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EVERY MAN OUT OF HIS HUMOUR

VOL. II.

B

This "Comical Satire" was first acted in the year 1599, "by the Lord Chamberlain's servants," that is, by the Company who played at the Globe, on the Bank Side, and who, a few years afterwards, (in 1603,) obtained a licence from James, and in consequence of it, took the appellation of his Majesty's Servants. It was printed in quarto for Nicholas Linge, 1600, "as it was first composed," for several retrenchments had been made in it by the players; and from this edition the folio, 1616, was copied with very little variation. This Comedy, like the former, appears to have been acted by the whole strength of the house, with the exception of Shakspeare, who found perhaps no part in it suited to his "gentle conditions." Its merits are unquestionable; but I know not its success; nor whether it ever appeared on the modern stage. It was often played afer the Restoration.

Jonson patched up a motto to it out of Horace, most of which is true, and all perhaps might have remained undisputed, had it been advanced by any one but the author.

Non aliena meo pressi pede-si propius stes,
Te capient magis-et decies repetita placebunt.

NOBLEST NURSERIES OF HUMANITY AND

LIBERTY IN THE KINGDOM,

THE INNS OF COURT.*

I Understand you, Gentlemen, not your houses: and a worthy succession of you, to all time, as being born the judges of these studies. When I wrote this poem I had friendship with divers in your societies; who, as they were great names in learning, so they were no less examples of living. Of them, and then, that I say no more, it was not despised. Now that the printer, by a doubled charge, thinks it worthy a longer life than commonly the air of such things doth promise, I am careful to put it a servant to their pleasures, who are the inheritors of the first favour born it. Yet, I command it lie not in the way of your more noble and useful studies to the public: for so I shall suffer for it. But when the gown and cap is off, and the lord of liberty reigns,t then, to take it in your hands, perhaps may make some bencher, tincted with humanity, read and not repent him.

By your true honourer,

BEN. JONSON.

* This elegant dedication was first published in the folio, 1616. The quarto has none.

And the lord of liberty reigns,] He alludes to the custom of creating at Christmas, (the Saturnalia of the ancients,) in the palace, the inns of court, and houses of the nobility, a lord of misrule, whose office it was to lead and regulate the. revels presented at this season of festivity. His stately, but transient sway, is well described by Shirley:

Gio.

Luc.

I have seen a counterfeit
With such a majesty compose himself,

And give his hand out to great lords to kiss
With as much grace, as all the royal blood

Had muster'd in his veins.

Some monarch

Of Inns o' Court in England, sure: but when
His reign expires, and Christmas in the grave,
Cold as the turkies coffin'd up in crust,

That walk like ghosts, and glide to several tables,
When instruments are hoarse with sitting up,
When the gay triumph ceases, and the treasure
Divided, all the offices laid up,

And the new cloaths in lavender, what then!

The Sisters.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

Asper, the Presenter.

Macilente.

Puntarvolo.

Carlo Buffone.
Fastidious Brisk.

Deliro.

Fallace.

Savolina.

Sordido.

Fungoso.

Sogliardo.

Shift.

Notary.

Clove.

Orange.

Grex, {Cordatus.

His Lady.
Waiting Gent.
Huntsman.
Servingmen.
Dog and Cat.

Cinedo, his Page.
Fido, their Servant.

{Musicians.

His Hind.

Tailor.

Haberdasher.

Shoemaker.

Rustics.

A Groom.
Drawers.
Constable, and Officers.

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