© University of Sheffield, 2010
The transcribed text is made freely available for non-commercial usage.
Copyright, of the design and content, remains with the Royal Holloway, University of London
and the University of Sheffield. Commercial exploitation of this material is prohibited
without licence from the Royal Holloway, University of London and the University of Sheffield.
ACT TWO
2.1n9617
Enter PHILOMEL, COURT-WIT, SWAIN-WIT [and] CIT-WIT.
173PhilomelHere in this gallery,n8784 gentlemen, you may at your pleasure, until my lady comes, walk or sit.
174Court-witOr lie down if you please.
175PhilomelIf you so, wrong not my lady’s couch with your spurs,n10231 I pray: take heed you leave not a rowelgg4682 there.
176Swain-witIf one should, your lady has no lord to call her honour to question, whose knighthood it belonged unto.
177PhilomelYou have a good country wit, sir.
178Swain-witMy name is Swain-wit; and for all you twitgg4683 me with the country, I am a gentleman tho’.n7028
179PhilomelI honour you the more, sir, for I am a country maid myself.
180Swain-witThou art a baggage,gg294 and a bold one: I am deceived else.
I would be further acquainted with you tho’.
[SWAIN-WIT and PHILOMEL] kiss, [pro]long[edly].n9200
181[Cit-wit]n10226Have you done now? You will have time enough for further and better acquaintance.
182Swain-wit [To PHILOMEL]n10227 Thou
art a jackanapesgg4684 of the basest tricks that ever I saw, for a half-penny. [To CIT-WIT] She’s your choice, is she? Could not you let be tho’?
I ha’ been acquainted with thee but two days, and forgi’ me for
swearing,n10225 I ha’ found thee beating ripe a score o’ times at least. Take
heed I begin not now, and handselgg4685 your lady’s house,
that is so much talked on, and your gentlewoman’s presence here, with a fist about your ears.
183Court-witNot for a thousand pound.
184Swain-witThat’s a great deal of money. I could find i’my heart to do’t tho’.
186Swain-witHe sets my teeth on edge to look upon him. He looks so like a
wildinggg4686 crab,gg4687
good neither for drink nor sauce.
191Cit-witWell, sir, this is no cause nor place to fight in, when–
192Swain-witWhat says he?
195PhilomelWhat new guest ha’ you brought here, Mr. Court-wit, for my lady to laugh at?
196Court-witOne for that purpose, Phil: you ha’ spokegg4690 the man. But what company has my patroness, that she is yet busy?
197Swain-witAye, that! If she be long busy I will not stay, andgg857 she were ten great Ladies, or one as big as twenty, for all she is your patroness.
Must we wait out of our wits, because Chaliveren7031 ran mad for her?
198PhilomelHa’ you heard o’ that, sir?
199Swain-witMy cousin Court-wit’s question was: who’s with her?
200PhilomelO sweet Mr. Court-wit, when will you bring the fine civilgg4691 gentleman that maintains himself so gallantly by picture-drawing?
201Swain-witHere’s a new business! [starting to leave] Fare ye well, pray tell your Lady I came not from Penzance to grow here.
202Philomel [to SWAIN-WIT] Nay, sweet sir, stay! There is, sir, with my Lady none but the grave and witty talking knight.
Some call him the metropolitan wit of Court,n7032 he that loves ladies’ society so much, and yet has vowed virginity.
203Court-witAs much as in man lies, Phil. He is a perpetual vowed bachelor indeed, and as constant to his vow as to his fashion
in apparel, which is ever the same: Sir Raphael Winter-plum.n8357
206Cit-witHe has licked up a living with his tongue, makes all great tables his own, and eats for his talk.
He may be conversant with women, for (they say) he geltgg4692 himself
beyond sea for spitegg2091 one did himn8359 and now preaches chastity to ladies and love to their husbands.
He’s a lay-gospellergg4693 among the married sort and an especial pedant to the youth o’ Court.
207Court-witFie, thou speakest too much!
208Swain-wit [to CIT-WIT] There’s another humourgg4694 I could beat thee for
with all my heart: thou wilt speak outrageously of all men behind their backs and
darst not answer ‘Baaa– ’to the face of a sheep. Oh, I could pommel thee!
209Cit-witThis is not yet a cause to fight for, when —
210PhilomelBut will not that fine gentleman, Mr. Dainty, come, Mr. Court-wit?
