MORELLO

Signior Orpiano, and Fulvi . You are travailing to your Mistress Your Lordship's I hope have herd, the Duke sent Post for them, as they say, there is something in't. Does not your Lordship know? Your Lordship's wisdom and mine is much about a scantling then, yet for ought I hear, there be others of the Court as ignorant as we—your Honours pardon I be seech you, I must in all haste to the Princesses Lodging. Um? what and oversight was this of my Barber, I must return now and have it corrected, deer Sign. Save you deer Sign. which way went the Ladies? I beseech you I may partake. Nay, but my Lords and Gentlemen, where are the Ladies gone indeed? What, committed to New Prison: Would I were a Mouse then—why, but is the Duke mad Ears? Would I had left mine behind me, here's News indeed! Would he had left me ith' suds and hour ago! What shall we do Gentlemen, it's a hard case, when a man that has and intention to marry and live honest— How now, what art thou? What? Th'art no Capon I hope. I'll lay with thee, what wilt hold— I hold you a Paradox. The Duke. A blustering fellow. Here's a mad fellow, does he mean to get into the Ladies? Our best course then is to observe and humour him, he may have a trick more then we know; he seems to be a good Fellow, let's be drunk together, and get him to confess it—would? Like orrand Knights our valiant wits must wrestle To free our Ladies from the enchanted Castle. The Guard will accept no money. And you go thereto: save your self, you are in a worse pickle then we are. I did but jest, I know you have a way to the wood in your Pericranium, what is't we are honest simple minded Lords. Wooed we were whipped and we do. Very secret— Mimics? what's that. Peace how comes he to know that? Not a doyt, as I am virtuous and sinful. As I am a Gentleman. I have left some Crowns with your fellow. Indeed, I would no more money. Nothing but a wart a'my little finger. It's a Diamond, 'twas my Mother's Legacy—or else It was my Mother's will I should wear it, her Ghost will haunt me, and I should give it away. You will give me my gold again. D'ee hear Sir, and it were a Diamond of gold you should have it. Y'ave kissed the Ring of a my finger Ime sure. If I get to the Ladies, some body shall pay for this, that's my comfort. Ah—wrestle Sir, Ladies do not use to wrestle. Wood you would me tear my clothes? Mollify him, does he use Ladies so, he will mollify me. What will become of me, if he be such a Wencher he'll ravish me, and discover all, what a Rascal was I to venture thus, isle give thee my Fan to persuade him—help, help. To tell you true Gentlemen, I am neither a man nor a woman, I am and Hermaphrodite. Ah. I shall be undone—d'yee hear Noble friends it's but a folly to dissemble, I am no such thing, I am no Herma phrodite, I am a friend of yours. I did but jest all this while, the Duke himself put me upon't, to see whither I could cozen you, my Name's More rello. As I am virtuous, I am, I am no Hermaphrodite, no matter for the Gold or Diamonds 'tis your own—isle acquaint his Grace how careful I found you, and if he do not reward you beside, isle say he's the poorest Duke in Christendom: I'll tell him presently. Carry me away quickly, they will laugh me out of my little wit. What wise man in Italy would be in my coat now. Oyes, oh yes, oh yes, If there be any one in City or in Town Can show me a wise man I'll please him for his pain. Marry if he go far, he is not so wise as he should be. Dondolo, Grutti! Old acquaintance how is't? How is't? It does appear so, but nothing can make me proud, I'll know my Fellows. Your Lordship may make one at Football, 'Tis all the sport now a days. What other is the world then a Ball, Which we run after with whoop and with hollow, He that does catch it is sure of a fallen, His heals trip up by him that does follow. Oyes, they are the best Gamesters of all, For though they often lie on the ground, Not one amongst a hundred will fallen, But under her coats the Ball will found. But we be three of old, without exception to your Lord ship, only with this difference, Jam the wisest Fool, for you play the fool in your old clothes, and I have a new Coat on. Hark you Gentlemen, d'yee hear the News? Dee not hear on't yet, why it's in a Ballad all ready. 