ETHICUS

Nay, nay— Nay, Rhetorica, we know you have words at will; every woman has two tongues, and you have Four, it'll come to a fine pass in a while, if we suffer every young pert thing to be prachant, especially towards their elders, I may be thy father, wench, and I will speak. Thou art a greenhead, Historiam; I say that Poeta's a licentious fellow, a Drin ker, a Dicer, a Wencher, a Balladmaker, a Seducer of young minds, a Scoffer, a Libeler, a Sharker, and Humorist, and Epi cure; proud, fantastical, sullen, slothful, lewd, irreligious, and in a word and enemy to all the Gods and Virtues. He speaks to Rhetorica. Nay, thou wench, I Like thee better, though thou hast a shrewd Tongue: for thou hast set thine affection upon Logicus, a fellow of some understanding, and though he has some of thy fault (as a piece of thy tongue) yet it's likely he'll make a good Housekeeper; he's thrifty, thrifty, and I Like that. Ah, there's a good huswife, neither meat oth' table, nor cloth laid, nor any thing in a readiness. Good friends pardon us, we are somewhat unmannerly to make you stay thus; wee'll talk till supper is served in; but where's Geogra phus? Enter GEOGRAPHVS and PHANTASTES. O here is; welcome, welcome. Phantastes, and Choler, [ Enter MUSICAM] and thou Musicam, now thou art come, be a little forward to make a supply for our backwardness, and step in to my wife to help out supper quickly: (Exeunt Phantast. Choler, & Musicam) why it's well, it's well, now it's as it should be, all friends, all friends: but where's Historiam? Poeta, where's your man Melancholico? Logicus, where's your man Phlegmatico? You should let him be my man a little; faith I should be as froward as he; we two should have a bickering once a day. (Choler to Phantast. as they come in with more service. Fit down, you know your places; fit down (they all fit down) wife, bid them welcome. Why, Musicam, where are the Musicians? Come on, play, feed you our ears, while we seed our bellies. The music plays; Geo graphus drinks to Astronomia; she to Geome ; he to A rithmetica she to Astrologiam; she drinks to Astronomia, then Alley casts in a powder: which being done, Phan tastes sings. Here, Logicus, you shall drink to Poeta, Friends, you are all heartily welcome, rest you here I pray, and weel in with her. Exit Ethicus. And I, that you may have Honest men: farewell Shrews. Exeunt Polites, Ethicus, Oeconoma. —Hay! scarce dressed yet! how so? —No. But to invite you to a Feast, my self your friend, Desirous of your peace, to set and end To your contentions with Grammaticus And Logicus, to night do purpose thus To make you friends. —Nay, no buts: Be there. —Why thanks. Welcome shall be your cheer. How now? what would this fellow have with you? Yes faith, you should entertain every men cast off. Come, are you ready with your Mask you promised Polites at the Celebration of Astronomia's marriage? all the chief of the Commonwealth will be there. Come, let's in: I hope ere long to come to your wedding and Historia's. I, and thy verse make her immortal: come, let's go, but thou makest me laugh, a Poet die a maid? I never knew any of the brood yet, so chaste. Exeunt. I, and learn more, manners, for I am sure he wants them.