The workes of Beniamin Ionson

Act. II. Scene II.

PVNTARVOLO, HVNTSMAN, GENTLE∣WOMAN.

To the rest.

FOrrester, giue winde to thy borne. Inough, by this, the sound hath toucht the eares of the enclosed: Depart, leaue the dogge, and take with thee what thou hast deseru'd, the horne, and thankes.

CARL.

I, mary, there's some taste in this.

FAST.

Is't not good?

SOGL.

Ah, peace, now aboue, now aboue!

PVNT.

The gentlewo∣man appeares at the window.

Stay: mine eye hath (on the instant) through the bountie of the window, receiu'd the forme of a Nymph. I will step forward three pa∣ses: of the which, I will barely retire one; and (after some little flexure of the knee) with an erected grace salute her (one, two, and three.) Sweet lady, God saue you.

GENT.

No, forsooth: I am but the waiting gentlewoman.

CARL.

He knew that before.

PVNT.

Pardon me: Humanum est errare.

CARL.

He learn'd that of his chaplaine.

PVNT.

To the perfection of complement (which is the Diall of the thought, and guided by the Sunne of your beauties) are requir'd these three specials: the gnomon, the puntilio's, and the superficies: the superficies, is that we call, place; the puntilio's, circumstance; and the gnomon, ceremo∣ny: in either of which, for a stranger to erre, 'tis easie and facile, and such am I.

CARL.

True, not knowing her horizon, he must needes erre: which I feare, he knowes too well.

PVNT.

What call you the lord of the castle? sweet face.

GENT.

The lord of the castle is a knight, sir; Signior PVNTAR∣VOLO.

PVNT:

PVNTARVOLO? O.

CARL.

Now must he ruminate.

FAST.

Does the wench know him all this while, then?

CARL.

O, doc you know me, man? why, therein lies the sirrup of the iest, it's a proiect, a designement of his owne, a thing studied, and re∣hearst as ordinarily at his comming from hawking, or hunting, as a jigge after a play.

SOGL.

I, e'en like your jigge, sir.

PVNT.

'Tis a most sumptuous and stately edifice! of what yeeres is the knight, faire damsell?

GENT.

Faith, much about your yeeres, sir.

PVNT.

What complexion, or what stature beares he?

GENT.

Of your stature, and very neere vpon your complexion.

PVNT.

Mine is melancholy:

CARL.

So is the dogges, iust.

PVNT.

And doth argue constancie, chie••ly in loue. What are his en∣dowments? Is he courteous?

GENT.

O, the most courteous knight in Christian land, sir.

PVNT.

Is he magnanimous?

GENT.

As the skin betweene your browes, sir.

PVNT.

Is he bountifull?

CARL.

'Slud, he takes an inuentory of his owne good parts.

GENT.

Bountifull? I, sir, I would you should know it; the poore are seen'd at his gate, early, and late, sir.

PVNT.

Is he learned?

GENT.

O, I sir, he can speake the French, and Italian.

PVNT.

Then he is trauail'd?

GENT.

I, forsooth, he hath beene beyond-sea, once, or twise.

CARL.

As far as Paris, to fetch ouer a fashion, and come back againe.

PVNT.

Is he religious?

GENT.

Religious? I know not what you call religious, but hee goes to church, I am sure.

FAST.

S'lid, methinkes, these answeres should offend him.

CARL.

T'ut, no; he knowes they are excellent, and to her capacity, that speakes 'hem.

PVNT.

Would I might see his face.

CARL.

Shee should let down a glasse from the window at that word, and request him to looke in't.

PVNT.

Doubtlesse, the gentleman is most exact, and absolutely qua∣lified? doth the castle containe him?

GENT.

No, sir, he is from home, but his lady is within.

PVNT.

His lady? what, is shee faire? splendidious? and amiable?

GENT.

O, Lord, sir!

PVNT.

Pr'ythee, deare Nymph, intreat her beauties to shine on this side of the building.

CARL.

Gent. leaues the window.

That he may erect a new dyall of complement, with his gno∣mons, and his puntilio's.

FAST.

Nay, thou art such another Cinique now, a man had need walke vprightly before thee.

CARL.

Heart, can any man walke more vpright then hee does? Looke, looke; as if he went in a frame, or had a sute of wanescot on: and the dogge watching him, let he should leape out on't.

FAST.

O, villaine!

CARL.

Well, and e'er I meet him in the city, I'le ha'him ioynted, I'le pawne him in east cheape, among the butchers else.

FAST.

Peace, who be these, CARLO?