212PhilomelI’ll see if their conferencegg499 be ended, or
break it if I can, and hasten my lady to you.Exit [PHILOMEL].
214Court-witShe may, living with the prime lady-wit in town.
215Swain-witBut what Dainty is that she talks on so affectionately?
216Court-witTroth, a gentleman that lives at a good rate: very civilgg4691
in conversation, keeps good company; yet none of his acquaintance that I am
acquainted with knows his beginning or his present means.
217Swain-witA gentleman born.
219Swain-witForgi’ me for swearing! Is’t he?
220Court-witHe was at the play with us too: do you not remember that?
222Cit-witI’ll show you somewhat of him. A ’gentleman born’, did you ask?
224Cit-witHe cannot be a gentleman by birth or place.gg571 A fine-handed, and a fine-headed, fellow he is,
and pretends great skill and practice too in picture-drawing, watchmaking, and such like finger-works,gg4699
which he says he uses as a gentleman’s exercise, not as a trade to live upon,
when either he does live on’t; or else he has some more secret way, as perhaps pimping or pursinggg4698 for aught I know.
225Swain-witThere he is again! [to CIT-WIT] Art thou bound in conscience to wrong all men in their absence, till I beat thee into better manners?
226Court-witHold, hold! I prithee hold.
227Cit-witYet still the cause is insufficient, when —
228Court-witHere comes the gentleman.
Enter DAINTY.
229Cit-witIs he come? Noble Mr. Dainty — the welcomest in the world! I protest I suffered by your absence.
230DaintyYou do me too much honour, Mr. Cit-wit.
231Cit-witO sir, your humble servant.
233DaintyGentlemen, you are well found! I was a little stayedgg1012
by the way upon receipt of monies. Ha’ you seen the lady yet?
234Court-witShe’s yet a little busy. We shall all instantly take the opportunity together.
235DaintyBut gentlemen, you that have better knowledge of this lady, inform,gg4701
if you please, why are we summoned hither.
236Court-witThou speakest as if thou hadst guilt upon thee: fear nothing, man.
237Swain-witAye, that’s the thing that I would understand too. And why me of any man?
They say indeed she is a humorousgg150 lady, and loves to busy herself. But what are we to her?
Are there not greater men and lords enough for her to fool away the time with, but we must dance attendance on her humours?
239Swain-witYou will be meddling still.
240Cit-wit’Tis to your question, sir, which I will answer.
241Swain-witAye, there’s another of your cockscomblygg5468 tricks, to answer any question, that’s asked another man, out with tho’!
242Cit-witThis lady, sir, this humorousgg150 witty lady is a wit-sponge, that sucks up wit from some,
and holds as her own, until she squeeze it out on others. She will make use of ours, or any coarser wits,
and search ’em out to sift ’em. She will collect from market-folks and hold conferences with the poor tradespeople
that cry their wares about the streets. She will rake wit out of a dunghill rag woman.n7034
243Swain-witSo there he is again! [To CIT-WIT] Darest thou abuse a noble lady, in her own house too? I dare not now but beat thee.
245Cit-witStill, still, the cause is naught, when —
Enter PHILOMEL
247PhilomelGentlemen, my lady cannot yet be rid of the tedious talking knight, but she will cast him presently.gg103
He is now following her into this room: pray pass into the next, my lady’s music room.
There you shall find a collation of good tobacco and sackgg483 and one to attend you.
You know the fashionsgg4717 of the house, Mr. Court-wit.
248Court-witCome away, gentlemen.Exit [COURT-WIT, SWAIN-WIT, CIT-WIT and
DAINTY through one stage door].n8361
DAINTY through one stage door].n8361
249PhilomelI could even love and look upon that sweet Mr. Dainty a whole hour, methinks.
Enter STRANGELOVE and RAPHAEL [through the other stage door].n9201
250StrangeloveGo your ways down, maid, and if any ask for Sir Raphael here, say that I hope he will ha’ done
anon.gg236[PHILOMEL exits.]n9202
252StrangeloveThat’s a poor chambermaid’s office and ill becomes your gravity, Sir Raphael.
253RaphaelI’ll open, then, the book to you of your errors.
254StrangeloveNow you speak scholar-like, and yourself. But have we spent all this while in by- and idle talk,n7043
and have that volume to be opened yet?
