The fountaine of selfe-loue. Or Cynthias reuels As it hath beene sundry times priuately acted in the Black-Friers by the Children of her Maiesties Chappell. Written by Ben: Iohnson.

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Title
The fountaine of selfe-loue. Or Cynthias reuels As it hath beene sundry times priuately acted in the Black-Friers by the Children of her Maiesties Chappell. Written by Ben: Iohnson.
Author
Jonson, Ben, 1573?-1637.
Publication
Imprinted at London :: [By R. Read] for Walter Burre, and are to be solde at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Flower de-Luce and Crowne,
1601.
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"The fountaine of selfe-loue. Or Cynthias reuels As it hath beene sundry times priuately acted in the Black-Friers by the Children of her Maiesties Chappell. Written by Ben: Iohnson." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A04653.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 16, 2024.

Pages

SCENA. 2.

Hedon. Anaides.
Hed.

Heart, was there euer so prosperous an Inuention thus vnluckely peruerted, and spoyld, by a whoore-sonne Book∣worme, a Candle-waster?

Ana.

Nay, be not impatient, Hedon.

Hed.

Slight, I would faine know his name.

Ana.

Hang him poore Grogran Rascall, pr'y thee thinke not of him: Ile send for him to my lodging, and ha' him blanketted when thou wilt, man.

Hed.

By gods so; I would thou couldst. Looke, here he coms. Laugh at him, laugh at him. Ha, ha, ha.

Criticus passeth by.
Ana.

Fough, he smels all Lamp-oyle, with studying by Candle-light.

Hedon.

How confidently hee went by vs; and carelesly! neuer moou'd! nor stird at any thing! Did you obserue him?

Ana.

I a poxe on him, let him goe, Drmouse: hee is in a dreame now; He has no other time, to sleepe but thus when he walkes abroade, to take the ayre.

Hd.

Gods pretious, this afflicts me more then all the rest,

Page [unnumbered]

that we should so particulerly direct our Hate, and Contempt against him; and he to carry it thus without wound or passion! tis insufferable.

Anai.

'Slid, (my deare Enuy) if, thou but saist the word now, Ile vndoe him eternally for thee.

Hedon.

How sweete Anaides?

Anai.

Marry halfe a score of vs get him in (one night) and make him pawne his wit for a supper.

Hed.

Away, thou hast such vnseasonable Iests. By this hea∣uen I wonder at nothing more then our Gentlemen Vshers; that will suffer a piece of Serge, or Perpetuana, to come into the Presence: me thinkes, they, should (out of their Expei∣ence) better distinguish the silken disposition of a Courtier, then to let such terrible course Rags mixe with 'hem, able to fret any smooth or gentile Society to the threds, with their rubbing Deuises.

Ana.

Damne me, if I should aduenture on his company once more, without a sute of Buffe, to defend my wit: he do's nothing but stabbe the slaue: how mischeiuously he crost thy deuise of the Prophesie there? And Moria she comes without her Muffe too; and there my inuention was lost.

Hed.

Well, I am resolu'd, what Ile do.

Ana.

What, my good spirituous Sparke?

Hed.

Marry, speake all the venome I can of him; and poy∣son his reputation in euery place where I come.

Ana.

'Fore god most Courtly.

Hed.

And if I chance to be present where any question is made of his sufficiencies, or of any thing he hath done priuate or publique; Ile censure it slightly, and ridiculously—

Ana.

At any hand beware of that, so you may draw your owne iudgement, insuspect; No, Ile instruct thee what thou shalt doe, and by a safer meanes: approue any thing thou hea∣rst of his, to the receiud opinion of it; but if it be extraordina∣ry, giue it from him to some other, whome thou more parti∣culerly affectst, that's the waye to plague him, and hee shall neuer come to defend himselfe: Sblood, Ile giue out all he do

Page [unnumbered]

is dictated from other men: and sweare it too (if thou'lt ha' me) and that I know the time, and place, where he stoale it: though my soule be guilty of no such thing; and that I thinke out of my hart, he hates such barren shits; yet to doe thee a pleasure and him a disgrace, Ile damne my selfe, or do any thing.

Hed.

Gramercies my deare Deuill: weele put it seriouslie in practise, I faith.

Exeunt.
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