4

3

Amo. Since I trod on this side the Alps, I was not so frozen in my invention. Let me see: to accost him with some choice remnant of Spanish, or Italian! that would indifferently express my languages now marry, then, if he should fall out to be ignorant, it were both hard and harsh. How else? step into some ragioni del stato, and so make my induction! that were above him too; and out of his element, I fear. Feign to have seen him in Venice or Padua ! or some face near his in similitude! 'tis too pointed and open. No, it must be a more quaint and collateral device, as stay to frame some encomiastic speech upon this our metropolis, or the wise magistrates thereof, in which politic number, 'tis odds but his father fill'd up a room? descend into a particular admiration of their justice, for the due measuring of coals, burning of cans," and such like? as also their religion, in pulling down a superstitious cross, and advancing a Venus, or Priapus, in place of it? ha!

6

3 Since I trod on this side the Alps.] O bone! Was the scene laid in Boeotia for this?

4 Ragioni del stato.] This "choice remnant of Italian," (which no Italian could pronounce,) or something like it, seems to have been proverbial for the politics of different countries. It is used by Cartwright, (and many others,) "Ragioni di stato generally reek in all." Ordinary, A. i. S. 4.

5 Burning of cans,] i. e. impressing the mark of legality, with a hot iron, on the wooden measures then in use. WHAL.

6 As also their religion, in pulling down a superstitious cross, and advancing a Venus, or Priapus, in place of it?] This alludes to the practices of the Puritans. Stowe tells us, that many of the lower images belonging to the cross in Cheapside were frequently broken, or pulled down; and particularly, that about the year 1596, "under the image of Christ's resurrection defaced, was set up a curious wrought tabernacle of grey marble; and in the same, an alabaster image of Diana, a woman for the most part naked, and water conveyed from the Thames prilling from her naked breast." WHAL.

Jonson was at this time a Catholic; but the satire is not, on that account, the less ingenious and severe, if what is strictly just, can be termed satire.

'twill do well. Or to talk of some hospital, whose walls record his father a benefactor? or of so many buckets bestow'd on his parish church in his life time, with his name at length, for want of arms, trickt upon them? any of these. Or to praise the cleanness of the street wherein he dwelt? or the provident painting of his posts, against he should have been prætor? or, leaving his parent, come to some special ornament about himself, as his rapier, or some other of his accoutrements? I have it thanks, gracious

Minerva !

Aso. Would I had but once spoke to him, and then He comes to me!

Amo. 'Tis a most curious and neatly wrought band, this same, as I have seen, sir.

Aso. O lord, sir!

Amo. You forgive the humour of mine eye, in observing it.

Cri. His eye waters after it, it seems.

[Aside.

Aso. O lord, sir! there needs no such apology, I assure you.

Cri. I am anticipated: they'll make a solemn deed of gift of themselves, you shall see. [Aside. Amo. Your riband too does most gracefully, in troth.

Aso. 'Tis the most genteel, and received wear now, sir.

Amo. Believe me, sir, I speak it not to humour you-I have not seen a young gentleman, generally, put on his clothes with more judgment.

Aso. O, 'tis your pleasure to say so, sir.

Amo. No, as I am virtuous, being altogether untravell'd, it strikes me into wonder.

Aso. I do purpose to travel, sir, at spring.

Or the provident painting of his posts, against he should have been prætor?] See p. 117.

Amo. I think I shall affect you, sir. This last speech of yours hath begun to make you dear to me.

Aso. O lord, sir! I would there were any thing in me, sir, that might appear worthy the least worthiness of your worth, sir. I protest, sir, I should endeavour to shew it, sir, with more than common regard, sir.

8

Cri. O, here's rare motley, sir.

[Aside.

Amo. Both your desert, and your endeavours are plentiful, suspect them not: but your sweet disposition to travel, I assure you, hath made you another myself in mine eye, and struck me enamour'd on your beauties.

Aso. I would I were the fairest lady of France for your sake, sir! and yet I would travel too.

Amo. O, you should digress from yourself else: for, believe it, your travel is your only thing that rectifies, or, as the Italian says, vi rendi pronto all' attioni, makes you fit for action.

