Part 13

MACI. Now, therefore, if you can think upon any present means for his delivery, do not foreslow it. A bribe to the officer that committed him will do it.

FAL. O lord, sir! he shall not want for a bribe; pray you, will you commend me to him, and say I'll visit him presently.

MACI. No, lady, I shall do you better service, in protracting your husband's return, that you may go with more safety.

FAL. Good truth, so you may; farewell, good sir. [EXIT MACI.] -- Lord, how a woman may be mistaken in a man! I would have sworn upon all the Testaments in the world he had not loved master Brisk. Bring me my keys there, maid. Alas, good gentleman, if all I have in this earthly world will pleasure him, it shall be at his service. [EXIT.

MIT. How Macilente sweats in this business, if you mark him!

COR. Ay, you shall see the true picture of spite, anon: here comes the pawn and his redeemer.

SCENE VI. -- A ROOM AT THE MITRE.

ENTER DELIRO, FUNGOSO, AND GEORGE.

DELI. Come, brother, be not discouraged for this, man; what!

FUNG. No, truly, I am not discouraged; but I protest to you, brother, I have done imitating any more gallants either in purse or apparel, but as shall become a gentleman, for good carriage, or so.

DELI. You say well. -- This is all in the bill here, is it not?

GEORGE. Ay, sir.

DELI. There's your money, tell it: and, brother, I am glad I met with so good occasion to shew my love to you.

FUNG. I will study to deserve it in good truth an I live.

DELI. What, is it right?

GEORGE. Ay, sir, and I thank you.

FUNG. Let me have a capon's leg saved, now the reckoning is paid.

GEORGE. You shall, sir [EXIT.

ENTER MACILENTE. MACI. Where's signior Deliro?

DELI. Here, Macilente.

MACI. Hark you, sir, have you dispatch'd this same?

DELI. Ay, marry have I.

MACI. Well then, I can tell you news; Brisk is in the Counter.

DELI. In the Counter!

MACI. 'Tis true, sir, committed for the stir here to-night. Now would I have you send your brother home afore him, with the report of this your kindness done him, to his sister, which will so pleasingly possess her, and out of his mouth too, that in the meantime you may clap your action on Brisk, and your wife, being in so happy a mood, cannot entertain it ill, by any means.

DELI. 'Tis very true, she cannot, indeed, I think.

MACI. Think! why 'tis past thought; you shall never meet the like opportunity, I assure you.

DELI. I will do it. -- Brother, pray you go home afore (this gentleman and I have some private business), and tell my sweet wife I'll come presently.

FUNG. I will, brother.

MACI. And, signior, acquaint your sister, how liberally, and out of his bounty, your brother has used you (do you see?), made you a man of good reckoning; redeem'd that you never were possest of, credit; gave you as gentlemanlike terms as might be; found no fault with your coming behind the fashion; nor nothing.

FUNG. Nay, I am out of those humours now.

MACI. Well, if you be out, keep your distance, and be not made a shot-clog any more. -- Come, signior, let's make haste. [EXEUNT.

SCENE VII. -- THE COUNTER.

ENTER FALLACE AND FASTIDIOUS BRISK.

FAL. O, master Fastidious, what pity is it to see so sweet a man as you are, in so sour a place! [KISSES HIM.

COR. As upon her lips, does she mean?

MIT. O, this is to be imagined the Counter, belike.

FAST. Troth, fair lady, 'tis first the pleasure of the fates, and next of the constable, to have it so: but I am patient, and indeed comforted the more in your kind visit.

FAL. Nay, you shall be comforted in me more than this, if you please, sir. I sent you word by my brother, sir, that my husband laid to 'rest you this morning; I know now whether you received it or no.

FAST. No, believe it, sweet creature, your brother gave me no such intelligence.

FAL. O, the lord!

FAST. But has your husband any such purpose?

FAL. O, sweet master Brisk, yes: and therefore be presently discharged, for if he come with his actions upon you, Lord deliver you! you are in for one half-a-score year; he kept a poor man in Ludgate once twelve year for sixteen shillings. Where's your keeper? for love's sake call him, let him take a bribe, and despatch you. Lord, how my heart trembles! here are no spies, are there?