Pray read me for the first lesson for this morning’s exercise, and my edification,
the last chapter of my book of errors as you call it.
255RaphaelYou are a mocker of instruction and good counsel.
257RaphaelI speak to only you, to conjuregs1658 (if I can) that spirit of scorn out of you,
which you have taken in, and long affected for a humour,gs818 your singulargg4062 own humour,
till it is grown so familiar,gs1659 so inherent in you, that you have won the title of
the humorousgg150 lady by’t
and drawn a scorn upon yourself.
259RaphaelI am not gone so, nor is all so paid;
For there’s a greater reckoning yet of railings,gs1066
Revilings,n7044 curses by the many that
You've scorned and slighted, shot at you in hot volleys.n9864
260StrangeloveThey hit me not. I am sure I do not feel ’em.
261RaphaelYou may in time be sensible of their suff’rings,
Whom you have violently and wilfully abused
With scorn and pride, if you call to mind the cause,
Bred merely out of humour:gs1069 ’cause you would have it so.
263RaphaelCan it be otherwise? Has it not ever been
Your practice, since your time of widowhood
To catch all men’s affections? ’Tis indeed
An honour to a lady to have many suitors;
But to lay bait for ’em only to delude ’em
Is impiouslygg6072 dishonourable.
264StrangeloveHave I done so?
To lead men into brakes with foolish fire.n7045
266StrangeloveIf they will follow it, I cannot help it.
267RaphaelYou might, though, have prevented the mishaps
Of many, by a fair and free resistance
In the beginnings of their suits of courtships,
And not to set yourself at gazegg5469 to draw them on,
Of love and favour till you have wound their follies
Into the reach of your disdain, and then
To torture ’em, or having ta’en ’em captives
To slave and sell ’em to the world’s derision.
268StrangeloveOh, Sir Raphael!
269Raphael [Aside] She feels compunction!gg2375
I will pursue it to the quick.gs1180
270StrangeloveOn, good Sir Raphael!
And your own conscience knows, that you have made
A secret vow from your late husband’s death
Never to marry, how better and more glorious
It would be for your honour to declare
Your constant purpose to a single life,
Than to fall into the transgression
Of robbing men so of their wits and reason,
And all by wilful humour,gs1069 as this late
Unhappy accident of madness in
The hopefulgs1660 knight, Sir Ferdinando, cries
Loudly to your disgrace, and the world’s sorrow.
272StrangeloveHalf the world’s sorrow is mine own
For that sad accident: I would I could redeem’t
With half my health or life. But let me tell you
(Now you have justly chiddengg5218 me) that you
Have a fault too.
273RaphaelWhat is’t in your construction?gg2284
274StrangeloveAs I concealed my vow of single living,
And gave men leavegg885 to court me, by which means
I won them into hopes, and robbed their wits,
You in declaring to the court and city
Your vow of chastity and single life,
Yet daily, nightly, hourly frequenting
The company of ladies with your sweet,
No less than grave, discourse and conversation,
Have robbed (nay, I may say defloweredgg6030) more ladies
Of chaste and honourable thoughts, than all
The cavalrygg4718 of court.
275RaphaelWho, I, Madam?
276StrangeloveEven you, Sir Raphael (if unchaste desires
Must be held sinful)! I know some of them,
And one (I fear) too well, that have been subject
Unto the breachgg2319 of any vow for you;
Yet you don7046 vow a single and chaste life,
And publish your intent!
277Raphael’Tis with intent,
And a religious purpose to decline,gg4732
And divertgg5436 woman’s fond affections from me.
278StrangeloveOh, but forbidden things are women’s longings!
You have read, you have read, Sir Raphael, you have read.n9210
[STRANGELOVE] falls on[to] her couch.n9209
279[Raphael]n9211And traveled too, yet never could discover
Such an example.
280StrangelovePray sit down by me.
282StrangeloveI’ll not be tedious to you. One word, I pray, sir?
Let me intreat you, Madam.
284StrangelovePray refuse not
To sit down by me.
285Raphael [Aside] Sanctitygg6031 protect me.
[RAPHAEL] sit[s].
For your great wisdom, moral and divine:
You are the Ipse dixitn7051 of the Court,
As I have heard you styledgg6032 by men of learning,
The Court Philosopher——
287RaphaelMadam, to the point.
