years

!

This “Comical Satiro" 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 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 erumples 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 of, 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.

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.
Luc. 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 PERSONÆ.

Asper, the Presenter.
Macilente.

rHis Lady.

Waiting Gent.
Puntaryolo.

Huntsman,
Servingmen.

(Dog and Cat.
Carlo Buffone.
Fastidious Brisk. Cinedo, his Page.
Deliro.

Ş Fido, their Servant.
Fallace.

Musicians.
Savolina.
Sordido.

His Hind

Tailor.
Fungoso.

Haberdasher.

Shoemaker.
Sogliardo.
Shift.

Rustics.
Notary.

A Groom.
Clove.

s

Drawers.
Orange.

Constable, and Officers,
Cordatus.

Grex. { Mitis.

ASPER, He is of an ingenious and free spirit, eager and constant in reproof, without fear controlling the world's abuses. One whom no servile hope of gain, or frosty apprehension of dun. ger, can make to be a parasite, either to time, place, or opinion.

MACILENTE, A man well parted,' a sufficient scholar, and travelled ; who, wanting that place in the world's account which he thinks his merit capable of, falls into such an envious apoplexy, with which his judgment is so dazzled and distasted, that he grows violently imputient of any opposite happiness in another.

PUNTARVOLO, A rain-glorious knight, over-englishing his travels, and wholly consecruted to singularity; the very Jacob's staff of compliment ; a sir that hath lived to see the revolution of time in most of his apparel. Of presence good enough, but so palpably atjected to his own praise, that for wunt of flatterers he commends himself, to the floutuge of his own family. He deals upon returns, and strange performances, resolving, in despite of public derision, to stick to his own particular fashion, phrase, and gesture.

3

1 A man well parted,] A man endowed with good natural abilities. Jonson has the same expression in A. III.

Let him be poor and meanly clad, “ Though ne'er so richly parted,” &c. * The very Jacob's staff of compliment ;] The Jacob's staff here meant, is a mathematical instrument used by our ancestors for taking heights and distances. It is now superseded by more accurate and efficient implements. Jonson's application of the term is sufficiently obvious.

3 He deals upon returns, Ventures sent abroad, for the safe return of which he agrees by articles to receive so much money.

WHAL. VOL. II.

с

!

CARLO BUFFONE, A public, scurrilous, and prophane jester ; that more swift thun Circe, with absurd similes will transform any person into deformity. A good feast-hound, or banquet-beugle, that will scent you out a supper some three miles off, and swear to his patrons, damn him! he came in oars, when he was but wafied over in a skuller. A slave that hath an extraordinary gift in pleasing his palate, and will swill up more sack at a sitting than would make all the guarda posset. His religion is ruiling, and his discourse ribuldry. They stand highest in his respect, whom he studies most to reproach.

FASTIDIOUS BRISK, A neat, spruce, affecting courtier, one that wears clothes well, and in fashion : pructiseth by his gluss how to salute; spuuks good remnants, notwithstanding the base viol and tobacco; swears tersely, and with variety; caves not what lady's favour he belies, or great man's familiarity: a good property to perfume the boot of a coach. ble will borrow another man's horse to praise, and backs him as his own. Or, for a need, on foot can post himself into credit with his merchant, only with the gingle of his spur,und the jerk of his wand.

DELIRO, A good doting citizen, who, it is thought, might be of the common council for his sealth ; a fellow sincerely besotted on his own wife, and so rapt with a conceit of her perfections, that he simply holds himself unworthy of her. And, in that hood-wink'd bumour, lives more like a suitor than a husband; siunting in as true dread of her displeasure, as when he first made love to her. He doth sacrifice two-pence in juniper to her every mornings before she rises, and wakes her with villoinous out-of-tune music, which she out of her contempt (though not out of her judgment) is sure to dislike.