FAST. No, sweet mistress. Why are you in this passion?

FAL. O lord, master Fastidious, if you knew how I took up my husband to-day, when he said he would arrest you; and how I railed at him that persuaded him to it, the scholar there (who, on my conscience, loves you now), and what care I took to send you intelligence by my brother; and how I gave him four sovereigns for his pains: and now, how I came running out hither without man or boy with me, so soon as I heard on't; you'd say I were in a passion indeed. Your keeper, for God's sake! O, master Brisk, as 'tis in 'Euphues', 'Hard is the choice, when one is compelled either by silence to die with grief, or by speaking to live with shame'.

FAST. Fair lady, I conceive you, and may this kiss assure you, that where adversity hath, as it were, contracted, prosperity shall not -- Od's me! your husband.

ENTER DELIRO AND MACILENTE. FAL. O me!

DELI. Ay! Is it thus?

MACI. Why, how now, signior Deliro! has the wolf seen you, ha? Hath Gorgon's head made marble of you?

DELI. Some planet strike me dead!

MACI. Why, look you, sir, I told you, you might have suspected this long afore, had you pleased, and have saved this labour of admiration now, and passion, and such extremities as this frail lump of flesh is subject unto. Nay, why do you not doat now, signior? methinks you should say it were some enchantment, 'deceptio visus', or so, ha! If you could persuade yourself it were a dream now, 'twere excellent: faith, try what you can do, signior: it may be your imagination will be brought to it in time; there's nothing impossible.

FAL. Sweet husband!

DELI. Out, lascivious strumpet! [EXIT.

MACI. What! did you see how ill that stale vein became him afore, of 'sweet wife', and 'dear heart'; and are you fallen just into the same now, with 'sweet husband'! Away, follow him, go, keep state: what! remember you are a woman, turn impudent; give him not the head, though you give him the horns. Away. And yet, methinks, you should take your leave of 'enfant perdu' here, your forlorn hope. [EXIT FAL.] -- How now, monsieur Brisk? what! Friday night, and in affliction too, and yet your pulpamenta, your delicate morsels! I perceive the affection of ladies and gentlewomen pursues you wheresoever you go, monsieur.

FAST. Now, in good faith, and as I am gentle, there could not have come a thing in this world to have distracted me more, than the wrinkled fortunes of this poor dame.

MACI. O yes, sir; I can tell you a think will distract you much better, believe it: Signior Deliro has entered three actions against you, three actions, monsieur! marry, one of them (I'll put you in comfort) is but three thousand, and the other two, some five thousand pound together: trifles, trifles.

FAST. O, I am undone.

MACI. Nay, not altogether so, sir; the knight must have his hundred pound repaid, that will help too; and then six score pounds for a diamond, you know where. These be things will weigh, monsieur, they will weigh.

FAST. O heaven!

MACI. What! do you sigh? this is to 'kiss the hand of a countess', to 'have her coach sent for you', to 'hang poniards in ladies' garters', to 'wear bracelets of their hair', and for every one of these great favours to 'give some slight jewel of five hundred crowns, or so'; why, 'tis nothing. Now, monsieur, you see the plague that treads on the heels o' your foppery: well, go your ways in, remove yourself to the two-penny ward quickly, to save charges, and there set up your rest to spend sir Puntarvolo's hundred pound for him. Away, good pomander, go! [EXIT FASTIDIOUS. Why here's a change! now is my soul at peace: I am as empty of all envy now, As they of merit to be envied at. My humour, like a flame, no longer lasts Than it hath stuff to feed it; and their folly Being now raked up in their repentant ashes, Affords no ampler subject to my spleen. I am so far from malicing their states, That I begin to pity them. It grieves me To think they have a being. I could wish They might turn wise upon it, and be saved now, So heaven were pleased; but let them vanish, vapours! -- Gentlemen, how like you it? has't not been tedious?

COR. Nay, we have done censuring now.

MIT. Yes, faith.

MACI. How so?

COR. Marry, because we'll imitate your actors, and be out of our humours. Besides, here are those round about you of more ability in censure than we, whose judgments can give it a more satisfying allowance; we'll refer you to them. [EXEUNT CORDATUS AND MITIS.

