✓ Punt. I do intend, this year of jubilee coming on, to travel and because I will not altogether go upon expense, I am determined to put forth some five thousand pound, to be paid me five for one,* upon the return of myself, my wife, and my dog from the Turk's court in Constantinople. If all or either of us miscarry in the journey, 'tis gone: if we be successful, why, there will be five and twenty thousand pound to entertain time withal. Nay, go not, neighbour Sordido; stay to-night, and help to make our society the fuller. Gentlemen, frolick: Carlo! what! dull now? Car. I was thinking on your project, sir, an you call it so. Is this the dog goes with you? Punt. This is the dog, sir. Car. He does not go barefoot, does he? Car. Nay, afore God, I speak simply; he may 4 I am determined to put forth some five thousand pound to be paid me five for one, &c.] In this age, when travelling was hazardous and insecure, it seems to have been no unusual practice to put out money at going abroad, on condition of receiving it back trebled, quadrupled, or, as here, quintupled on the completion of the expedition. To this there are innumerable allusions in our old writers. In the Ball, by Shirley, it forms a principal incident of the play. Barnaby Riche also mentions it, "whipsters, that having spent the greatest part of their patrimony in prodigality, will give out the rest of their stocke to be paid two or three for one, upon their return from Rome," &c. Thus too, Shakspeare. Each putter out of one for five,-as Malone properly reads; and not as Steevens has it, “on five for one," which to the ears of Shakspeare and his audiences would have been intolerable. As voyages became more frequent, and the dangers of them consequently better understood, the odds fell; and adventurers were content to take three to one upon their return. "Sir Solus straight will travell, as they say, And gives out one for three," &c. (This expression justifies Malone's correction.) Davies, Epig. 11. • Gentlemen, frolick!] See The Alchemist. prick his foot with a thorn, and be as much as the whole venture is worth. Besides, for a dog that never travell'd before, it's a huge journey to Constantinople. I'll tell you now, an he were mine, I'd have some present conference with a physician, what antidotes were good to give him, preservatives against poison; for, assure you, if once your money be out, there'll be divers attempts made against the life of the poor animal. Punt. Thou art still dangerous. Fast. Is signior Deliro's wife your kinswoman? Sog. Ay, sir, she is my niece, my brother's daughter here, and my nephew's sister. Sord. Do you know her, sir? Fast. O lord, sir! signior Deliro, her husband, is my merchant.6 Fung. Ay, I have seen this gentleman there often. Fast. I cry you mercy, sir; let me crave your name, pray you. Fung. Fungoso, sir. Fast. Good signior Fungoso, I shall request to know you better, sir. Fung. I am her brother, sir. Fast. In fair time, sir. Punt. Come, gentlemen, I will be your conduct." Fast. Nay, pray you, sir; we shall meet at signior Deliro's often. Sog. You shall have me at the herald's office, sir, for some week or so at my first coming up. Come, Carlo. [Exeunt. Signior Deliro is my merchant,] i. e. my broker or banker. In Jonson's days there were none who professed the trade of banking, exclusively. The goldsmiths of Lombard-street were almost all bankers. 7 I will be your conduct.] Your conductor or guide. So Shakspeare. "Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide." Rom. and Jul. WHAL. Mit. Methinks, Cordatus, he dwelt somewhat too long on this scene; it hung in the hand. Cor. I see not where he could have insisted less, and to have made the humours perspicuous enough. Mit. True, as his subject lies; but he might have altered the shape of his argument, and explicated them better in single scenes. Cor. That had been single indeed. Why, be they not the same persons in this, as they would have been in those? and is it not an object of more state, to behold the scene full, and relieved with variety of speakers to the end, than to see a vast empty stage, and the actors come in, one by one, as if they were dropt down with a feather into the eye of the spectators? Mit. Nay, you are better traded with these things than I, and therefore I'll subscribe to your judgment; marry, you shall give me leave to make objections. Cor. O, what else? It is the special intent of the author you should do so; for thereby others, that are present, may as well be satisfied, who haply would object the same you would do. Mit. So, sir: but when appears Macilente again? Cor. Marry, he stays but till our silence give him leave: here he comes, and with him signior Deliro, a 8 That had been single indeed.] That had been weak or silly; in this sense single occurs perpetually in our old writers. This is the meaning of the term in Macbeth, (my single state of man) about which so much has been written to so little purpose; and this too is the undoubted sense of it in Henry IV.: "Is not your wit single?" Is it not an object of more state to behold the scene full, &c.] Yet I see not what is gained by this fulness of the scene. The characters are not blended into one whole; they disperse into little groups, and carry on their business, distinct from one another, advancing alternately to the front of the stage, and retiring to make room for others. The acquiescence of Mitis in the reasoning of his friend Cordatus is no great proof of its accuracy or justice, for Mitis is a man of straw, and liable to be overthrown with the slightest effort. merchant at whose house he is come to sojourn: make your own observation now, only transfer your thoughts to the city, with the scene: where, suppose they speak. SCENE II. The City. A Room in DELIRO's House. Enter DELIRO, MACILENTE, and FIDO with flowers and perfumes. Deliro. 'LL tell you by and by, sir. Welcome, good Macilente, to my house, In cates, and every sort of good entreaty, May move you stay with me. [He censeth: the boy strews flowers. Maci. I thank you, sir. And yet the muffled Fates, had it pleased them, I see no reason why that dog call'd Chance, Nath'less, his wealth, but nodding on my wants, not. 1 To sojourn even for ever.] This is the reading of the quarto, and evidently right; the folio, which Whalley followed, has "To sojourn at my house for ever." My house was repeated, by the compositor, from the preceding line. Fido. I warrant you, sir, I'll steal by her softly. [Exit. Deli. Nay, gentle friend, be merry; raise your looks Out of your bosom : I protest, by heaven, Re-enter FIDO, with more perfumes and flowers. What, she did not see thee? Fido. No, sir. Deli. That is well. Strew, strew, good Fido, the freshest flowers; so! Maci. What means this, signior Deliro? all this censing ? Deli. Cast in more frankincense, yet more; well said. O, Macilente, I have such a wife! So passing fair! so passing-fair-unkind! Deli. No, that is sure as death, No man alive. I do not say, is not, But cannot possibly be worth her kindness. How, said I? do her right! as though I could, As though this dull, gross, tongue of mine could utter The rare, the true, the pure, the infinite rights, That sit, as high as I can look, within her! Maci. This is such dotage as was never heard. Deli. Nay, Macilente, do not so discredit |