Aso. I think it be great charge though, sir.

Amo. Charge! why 'tis nothing for a gentleman that goes private, as yourself, or so; my intelligence shall quit my charge at all time. Good faith, this hat hath possest mine eye exceedingly; 'tis so pretty and fantastic: what! is it a beaver?

Aso. Ay, sir, I'll assure you 'tis a beaver, it cost me eight crowns but this morning.

Amo. After your French account?

Aso. Yes, sir.

Cri. And so near his head! beshrew me, danger

ous.

[Aside. Amo. A very pretty fashion, believe me, and a most novel kind of trim: your band is conceited too! Aso. Sir, it is all at your service.

O here's rare motley,] i. e. simple, silly; from the parti-coloured dress worn by fools. Thus Fletcher, "What motley stuff is this! sirrah, speak sense." Maid in the Mill.

Amo. O, pardon me.

Aso. I beseech you, sir, if you please to wear it, you shall do me a most infinite grace.

Cri. 'Slight, will he be prais'd out of his clothes ? Aso. By heaven, sir, I do not offer it you after the Italian manner; I would you should conceive so of me.

Amo. Sir, I shall fear to appear rude in denying your courtesies, especially being invited by so proper a distinction: May I pray your name, sir?

Aso. My name is Asotus, sir.

Amo. I take your love, gentle Asotus; but let me win you to receive this, in exchange

[They exchange beavers. Cri. Heart! they'll change doublets anon. [Aside. Amo. And, from this time esteem yourself in the first rank of those few whom I profess to love. What make you in company of this scholar here? I will bring you known to gallants, as Anaides of the ordinary, Hedon the courtier, and others, whose society shall render you graced and respected: this is a trivial fellow, too mean, too cheap, too coarse for you to converse with.

Aso. 'Slid, this is not worth a crown, and mine cost me eight but this morning.

Cri. I looked when he would repent him, he has begun to be sad a good while.

Amo. Sir, shall I say to you for that hat? Be not so sad, be not so sad: It is a relic I could not so easily have departed with, but as the hieroglyphic of my affection; you shall alter it to what form you please, it will take any block; I have received it varied on record to the three thousandth time, and not so few It hath these virtues beside; your head.

9 After the Italian manner,] i. e. with a hope to have it refused. Beaver hats were not common in this country. Howel sends home one from Paris (Lett. 17) as a great rarity.

shall not ache under it, nor your brain leave you, without license; it will preserve your complexion to eternity; for no beam of the sun, should you wear it under zona torrida, hath power to approach it by two ells. It is proof against thunder, and enchantment; and was given me by a great man in Russia, as an especial prized present; and constantly affirm'd to be the hat that accompanied the politic Ulysses in his tedious and ten years travels.

Aso. By Jove, I will not depart withal, whosoever would give me a million.

Enter Cos and PROSAITES.

Cos. Save you, sweet bloods! does any of you want a creature, or a dependent?

Cri. Beshrew me, a fine blunt slave !

Amo. A page of good timber! it will now be my grace to entertain him first, though I cashier him again in private.—How art thou call'd?

Cos. Cos, sir, Cos.

Cri. Cos! how happily hath fortune furnish'd him with a whetstone? 1

1

Cos! how happily hath fortune furnish'd him with a whetstone?] Cos is the Latin word for a whetstone; and the joke consists in the allusion of his name to his manners. A whetstone was a cant term of that age, to denote the faculty of lying, or any incitement to tell a lie. So in the Induction, the traveller is said to have the Whetstone following him. WHAL.

Whalley has said nothing of the origin of this "joke," as he calls it; nor can I pretend to advance any thing with certainty on the subject. It may have arisen from the story of the whetstone which was cut in two by the augur, Accius: though, why the simplest miracle in all Livy should have been singled out to typify lying, it is not easy to conjecture. Amidst the elegant amusements of our ancestors at wakes and fairs, such as jumping in a sack, grinning through a collar, &c. there was one of a most extraordinary and culpable nature, which was lying. The clown who told the most enormous and impossible falsehood, was rewarded for his perverse ingenuity with a whetstone, which, four or five centuries ago, might, perhaps, be somewhat more valuable than it is at present.