MACI. [COMING FORWARD.] Ay, is it even so? -- Well, gentlemen, I should have gone in, and return'd to you as I was Asper at the first; but by reason the shift would have been somewhat long, and we are loth to draw your patience farther, we'll entreat you to imagine it. And now, that you may see I will be out of humour for company, I stand wholly to your kind approbation, and indeed am nothing so peremptory as I was in the beginning: marry, I will not do as Plautus in his 'Amphytrio', for all this, 'summi Jovis causa plaudite'; beg a plaudite for God's sake; but if you, out of the bounty of your good-liking, will bestow it, why, you may in time make lean Macilente as fat as sir John Falstaff. [EXIT.

THE EPILOGUE

AT THE PRESENTATION BEFORE QUEEN ELIZABETH

BY MACILENTE.

Never till now did object greet mine eyes With any light content: but in her graces All my malicious powers have lost their stings. Envy is fled from my soul at sight of her, And she hath chased all black thoughts from my bosom, Like as the sun doth darkness from the world, My stream of humour is run out of me, And as our city's torrent, bent t'infect The hallow'd bowels of the silver Thames, Is check'd by strength and clearness of the river, Till it hath spent itself even at the shore; So in the ample and unmeasured flood Of her perfections, are my passions drown'd; And I have now a spirit as sweet and clear As the more rarefied and subtle air: -- With which, and with a heart as pure as fire, Yet humble as the earth, do I implore [KNEELS. O heaven, that She, whose presence hath effected This change in me, may suffer most late change In her admired and happy government: May still this Island be call'd Fortunate, And rugged Treason tremble at the sound, When Fame shall speak it with an emphasis. Let foreign polity be dull as lead, And pale Invasion come with half a heart, When he but looks upon her blessed soil. The throat of War be stopt within her land, And turtle-footed Peace dance fairy rings About her court; where never may there come Suspect or danger, but all trust and safety. Let Flattery be dumb, and Envy blind In her dread presence; Death himself admire her; And may her virtues make him to forget The use of his inevitable hand. Fly from her, Age; sleep, Time, before her throne; Our strongest wall falls down, when she is gone.

