to Shakspeare, they being a manifest sneer at hot and moist in Othello. I believe Shakspeare to be the greatest parodist, or sneerer, except Aristophanes, that ever existed; and I know that, in many instances, where Jonson has been represented as the aggressor, he is "a man more sinned against than sinning." Every Man out of his Humour preceded Othello by many years; the sneer therefore, if any there be, must be placed to the account of the latter. But, seriously-can any folly equal that of construing every application of a written passage into an insult upon the original? When we quote Horace or Virgil either seriously or humourously, we do it, I suppose, to shew our wit or our reading, and not to sneer at them. But Shakspeare is sacred! Not so; for we have recourse to him upon all occasions: yet who so honoured?-The fact seems to be, that his expressions may be lawfully used by every one but Jonson; upon whom, if a single word employed by Shakspeare be found, the whole cry of commentators open at once, "With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and ring upon our After all, the trite words which gave rise to this attack author, are expressly marked by himself as a quotation :-this, however, his calumniators did not know. 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 courtjudgment 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. 4 Why, gallants, is this he that cannot be deciphered?] Saviolina had been told that Sogliardo spoke the languages with purity, from the gallimaufry of Latin, French, and Italian, with which he accosts her, she naturally concludes that he is endeavouring to impose upon her by an appearance of ignorance. 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 ? Maci Nay, lady, do not scorn us, though you have this gift of perspicacy above others. What if he should be no gentleman now, but a clown indeed, lady? Punt. How think you of that? would not your ladyship be Out of your Humour ? Fast. O, but she knows it is not so. Sav. What if he were not a man, ye may as well say? Nay, if your worships could gull me so, indeed, you were wiser than you are taken for. Maci. In good faith, lady, he is a very perfect clown, both by father and mother; that I'll assure you. Sav, O, sir, you are very pleasurable. Maci. Nay, do but look on his hand, and that shall resolve you; look you, lady, what a palm here is. Sog. Tut, that was with holding the plough. thing in him, madam? any such Fast. Faith no, she saw the gentleman as bright as at noon-day, she; she deciphered him at first. Maci. Troth, I am sorry your ladyship's sight should be so suddenly struck. Sav. O, you are goodly beagles! Fast. What, is she gone? Sog. Nay, stay, sweet lady: que novelles? que novelles? Sav. Out, you fool, you! [Exit in anger. Fung. She's Out of her Humour, i'faith. Fast. Nay, let's follow it while 'tis hot, gen. tlemen. Punt. Come, on mine honour we shall make her blush in the presence; my spleen is great with laughter. Maci. Your laughter will be a child of a feeble life, I believe, sir. [Aside.]-Come, signior, your looks are too dejected, methinks; why mix you not mirth with the rest? Fung, Od's will, this suit frets me at the soul. I'll have it alter'd to-morrow, sure, [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Palace Stairs. Enter SHIFT. Shift. I am come to the court, to meet with my Countenance, Sogliardo; poor men must be glad of such countenance, when they can get no better. Well, need may insult upon a man, but it shall never make him despair of consequence. The world will say, 'tis base: tush, base! 'tis base to live under the earth, not base to live above it by any means. Enter FASTIDIOUS, PUNTARVOLO, SOGLIARDO, FUNGOSO, and MACILENTE. Fast. The poor lady is most miserably out of her humour, i'faith. Punt. There was never so witty a jest broken, at the tilt of all the court wits christen'd. Maci. O, this applause taints it foully." Sog. I think I did my part in courting.-0, Resolution! Punt. Ay me, my dog! Maci. Where is he? Fast. 'Sprecious, go seek for the fellow, good signior. [Erit Fungoso. Punt. Here, here I left him. Maci. Why, none was here when we came in now, but cavalier Shift; enquire of him. Fast. Did you see sir Puntarvolo's dog here, cavalier, since you came? Shift. His dog, sir! he may look his dog, sir. I saw none of his dog, sir. Maci. Upon my life, he has stolen your dog, sir, and been hired to it by some that have ventured with you; you may guess by his peremptory answers. Punt. Not unlike; for he hath been a notorious thief by his own confession. Sirrah, where is my dog? Shift. Charge me with your dog, sir! I have none of your dog, sir. sir. Punt. Villain, thou liest. Shift. Lie, sir! s'blood,-you are but a man, Punt. Rogue and thief, restore him. Sog. Take heed, sir Puntarvolo, what you do; he'll bear no coals, I can tell you,' o' my word. Maci. This is rare. O, this applause taints it foully.] See p. 55. Take heed what you do ; he'll bear no coals, I can tell you.] He will not be insulted; he will bear no injuries. From the mean nature of this occupation, it seems to have been somewhat hastily concluded, that a man who would carry coals, would submit to any indignity. (see p. 169.) Hence to carry coals, |