why was I nominated? why did you choose me? why did the ladies prick out me? I am sure there were other gallants. But me of all the rest! By that light, and, as I am a courtier, would I might never stir, but 'tis strange. Would to the lord the ladies would come once!

Enter MORPHIDES.

Morp. Signior, the gallants and ladies are at hand. Are you ready, sir?

Amo. Instantly. Go, accomplish your attire: [Exit Asotus.] Cousin Morphides, assist me to make good the door with your officious tyranny. Citizen. [within.] By your leave, my masters there, pray you let's come by.

Pages. [within.] You by! why should you come by more than we?

Citizen's Wife. [within.] Why, sir! because he is my brother that plays the prizes. Morp. Your brother!

Citizen. [within.] Ay, her brother, sir, and we

must come in.

Tailor. [within.] Why, what are you?

Citizen. [within.] I am her husband, sir.
Tailor. [within.] Then thrust forward your head.
Amo. What tumult is there?

Morp. Who's there? bear back there! Stand from the door!

Amo. Enter none but the ladies and their hang-byes.—

which implies some gesture of scorn and contempt; which the poet calls stork's bill, in allusion to the ciconia of the ancients; a manner of deriding a person, by extending the fore-finger at him. See Casaubon on this verse of Persius:

"O Jane, à tergo quem nulla ciconia pinsit." WHal.

Enter PHANTASTE, PHILAUTIA, ARGURION, MORIA, HEDON and ANAIDES, introducing two Ladies.

Welcome, beauties, and your kind shadows. Hed. This country lady, my friend, good signior Amorphus.

Ana. And my cockatrice here.

Amo. She is welcome.

The Citizen and his Wife, Pages, &c. appear at the door.

Morp. Knock those same pages there; and, goodman coxcomb the citizen, who would you speak withal?

Wife. My brother.

Amo. With whom? Your brother!

Morp. Who is your brother?

Wife. Master Asotus.

Amo. Master Asotus! is he your brother? he is taken up with great persons; he is not to know you to-night.

Re-enter AsOTUs hastily.

Aso. O Jove, master! an there come e'er a citizen gentlewoman in my name, let her have entrance, I pray you: it is my sister.

Wife. Brother!

Cit. [thrusting in.] Brother, master Asotus!

Aso. Who's there?

Wife 'Tis I, brother.

Aso. Gods me, there she is! good master, intrude her.

Morp. Make place! bear back there!

Enter Citizen's Wife.

Amo. Knock that simple fellow there. Wife. Nay, good sir, it is my husband. Morp. The simpler fellow he.-Away! back with your head, sir! [Pushes the Citizen back. Aso. Brother, you must pardon your nonentry husbands are not allow'd here, in truth. I'll come home soon with my sister; pray you meet us with a lantern, brother. Be merry, sister; I shall make you laugh anon.

[Exit. Pha. Your prizer is not ready, Amorphus. Amo. Apprehend your places; he shall be soon, and at all points.

Ana. Is there any body come to answer him? shall we have any sport?

Amo. Sport of importance; howsoever, give me the gloves,

Hed. Gloves! why gloves, signior?
Phi. What's the ceremony?

Amo. [distributing gloves.] Beside their received fitness, at all prizes, they are here properly accommodate to the nuptials of my scholar's 'haviour to the lady Courtship. Please you apparel your hands. Madam Phantaste, madam Philautia, guardian, signior Hedon, signior Anaides, gentlemen all, ladies.

All. Thanks, good Amorphus.

Amo. I will now call forth my provost, and present him.

[Exit. Ana. Heart! why should not we be masters as well as he?

Hed. That's true, and play our masters prizes as well as the t'other?

Mor. In sadness, for using your court-weapons, methinks you may.

Pha. Nay, but why should not we ladies play our prizes, I pray? I see no reason but we should take them down at their own weapons.

Phi. Troth, and so we may, if we handle them well.

Wife. Ay, indeed, forsooth, madam, if 'twere in the city, we would think foul scorn but we would, forsooth.

Phu. Pray you, what should we call your name?

Wife. My name is Downfall.

Hed. Good mistress Downfall! I am sorry your husband could not get in.

Wife. 'Tis no matter for him, sir.

Ana. No, no, she has the more liberty for herself. [A flourish.

Pha. Peace, peace! they come.

Re-enter AMORPHUS, introducing ASOTUS in a full-dress suit.

Amo. So, keep up your ruff; the tincture of your neck is not all so pure, but it will ask it, Maintain your sprig upright; your cloke on your half-shoulder falling; so: I will read your bill, advance it, and present you.-Silence!

Be it known to all that profess courtship, by these presents (from the white satin reveller, to the cloth of tissue and bodkin) that we, Ulysses-Polytropus-Amorphus, master of the noble and subtile

Be it known, &c.] This bill is a parody on one of the licenses formerly granted by masters of defence to their pupils, when they were supposed to be properly qualified for taking either of their three degrees in the fencing-school, viz. a master's, a provost's, or a scholar's: indeed, the whole of this scene is a burlesque imitation of these public trials of skill in the. "noble science of defence,"

science of courtship, do give leave and license to our provost, Acolastus-Polypragmon-Asotus, to play his master's prize, against all masters whatsoever, in this subtile mystery, at these four, the choice and most cunning weapons of court-compliment, viz. the BARE ACCOST; the BETTER REGARD; the SOLEMN ADDRESS; and the PERFECT CLOSE. These are therefore to give notice to all comers, that he, the said Acolastus-Polypragmon-Asotus, is here present (by the help of his mercer, tailor, milliner, sempster, and so forth) at his designed hour, in this fair gallery, the present day of this present month, to perform and do his uttermost for the achievement and bearing away of the prizes, which are these: viz. For the Bare Accost, two wall-eyes in a face forced for the Better Regard, a face favourably simpering, with a fan waving: for the Solemn Address, two lips wagging, and never a wise word: for the Perfect Close, a wring by the hand, with a banquet in a corner. And Phœbus save Cynthia!

Appeareth no man yet, to answer the prizer? no voice?-Music, give them their summons. [Music

Pha. The solemnity of this is excellent. Amo. Silence! Well, I perceive your name is their terror, and keepeth them back.

Aso. I'faith, master, let's go; no body comes. Victus, victa, victum; victi, victæ, victi-let's be retrograde.

Amo. Stay. That were dispunct to the ladies. Rather ourself shall be your encounter. Take your state up to the wall; and, lady, [leading

Take your state up to the wall;] The state sometimes means the raised platform, and canopy under which the ornamented chair was placed, and sometimes, as here, the chair itself. In