'Twas well guest, and I can but hit oth' Tune. There was and Invisible Fox by chance, Did meet with two invisible Geese, He led e a fine invisible dance, For a hundred crowns a piece. Invisible all but his hand he would go, But when it came to be tried, Not only his hand which was left he did show, But a fair pair of heals beside. Invisible since their wits have been, But yet there is hope of either, Their wit and their Crowns may return again, Invisible altogether. Nicely? it might would been your own case. Be wise hereafter, and make the Fool your friend, it's many and honest men case at Court. It is safer to displease the Duke then his Jester, every sentence the one speaks, make and , but let the impu dent fool bark never so absurdly, other men would the wit to make a Jest on't, it's policy in State, to maintain a Fool at Court, to reach great men discretion. No but you may be, by the length of your wit and shortness of your memory, for if you have but wit enough to do mischief and oblivion enough to forget good turns, you may come to great places in time, keep a fool a'your own, and then you are made— Cuckolds, if my Lady take liking to the inno cent, Oh your Fool is and excellent fellow upon all occasions. Among all sorts of people the matter if we look well in, The Fool is the best, he from the rest will carry away the Bell too. All places he free of and fools it without blushing At Masks and Plays, is not the Baize thrust out, to let the plashin Your fool is fine, he's merry, and of all men does fear least, At every word he Jests with my Lord, and tickles my Lady in earnest: The fool does pass the Guard now, he'l kiss his hand and leg it, When wisemen prate, and forfeit their state, who but the fine fool will beg it. He without fear can walk in, the streets that are so stony, Your Gallant sneaks, your Merchant breaks, he's a Fool that does owe no money. He's forthcoming, there's no more money ith Exchequer. Then my Petticoat is discharged. And mine, shall's to Barlibreake I was in Hell last, 'tis little less to be in a Petticoat sometime. O is that it, I never herd what a Mimic was before. 'Twas more then ever I could see in my self yet. Do I look Like a Johnanapes? It were not your best course. Alas Sir I should but shame my self, and be laughed at afore all this Company. Had we not better a gone to Tavern, as I plot ted at first, he could not would been more valiant in his drink. Make on him quotha, he made little reckoning of us, but and he had not gone as he did, I should would made Urine in my breeches—he sqeezed me, I think I was ready to melt'o, both sides. Well remembered. No, every one think what he can by himself, my thoughts shall be private, and not free at this time; every one scratch his own head. Let me see—umh. Oh rare. No, it's gone back again, I drunk buttered Sack this Morning and it slipped back when 'twas almost at my tongues end—but it was a delicate project, whatsoe ver it was. Now, now, now, let me alone—make no noise, it's coming again, I have't, I have't— Some wiser then some. No hast—as occasion serves—it cost more then so yet you may know't. Hereafter, but not now—away, do not tempt me I will eat the sweat of my own brain, Oh rare! never was such a strain of wit invented.—Dee hear, Gentlemen; if you will command me any service to the Ladies, I do purpose to visit em—with quirk—heigh. Marry do I. Gentlemen, as I told you, if you have any thing to the Ladies, before I go I am the messenger,—there is a crotchet and so forth—a carwhichet is found out - your ears—I will do such a stratagem as never the Like was herd of in the world.—O rare.— So, now am I as valiant as Hercules, when he turned spnister, great Jupiter, the patron of escapes, assist my petticoat, and at my return, I will sacrifice my linen-breeches to thee,—here be the men, the men of mettle, now Venus I beseech thee, and they be men they will let a Lady enter without many que scions. I go but in to the Princess. From the Dukes Grace. I never thought to give my self a name—my name is Madam—um. My name is something and odd name, but—I do not stand vpon't—my name's Thorn. Why hark you it was but forgotten, of the Duke to send his signet—but I would brought some of his Highness de puties wo'mee, I hope that will satisfy. Nay d'yee hear Gentlemen. No, no, it's better for me to go alone. And you do not reckon well with him, he'll be even with you, I'll do your Message.