The workes of Beniamin Ionson

About this Item

Title
The workes of Beniamin Ionson
Author
Jonson, Ben, 1573?-1637.
Publication
London :: Printed by W: Stansby, and are to be sould by Rich: Meighen,
An⁰ D. 1616.
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Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A04632.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The workes of Beniamin Ionson." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A04632.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 24, 2025.

Pages

Scene I.

LA-FOOLE, CLERIMONT, DAW, MAVIS.

WHere had you our swords, master CLERIMONT?

CLE.

Why, DAVPHINE tooke 'hem from the mad-man.

LA-F.

And he tooke 'hem from our boyes, I warrant you?

CLE.

Very like, sir.

LA-F.

Thanke you, good master CLERIMONT. Sir IOHN DAW, and I are both beholden to you.

CLE.

Would I knew how to make you so, gentlemen.

DAW.

Sir AMOROVS, and I are your seruants, sir.

MAV.

Gentlemen, haue any of you a pen-and-inke. I would faine write out a riddle in Italian, for sir DAVPHINE, to translate.

CLE.

Not I, in troth lady, I am no scriuener.

DAW.

I can furnish you, I thinke, lady.

CLE.

He has it in the haft of a knife, I beleeue!

LA-F.

No, he has his boxe of instruments.

CLE.

Like a surgean!

LA-F.

For the mathematiques: his squire, his compasses, his brasse pens, and black-lead, to draw maps of euery place, and person, where he comes.

CLE.

How, maps of persons!

Page 587

LA-F.

Yes, sir, of NOMENTACK, when he was here, and of the Prince of Moldauia, and of his mistris, mistris EPICoeNE.

CLE.

Away! he has not found out her latitude, I hope.

LA-F.

You are a pleasant gentleman, sir.

CLE.

Faith, now we are in priuate, let's wanton it a little, and talke waggishly. Sir IOHN, I am telling sir AMOROVS here, that you two go∣uerne the ladies, where e're you come, you carry the feminine gender a∣fore you.

DAW.

They shall rather carry vs afore them, if they will, sir.

CLE.

Nay, I beleeue that they doe, withall—But, that you are the prime-men in their affections, and direct all their actions—

DAW.

Not I: sir AMOROVS is.

LA-F.

I protest, sir IOHN is.

DAW.

As I hope to rise i'the state, sir AMOROVS, you ha' the person.

LA-F.

Sir IOHN, you ha' the person, and the discourse too.

DAW.

Not I, sir. I haue no discourse—and then you haue actiuitie beside.

LA-F.

I protest, sir IOHN, you come as high from Tripoly, as I doe e∣uery whit: and lift as many ioyn'd stooles, and leape ouer 'hem, if you would vse it—

CLE.

Well, agree on't together knights; for betweene you, you di∣uide the kingdome, or common-wealth of ladies affections: I see it, and can perceiue a little how they obserue you, and feare you, indeed. You could tell strange stories, my masters, if you would, I know.

DAW.

Faith, we haue seene somewhat, sir.

LA-F.

That we haue—vellet petti-coates, & wrought smocks, or so.

DAW.

I, and—

CLE.

Nay, out with it, sir IOHN: doe not enuie your friend the plea∣sure of hearing, when you haue had the delight of tasting.

DAW.

Why—a—doe you speake, sir AMOROVS.

LA-F.

No, doe you, sir IOHN DAW.

DAW.

I'faith, you shall.

LA-F.

I'faith, you shall.

DAW.

Why, we haue beene—

LA-F.

In the great bed at Ware together in our time. On, sir IOHN.

DAW.

Nay, doe you, sir AMOROVS.

CRE.

And these ladies with you, Knights?

LA-F.

No, excuse vs, sir.

DAW.

We must not wound reputation.

LA-F.

No matter—they were these, or others. Our bath cost vs fif∣teene pound, when we came home.

CLE.

Doe you heare, sir IOHN, you shall tell me but one thing true∣ly, as you loue me.

DAW.

If I can, I will, sir.

Page 588

CLE.

You lay in the same house with the bride, here?

DAW.

Yes, and conuerst with her hourely, sir.

CLE.

And what humour is shee of? is shee comming, and open, free?

DAW.

O, exceeding open, sir. I was her seruant, and sir AMOROUS was to be.

CLE.

Come, you haue both had fauours from her? I know, and haue heard so much.

DAW.

O, no, sir.

LA-F.

You shall excuse vs, sir: we must not wound reputation.

CLE.

Tut, shee is married, now; and you cannot hurt her with any report, and therefore speake plainely: how many times, yfaith? which of you lead first? Ha?

LA-F.

Sir IOHN had her mayden-head, indeed.

DAW.

O, it pleases him to say so, sir, but sir AMOROVS knowes what's what, as well.

CLE.

Do'st thou yfaith, AMOROVS?

LA-F.

In a manner, sir.

CLE.

Why, I commend you lads. Little knowes Don Bride-groome of this. Nor shall he, for me.

DAW.

Hang him, mad oxe.

CLE.

SPeake softly: here comes his nephew, with the lady HAVGH∣TY. Hee'll get the ladies from you, sirs, if you looke not to him in time.

LA-F.

Why, if he doe, wee'll fetch 'hem home againe, I warrant you.

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