GLOSSARY

ABATE, cast down, subdue ABHORRING, repugnant (to), at variance ABJECT, base, degraded thing, outcast ABRASE, smooth, blank ABSOLUTE(LY), faultless(ly) ABSTRACTED, abstract, abstruse ABUSE, deceive, insult, dishonour, make ill use of ACATER, caterer ACATES, cates ACCEPTIVE, willing, ready to accept, receive ACCOMMODATE, fit, befitting. (The word was a fashionable one and used on all occasions. See "Henry IV.," pt. 2, iii.4) ACCOST, draw near, approach ACKNOWN, confessedly acquainted with ACME, full maturity ADALANTADO, lord deputy or governor of a Spanish province ADJECTION, addition ADMIRATION, astonishment ADMIRE, wonder, wonder at ADROP, philosopher's stone, or substance from which obtained ADSCRIVE, subscribe ADULTERATE, spurious, counterfeit ADVANCE, life ADVERTISE, inform, give intelligence ADVERTISED, "be --," be it known to you ADVERTISEMENT, intelligence ADVISE, consider, bethink oneself, deliberate ADVISED, informed, aware; "are you --?" have you found that out? AFFECT, love, like; aim at; move AFFECTED, disposed; beloved AFFECTIONATE, obstinate; prejudiced AFFECTS, affections AFFRONT, "give the --," face AFFY, have confidence in; betroth AFTER, after the manner of AGAIN, AGAINST, in anticipation of AGGRAVATE, increase, magnify, enlarge upon AGNOMINATION. See Paranomasie AIERY, nest, brood AIM, guess ALL HID, children's cry at hide-and-seek ALL-TO, completely, entirely ("all-to-be-laden") ALLOWANCE, approbation, recognition ALMA-CANTARAS (astron.), parallels of altitude ALMAIN, name of a dance ALMUTEN, planet of chief influence in the horoscope ALONE, unequalled, without peer ALUDELS, subliming pots AMAZED, confused, perplexed AMBER, AMBRE, ambergris AMBREE, MARY, a woman noted for her valour at the siege of Ghent, 1458 AMES-ACE, lowest throw at dice AMPHIBOLIES, ambiguities AMUSED, bewildered, amazed AN, if ANATOMY, skeleton, or dissected body ANDIRONS, fire-dogs ANGEL, gold coin worth 10s., stamped with the figure of the archangel Michael ANNESH CLEARE, spring known as Agnes le Clare ANSWER, return hit in fencing ANTIC, ANTIQUE, clown, buffoon ANTIC, like a buffoon ANTIPERISTASIS, an opposition which enhances the quality it opposes APOZEM, decoction AFFERIL, peril APPLE-JOHN, APPLE-SQUIRE, pimp, pander APPLY, attach APPREHEND, take into custody APPREHENSIVE, quick of perception; able to perceive and appreciate APPROVE, prove, confirm APT, suit, adapt; train, prepare; dispose, incline APT(LY), suitable(y), opportune(ly) APTITUDE, suitableness ARBOR, "make the --," cut up the game (Gifford) ARCHES, Court of Arches ARCHIE, Archibald Armstrong, jester to James I. and Charles I. ARGAILE, argol, crust or sediment in wine casks ARGENT-VIVE, quicksilver ARGUMENT, plot of a drama; theme, subject; matter in question; token, proof ARRIDE, please ARSEDINE, mixture of copper and zinc, used as an imitation of gold-leaf ARTHUR, PRINCE, reference to an archery show by a society who assumed arms, etc., of Arthur's knights ARTICLE, item ARTIFICIALLY, artfully ASCENSION, evaporation, distillation ASPIRE, try to reach, obtain, long for ASSALTO (Ital.), assault ASSAY, draw a knife along the belly of the deer, a ceremony of the hunting-field ASSOIL, solve ASSURE, secure possession or reversion of ATHANOR, a digesting furnace, calculated to keep up a constant heat ATONE, reconcile ATTACH, attack, seize AUDACIOUS, having spirit and confidence AUTHENTIC(AL), of authority, authorised, trustworthy, genuine AVISEMENT, reflection, consideration AVOID, begone! get rid of AWAY WITH, endure AZOCH, Mercurius Philosophorum

