Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

FURIOSO

in Two Wise Men and All the Rest Fools — Anonymous

Metadata

PlayTwo Wise Men and All the Rest Fools
AuthorAnonymous
Year (catalogued)1619
First performance1619
Decade1610s
GenreSatirical Dialogue
Play typePrivate (?); University (?)
Speech prefix(es)Furio.
Words274
Characters1492
Typicality0.39 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA18423
BritDrama no.1891
ClusterCluster 20 — Conjurers, witches & physicians

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

You needs not bend your self so stiff y against a nigh sorts of people, e they never so wicked, being your self one of the basest and most unnecessary fruitspillers that e for made themselves mercenary. And Intelligencer, a spy, and Evesdropper is hated, and shunned of all the world. Yes to your state. do you kick already? nay I'll gale you better yet. with thy borrowed bravery thou perkest, and insinuatest thy self into the best company, & underminest their thoughts with thy lavish and warranted impeaching of states proceedings. And if any perhaps see cond thee in thy feigned murmurin him thou pursuest, and becomest first his animater, and then his accuse . such a one was Worser. Pary until the snare he laid for others compassed his own neck. Thats the intent of your mission, and cause of your entertainment. But you (to seem diligent) attend ma e times to babbles and toys, and the better to pack a uva e paper you send your own surmises when weightier ffaires either happen not, or escape you. And so least you seem to neglect your service, you return tri es. How shall this come to pass, I desire to hear for my learning? What now foolish fiddler, do to thou think freely to carry away these exorbitant and opprobrious to arms? I'll have thee banished all houses of my acquaintance. It is not long since you were teaching the lute to a pretty wench and witty, and were fingering her frets unfit for your di tie. Its best for you to be quiet, least I tell the rest which I know.

Plot summary

Plot — Two Wise Men and All the Rest Fools
Proberio returns to England from his overseas travels, bringing with him the Italianated Antonio. Aton sets up in business, giving Proberio employment an house-room in return for an investment in the business. Simplo asks to enter his service as an apprentice in order to learn his tricks, and is ies ar provided that Antonio is granted the use of his lan and money. ” Securus asks Hermito to.advise him on a series © issues. They sit down to watch the debates, and witness the rest of the play’s action. Several rustics argue over whether holy days should be abolished: because no work gets done, weeds grow in the gardens and os in the fields. They appeal to Hermito, who rules in favour of Sunday observance. Sperato and Spurco disagree over whether hawking or hunting is the better sport, while Gulato avers that drinking is better than both. The husband Rustico and the bachelor Hortano debate the virtues of marriage: Hortano is afraid of marrying a shrew, whereas Rustico has already done so. His wife Lamia has conceived her son in his absence, and now ===== PAGE 161 ===== 1619 spoils the boy whilst beating Rustico, who reflects that at least he will go straight to heaven when he dies, having endured purgatory on earth. A lawyer, a merchant, and a farmer debate the relative merits and vices of their professions; asked for an opinion, Securus rules in the farmer’s favour, but Hermito argues that all three have their place in society and all three are open to abuse. They also adjudicate in a similar argument between a soldier, an intelligencer, and a musician, declaring each to be as bad as the other: they could do useful service, but have degenerated of late. Antonio’s business dealings prove unethical. He misappropriates borrowed goods, reneges on contracts, and dishonours debts, tearing his authenticating seal off a bill when it is presented to him by a poor widow. He and Noverindo plan to set up a livery company of usurers, in order to make it easier for them to charge exorbitant rates of interest. They employ Proberio to procure them a coat of arms, but since Proberio has been cheated by Antonio, he refuses to hand over the design before receiving his fee; it turns out to show Judas being hanged by the Devil, which Noverindo thinks might not be as good for business as they hoped. ' Insatiato the courtier is in financial difficulties. His brother offers him a partnership in a commodity of rags, which are in heavy demand by the paper industry. Insatiato feigns…