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Cen. We would be all glad to style him of our friendship, and see him at the college.

Mav. He cannot mix with a sweeter society, I'll prophesy; and I hope he himself will think

So.

Daup. I should be rude to imagine otherwise, lady.

True. Did not I tell thee, Dauphine! Why, all their actions are govern'd by crude opinion, without reason or cause; they know not why they do anything; but, as they are inform'd, believe, judge, praise, condemn, love, hate, and in emulation one of another, do all these things alike. Only they have a natural inclination sways them generally to the worst, when they are left to themselves. But pursue it, now thou hast them.

Hau. Shall we go in again, Morose?

Epi. Yes, madam.

Cen. We'll entreat sir Dauphine's company. True. Stay, good madam, the interview of the two friends, Pylades and Orestes: I'll fetch them out to you straight.

Hau. Will you, master Truewit?

Daup. Ay; but noble ladies, do not confess in your countenance, or outward bearing to them, any discovery of their follies, that we may see how they will bear up again, with what assurance and erection.

Hau. We will not, sir Dauphine.

Cen. Mav. Upon our honours, sir Dauphine. True. [goes to the first closet.] Sir Amorous, sir Amorous! The ladies are here.

La-F. [within.] Are they?

True. Yes; but slip out by and by, as their backs are turn'd, and meet sir John here, as by

chance, when I call you. [Goes to the other.] . Jack Daw!

Daw. [within.] What say you, sir?

True. Whip out behind me suddenly, and no anger in your looks to your adversary. Now, now! [La-Foole and Daw slip out of their respective closets, and salute each other.

La-F. Noble sir John Daw! where have you been?

Daw. To seek you, sir Amorous.
La-F. Me! I honour you.

Daw. I prevent you, sir.

Cler. They have forgot their rapiers.

True. O, they meet in peace, man.
Daup. Where's your sword, sir John?
Cler. And your's, sir Amorous?

Daw. Mine! my boy had it forth to mend the handle, e'en now.

La-F. And my gold handle was broke too, and my boy had it forth.

Daup. Indeed, sir!-How their excuses meet! Cler. What a consent there is in the handles! True. Nay, there is so in the points too, I warrant you,

Enter MOROSE, with the two swords, drawn, in his hands.

Mrs. Ott. O me! madam, he comes again, the madman! Away!

[Ladies, Daw, and La-Foole run off. Mor. What make these naked weapons here, gentlemen?

True. O, sir! here hath like to have been murder since you went; a couple of knights fallen out about the bride's favours! We were

fain to take away their weapons; your house had been begg'd by this time else.'

Mor. For what?

Cler. For man-slaughter, sir, as being accessary.
Mor. And for her favours?

True. Ay, sir, heretofore, not present-Clerimont, carry them their swords now. They have done all the hurt they will do.

[Exit Cler. with the two swords. Daup. Have you spoke with the lawyer, sir? Mor. O, no! there is such a noise in the court, that they have frighted me home with 'more violence than I went! such speaking and counter-speaking, with their several voices of citations, appellations, allegations, certificates, attachments, intergatories, references, convictions, and afflictions indeed, among the doctors and proctors, that the noise here is silence to't, a kind of calm midnight!

True. Why, sir, if you would be resolved indeed, I can bring you hither a very sufficient lawyer, and a learned divine, that shall enquire into every least scruple for you.

Mor. Can you, master Truewit?

True. Yes, and are very sober, grave persons, that will dispatch it in a chamber, with a whisper

or two.

7 Your house had been begg'd by this time else.] For a riot, &c. for which it would have fallen, as a deodand, to the crown. The quick-scented rapacity of James's courtiers is well marked by this expression, which, though used in jest, contains little more than the simple fact.

8 O no! there is such a noise in the court, &c.] This, with the legal terms which follow, is adapted, with considerable humour, from Libanius : των εκκλησιων & μαλα κοινωνων, 8 δια το των κοινη συμφεροντων αμελείν, αλλα δια τας των 8 δυναμένων σιγησαι βίας ῥητόρων. εἰς αγοραν 8 σφόδρα εμβάλλων, δια τα πολλα ταυτα των δικων ονόματα, φασις, ενδειξις, απαγωγή, διαδικασία, παραγραφη, ἃ και εις δεν το πράγμα φιλεσιν ονομασειν. Ibid. p. 301-2.

Mor. Good sir, shall I hope this benefit from you, and trust myself into your hands?

True. Alas, sir! your nephew and I have been ashamed and oft-times mad, since you went, to think how you are abused. Go in, good sir, and lock yourself up till we call you; we'll tell you more anon, sir.

Mor. Do your pleasure with me, gentlemen: I believe in you, and that deserves no delusion. [Exit. True. You shall find none, sir;—but heap'd, heap'd plenty of vexation.

Daup. What wilt thou do now, Wit?

True. Recover me hither Otter and the barber, if you can, by any means, presently.

Daup. Why? to what purpose?

True. O, I'll make the deepest divine, and gravest lawyer, out of them two, for himDaup. Thou canst not, man; these are waking dreams.

True. Do not fear me. Clap but a civil gown with a welt' on the one, and a canonical cloke with sleeves on the other, and give them a few terms in their mouths, if there come not forth as able a doctor and complete a parson, for this turn, as may be wish'd, trust not my election: and I hope, without wronging the dignity of either profession, since they are but persons put on, and for mirth's sake, to torment him. The barber smatters Latin, I remember.

Daup. Yes, and Otter too.

True. Well then, if I make them not wrangle

Clap but a civil gown with a welt, &c.] A civil gown is the gown of a civilian: a welt, as I have already observed, is a hem or border, of fur, &c. In the conclusion of this speech, Jonson shews himself yet sore of the censure passed on him for his al leged reflection on the law, in the Poetaster.

out this case to his no comfort, let me be thought a Jack Daw or La-Foole or anything worse. Go you to your ladies, but first send for them. Daup. I will.

[Exeunt.

ACT V. SCENE I.

A Room in Morose's House.

Enter LA-FOOLE, CLERIMONT, and Daw. La-F. Where had you our swords, master Clerimont?

Cler. Why, Dauphine took them from the madman.

La-F. And he took them from our boys, I warrant you.

Cler. Very like, sir.

La-F. Thank you, good master Clerimont. Sir John Daw and I are both beholden to you. Cler. Would I knew how to make you so, gentlemen!

Daw. Sir Amorous and I are your servants, sir.

Enter MAVIS.

Mav. Gentlemen, have any of you a pen and ink? I would fain write out a riddle in Italian, for sir Dauphine to translate.

Cler. Not I, in troth, lady; I am no scrivener. Daw. I can furnish you, I think, lady.

[Exeunt Daw and Mavis. Cler. He has it in the haft of a knife, I believe. La-F. No, he has his box of instruments. Cler. Like a surgeon!

La-F. For the mathematics: his square, his compasses, his brass pens, and black-lead, to

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