BABION, baboon BABY, doll BACK-SIDE, back premises BAFFLE, treat with contempt BAGATINE, Italian coin, worth about the third of a farthing BALARD, horse of magic powers known to old romance BALDRICK, belt worn across the breast to support bugle, etc. BALE (of dice), pair BALK, overlook, pass by, avoid BALLACE, ballast BALLOO, game at ball BALNEUM (BAIN MARIE), a vessel for holding hot water in which other vessels are stood for heating BANBURY, "brother of __," Puritan BANDOG, dog tied or chained up BANE, woe, ruin BANQUET, a light repast; dessert BARB, to clip gold BARBEL, fresh-water fish BARE, meer; bareheaded; it was "a particular mark of state and grandeur for the coachman to be uncovered" (Gifford) BARLEY-GREAK, game somewhat similar to base BASE, game of prisoner's base BASES, richly embroidered skirt reaching to the knees, or lower BASILISK, fabulous reptile, believed to slay with its eye BASKET, used for the broken provision collected for prisoners BASON, basons, etc., were beaten by the attendant mob when bad characters were "carted" BATE, be reduced; abate, reduce BATOON, baton, stick BATTEN, feed, grow fat BAWSON, badger BEADSMAN, PRAYER-MAN, one engaged to pray for another BEAGLE, small hound; fig. spy BEAR IN HAND, keep in suspense, deceive with false hopes BEARWARD, bear leader BEDPHERE See Phere BEDSTAFF, (?) wooden pin in the side of the bedstead for supporting the bedclothes (Johnson); one of the sticks of "laths"; a stick used in making a bed BEETLE, heavy mallet BEG, "I'd -- him," the custody of minors and idiots was begged for; likewise property fallen forfeit to the Crown ("your house had been begged") BELL-MAN, night watchman BENJAMIN, an aromatic gum BERLINA, pillory BESCUMBER, defile BESLAVE, beslabber BESOGNO, beggar BESPAWLE, bespatter BETHLEHEM GABOR, Transylvanian hero, proclaimed King of Hungary BEVER, drinking BEVIS, SIR, knight of romance whose horse was equally celebrated BEWAY, reveal, make known BEZANT, heraldic term: small gold circle BEZOAR'S STONE, a remedy known by this name was a supposed antidote to poison BID-STAND, highwayman BIGGIN, cap, similar to that worn by the Beguines; nightcap BILIVE (belive), with haste BILE, nothing, empty talk BILL, kind of pike BILLET, wood cut for fuel, stick BIRDING, thieving BLACK SANCTUS, burlesque hymn, any unholy riot BLANK, originally a small French coin BLANK, white BLANKET, toss in a blanket BLAZE, outburst of violence BLAZE, (her.) blazon; publish abroad BLAZON, armorial bearings; fig. all that pertains to good birth and breeding BLIN, "withouten --," without ceasing BLOW, puff up BLUE, colour of servants' livery, hence "-- order," "-- waiters" BLUSHET, blushing one BOB, jest, taunt BOB, beat, thump BODGE, measure BODKIN, dagger, or other short, pointed weapon; long pin with which the women fastened up their hair BOLT, roll (of material) BOLT, dislodge, rout out; sift (boulting-tub) BOLT'S-HEAD, long, straight-necked vessel for distillation. BOMBARD SLOPS, padded, puffed-out breeches BONA ROBA, "good, wholesome, plum-cheeked wench" (Johnson) -- not always used in compliment BONNY-CLABBER, sour butter-milk BOOKHOLDER, prompter BOOT, "to --," into the bargain; "no --," of no avail BORACHIO, bottle made of skin BORDELLO, brothel BORNE IT, conducted, carried it through BOTTLE (of han), bundle, truss BOTTOM, skein or ball of thread; vessel BOURD, jest BOVOLI, snails or cockles dressed in the Italian manner (Gifford) BOW-POT, flower vase or pot BOYE, "terrible --," "angry --," roystering young bucks. (See Nares) BRABBLES (BRABBLESH), brawls BRACH, bitch BRADAMANTE, a heroine in 'Orlando Furioso' BRADLEY, ARTHUR OF, a lively character commemorated in ballads BRAKE, frame for confining a norse's feet while being shod, or strong curb or bridle; trap BRANCHED, with "detached sleeve ornaments, projecting from the shoulders of the gown" (Gifford) BRANDISH, flourish of weapon BRASH, brace BRAVE, bravado, braggart speech BRAVE (adv.), gaily, finely (apparelled) BRAVERIES, gallants BRAVERY, extravagant gaiety of apparel BRAVO, bravado, swaggerer BRAZEN-HEAD, speaking head made by Roger Bacon BREATHE, pause for relaxation; exercise BREATH UPON, speak dispraisingly of BREND, burn BRIDE-ALE, wedding feast BRIEF, abstract; (mus.) breve BRISK, smartly dressed BRIZE, breese, gadfly BROAD-SEAL, state seal BROCK, badger (term of contempt) BROKE, transact business as a broker BROOK, endure, put up with BROUGHTON, HUGH, an English divine and Hebrew scholar BRUIT, rumour BUCK, wash BUCKLE, bend BUFF, leather made of buffalo skin, used for military and serjeants' coats, etc. BUFO, black tincture BUGLE, long-shaped bead BULLED, (?) boiled, swelled BULLIONS, trunk hose BULLY, term of familiar endearment BUNGY, Friar Bungay, who had a familiar in the shape of a dog BURDEN, refrain, chorus BURGONET, closely-fitting helmet with visor BURGULLION, braggadocio BURN, mark wooden measures (" --ing of cans") BURROUGH, pledge, security BUSKIN, half-boot, foot gear reaching high up the leg BUTT-SHAFT, barbless arrow for shooting at butts BUTTER, NATHANIEL. ("Staple of News"), a compiler of general news. (See Cunningham) BUTTERY-HATCH, half-door shutting off the buttery, where provisions and liquors were stored BUY, "he bought me," formerly the guardianship of wards could be bought BUZ, exclamation to enjoin silence BUZZARD, simpleton BY AND BY, at once BY(E), "on the __," incidentally, as of minor or secondary importance; at the side BY-CHOP, by-blow, bastard