MATTHEW

What! COB! how dost thou, good COB? dost thou inhabit here, COB? Thy lineage, Monsieur COB, what lineage? what lineage? Why mighty? why mighty? I pray thee. How knowest thou that? Smell a ghost? O unsavoury jest! and the ghost of a herring COB! ROGER BACON, thou wouldst say? Oh raw ignorance! COB, canst thou show me of a gentleman, one Captain BOBADILL, where his lodging is? Thy guest! Alas! would, would. COB, pray thee, advise thy self well: do not wrong the gen tleman, and thy self too. I dare be sworn, he scorns thy house: he! He lodge in such a base, obscure place, as thy house! Tut, I know his dis position so well, he would not lie in thy bed, if tho'uldst gi'it him. Why? was he drunk? Lie in a water-bearers house! A gentleman of his havings! Well, I'll tell him my mind. Captain BOBADILL? Save you, sir. Save you, Captain. Vouchsafe me, by whom, good Captain. No haste, sir, it's very well. Faith, some half hour to seven: now trust me, you have and exceeding fine lodging here, very neat, and private! Who? I sir? no. True, Captain, I conceive you. Oh Lord, sir, I resolve so. I, did you ever see it acted? is't not well pend? Indeed, here are a number of fine speeches in this book! Oh eyes, no eyes, but fountains fraught with tears! There's a conceit! fountains fraught with tears! Oh life, no life, but lively form of death! Another! Oh world, no world, but mass of public wrongs! A third! Confused and siled with murder, and misdeeds! A fourth! Oh, the Muses ! Is't not excellent? Is't not simply the best that ever you herd, Captain? Would? How do you Like it? To thee, the purest object to my sense, The most refined essence heaven covers, Send I these lines, wherein I do commence The happy state of turtle-billing lovers. If they prove rough, vn-polish't, harsh, and rude, Hast made the vast. Thus, mildly, I conclude. This, sir? a toy of mine own, in my nonage: the infancy of my Muses! But, when will you come and see my study? good faith, I can show you some very good things, I have done of late—That boot be comes your leg, passing well, Captain, methinks! Troth, Captain, and now you speak of the fashion, master WELL- RED'S elder brother, and I, are fallen out exceedingly: this other day, I happened to enter into some discourse of a hanger, which I assure you, both for fashion, and worke-man-ship, was most peremptory-beautiful, and gentlemanlike! Yet, he condemned, and cried it down, for the most pied, and ridiculous that ever he saw. I sir, he. I, and he thinks to carry it away with his manhood still, where he comes. He brags he will give me the bastinado , as I hear. Nay, indeed, he said cudgel me; I termed it so, for my more grace. Faith, yesterday, they say: a young gallant, a friend of mine told me so. Indeed, you have absolute knowledge in the mystery, I have herd, sir. Troth, I have herd it spoken of diverse, that you have very rare, and vn-in-one-breath-vtter-able skill, sir. How is the bearing of it, now, sir? How mean you, sir, pass upon me? Well, come, sir. But one venue , sir. Faith, I have not passed a two shillings, or so. Troth, nor I, he is of a rustical cut, I know not how: he does not carry himself Like a gentleman of fashion— I understand you sir. But are you indeed. Sir? so given to it? O, it's your only fine humour, sir, your true melancholy, breeds your perfect sine wit, sir: I am melancholy my self diverse times, sir, and then do I no more but take pen, and paper presently, and over flow you half a score, or a dozen of sonnets, at a sitting. Why, I pray you, sir, make use of my study, it's at your service. That I have, sir, and some papers there of mine own doing, at idle hours, that you'll say there's some sparks of wit in them, when you see them. Pray you, let's see, sir: yes faith, it is! Mass, I think it be, indeed! now I look on't, better. You say well, mistress; and I mean, as well. Oh, master WELLBRED, it's your disposition to say so, sir. They were good in the morning, I made them, extempore , this morning. I, would I might be hanged else: ask Captain BOBADILE. He saw me write them, at the—(pox on it) the star, yonder. Oh, I, sir, he threatened me, with the bastinado. Indeed, it is a most excellent trick! Rare Captain! Oh, good sir! yes, I hope, he has. Faith, and I'll have a ling at him, at my distance. I'll be hanged, then, if that were he. Why, so! but what can they say of your beating? I, but, would any man have offered it in Venice ? as you say? Do you hear? is't not best to get a warrant, and have him ar rested, and brought before Justice CLEMENT? Why, here comes his man, let's speak to him. Save you, sir. Sir, there is one DOWNRIGHT, hath abused this gentleman, and my self, and we determine to make our amends by law; now, if you would do us the favour, to procure a warrant, to bring him afore your master, you shall be well considered, I assure you, sir. How is that? sir. How shall we do, Captain? he asks a brace of angels, you have no money? Nor I, as I am a gentleman, but two pence, left of my two shil lings in the morning for wine, and reddish: let's find him some pawn. Oh, yes. I'll pawn this jewel in my ear, and you may pawn your silk stockings, and pull up your boots, they will never be missed: It must be done, now. Do you hear, sir? we have no store of money at this time, but you shall have good pawns: look you, sir, this jewel, and that gen tlemans silk stockings, because we would have it dispatched, ever we went to our chambers. I, I, GEORGE DOWNRIGHT. A tall big man, sir; he goes in a cloak, most commonly, of silk russet, laid about with russet lace. Here sir, here's my jewel? That's true, Captain: that must be considered. Will you, sir? why, we can wish no better. See, I think, yonder is the varlet, by his gown. Save you, friend, are not you here, by appointment of Justice CLEMENTS man. It is honestly done of you both; and see, where the party comes, you must arrest: serve it upon him, quickly, afore he be aware— Marry, and Elegy , and Elegy , and odd toy— Mistress, I'll read it, if you please. Faith, I did it in and humour; I know not how it is: but, please you come near, sir. This gentleman ha judgement, he knows how to censure of a—pray you sir, you can judge. I shall, sir: well, In ipere dulce. Rare creature, let me speak without offence, Would God my rude words had the influence, To rule thy thoughts, as thy fair looks do mine, Then shouldst thou be his prisoner, who is thine. Be not unkind, and fair, mishapen stuff Is of behaviour boisterous, and rough: But observe the catastrophe , now, And I in duty will exceed all other, As you in beauty do excel loves mother. Come, let's before, and make the Justice, Captain— An't please your worship, he was bound to the peace. pray you, mark this discourse, sir.