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ASPER his
Character.
HE is of an ingenious and
free spirit, eager and constant in reproofe, without feare controuling the
worlds abuses. One, whom no seruile hope of gaine, or frosty apprehension
of danger, can make to be a Parasite, either to time, place, or
opinion.
...
SOGLIARDO.
AN essentiall Clowne, brother to
Sordido, yet so enamour'd of the name of a Gentleman, that he will haue it,
though he buyes it. He comes vp euery Terme to learne to take Tobacco, and
see new Motions. He is in his kingdome when he can get himselfe into
company, where he may be well laught at.
[@ Jonson, Workes 77-9]
MACI. I doe know you, sir.
CAR. S'heart, he answeres him like
an eccho.
SOG. Why, who am I, Sir ?
MACI. One of those that fortune
fauours.
CAR. The Periphrasis of a
foole ; Ile obserue this better.
SOG. That fortune fauours ? how
meane you that, friend ?
MACI. I meane simply. That you are one
that liues not by your vvits.
SOG. By my wits ? No sir, I
scorne
to liue by my wits, I. I haue better meanes, I tell thee, then to take
such
base courses, as to liue by my wits. Sbloud, doest thou thinke I liue by
my wits ?
[94]
SOGL. Nay, I will haue him, I am
resolute for that. By this parchment, gentlemen, I haue beene so toil'd
among the Harrots yonder, you will not beleeue, they doe speake i'
the strangest language, and giue a man the hardest termes for his money,
that euer you knew.
CARL. But ha' you armes ? ha you
armes ?
SOGL. Yfaith, I thanke them, I can
write my selfe gentleman now, here's my pattent, it cost me thirtie pound,
by this breath.
PVNT. A very faire coat, well
charg'd, and full of armorie.
SOGL. Nay, it has as much varietie
of colours in it, as you haue seene a coat haue, how
like you the crest, sir ?
PVNT. I vnderstand it not well, what
is't ?
SOGL. Mary, sir, it is your Bore
without a head Rampant.
PVNT. A Boore without a head, that's
very rare !
CARL. I, and rampant too : troth, I
commend the Heralds wit, hee has decyphered him well : A swine
without a head, without braine, wit, any thing indeed, ramping to
gentilitie. You can blazon the rest,
signior ? can you not ?
SOGL. O, I, I haue it in writing
here
of purpose, it cost me two shillings the tricking.
CARL. Let's heare, let's heare.
...
SOGL. How like you 'hem, signior
?
PVNT. Let the word bee, Not without mustard;
your crest is very rare, sir.
CARL. A frying pan, to the crest,
had
had no fellow.
FAST. Intreat your poore friend to
walke off a little, signior, I will salute the knight.
[124-5]
SAVI. O excellent : why gallants,
is this hee that cannot bee decipher'd ? they were verie bleare-witted,
yfaith, that could not discerne the gentleman in him.
PVNT. But, doe you, in earnest,
ladie
?
SAVI. Doe I, sir ? why, if you
had any true court-iudgement in the carriage of his eye, and that inward
power that formes his countenance, you might perceiue
his counterfeiting as cleere, as the noone-day : Alas--me he was a
gentleman, but presented him for a true clowne indeede ; and then haue
seene if I could haue decipher'd
him.
FAST. 'Fore god, her ladiship sayes
true (knight :) but does he not affect the clowne most naturally,
mistresse
?
PVNT. O, shee cannot but affirme
that, out of the bountie of her iudgement.
SAVI. Nay, out of doubt hee does
well, for a gentleman, to imitate ; but I warrant you, he becomes his
natural carriage of the gentleman, much better then his clownerie.
FAST. 'Tis strange, in truth, her
ladiship should see so farre into him !
PVNT. I, is't not ?
SAVI. Faith, as easily as may be :
not decipher him, quoth you ?
FVNG. Good sadnesse, I wonder at it
!
MACI. Why, has she decipher'd him,
gentlemen ?
PVNT. O, most miraculously, and
beyond admiration !
MACI. Is't possible ?
FAST. Shee hath gather'd most
infallible signes of the gentleman in him, that's certaine.
SAVI. Why, gallants, let mee laugh
at you, a little : was this your deuice, to trie my iudgement in a
gentleman ?
MACI. Nay, ladie, doe not scorne vs,
though you haue this gift of perspicacie aboue others : What if hee should
bee no gentleman now, but a clowne indeed, ladie ?
PVNT. How thinke you of that ?
would
not your ladiship bee out of your humour ?
FAST. O, but shee knowes it is not
so.
SAVI. What if he were not a man,
yee may as well say ? nay, if your worships could gull me so, indeed, you
were wiser then you are taken for.
MACI. In good
faith, ladie, hee is a verie perfect clowne, both by father, and mother :
that I'le assure you.
SAVI. O, sir, you are verie
pleasurable.
MACI. Nay, doe but looke on his
hand,
and that shall resolue you : looke you, ladie, what a palme here is.
SOGL. Tut, that was with holding the
plough.
MACI. The plough ! did you discerne
any such thing in him, madame ?
FAST. Faith no, she saw the
gentleman
as bright, as at noon-day, shee : shee decipher'd him at first.
MACI. Troth, I am sorrie your
ladiships sight should be so suddainly strooke.
SAVI. O, you're goodly beagles
!
FAST. What, is she gone ?
[159-60]
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