288StrangeloveWhat is our strength, and what is not our frailty?
290StrangeloveDo not my blushes, which I hope you pardon,
Deliver you a message from my heart?
Which I wantgg491 words to utter? Oh, these vows!
These rash and ill-made vows! Does not your judgement
Read something on this face? Pray look upon me.
291RaphaelI am no good interpreter of looks.
292StrangeloveI dare not speak till you have first removed
A weighty scruplegs1323, which doth much perplex me.
293RaphaelYou must first speak it, Madam.
294StrangeloveWhether these vows
(I mean your own, and mine, for single life)
May safely be dispensed with, or absolved,
And we become a lawful pair in marriage?
Pray, sir, resolve and bless me in a match.
295RaphaelMadam, I’ll pray for you. [RAPHAEL] starts up.
296StrangeloveYou will first kill me
With your disdain, and then you’ll pray for me!
Is that your charity?
297RaphaelI dare not hear you.
298StrangeloveLeave me not so.
299RaphaelWho waits upon my Lady here?Exit [RAPHAEL].
An errand now to Rome to quit my scruplen7052
And rid the court of an officious fool.
Women sometimes have sent wise men to school.
Enter PHILOMEL.n7110
Is the knight gone?
301PhilomelAnd blessinggg4734 of himself,
As witchcraft were i’th’ house.
302StrangeloveBut where’s my favourite Court-wit? Has he brought his country kinsman and the rest?
303PhilomelThey are all in your wit-office, Madam, as you call the room, passing
the time among the pipesgg4735 and bottles,
and singing catches.gg4736 Here you may hear ’em, Madam.n9216
A catch [is heard being sung offstage].
Would he were rightgs1720 again or I quit of the scandal.
Enter [DAINTY,] COURT-WIT, SWAIN-WIT and CIT-WIT.n7066
O Gentlemen! You're welcome,
And [To SWAIN-WIT] chiefly you that are the only stranger!
I ha’ been so troubled with an overtalking sir, that he
Has woundgg6033 me into melancholy —
[SWAIN-WIT] offer[s] to go away.
307Swain-witForgi’me for swearing: do you mock me tho’?
308StrangeloveMistake me not, sweet sir —
309Swain-wit‘Sweet’ with a mischief! How sweet am I? I come not as a suitor to your great ladyship.
I am a gentleman of two hundred a yearn7069 tho’.
310StrangeloveNot as a suitor to me, sir?
311Swain-witNo, you are too great for me. Nor to your mopsygg4737 without,gg1432 though she be snout-fairgg4738 and has some wit:
she’s too little for me. I understand degree and quality, respect and difference, and am scholar enough
to know my unde and my quare.n7062
312StrangeloveYou ga’ me his true character. You are a complete gentleman, sir — if I mistake not,
the kinsman of my favourite here, who has given me an ample relationgg161 of your worth and virtue.
313Court-witYes, patroness, ’tis he, who though not throughly versed or conversant i’th’ court
or city garb,gg5470 he understands both men and manners.
315StrangeloveBut to the business, gentlemen.
316Swain-witAye, that I would fain know if it be any.
317StrangeloveYou have heard, I doubt not, of a disastrous blot lately cast upon my fame, out of my own freeness.gg4745
318Cit-witConcerning the mad courtier, Madam, when ’tis as likely that his tailor made him mad as you,
for not hitting the fashion right in his last rich suit. But ’tis most like
he fell from a reasonable man by over-studying himself what lord he should be at the next creation,gg5680
whether of gleekgg3407 or cribbage,gg4740
in-and-ingg4741 or hazard.gg4742n8710
319Swain-witHark how this shotten-headedgg4744 coxcombgg3016prates!gs1722 And how he, that can endure beating,
dares speak anything, or abuse all men! [to CIT-WIT] Canst not give the lady leave to speak tho’?
320StrangeloveSince there is an aspersiongg6034 laid upon my freenessgg4745 in giving entertainment
unto persons of great and noble quality, the world deeming it to be done by me
merely for ostentation, to cry my own humour up, by drawing them into love-knots,gg4746
and then to slight or scorn them, my resolution is from henceforth
to exclude those great resorts,gg4749 and friendly and freely be merry within ourselves.
I have four thousand a year to spend,n10125 and will be housewifegg4747 good enough to keep in compass.gg4748
I will not entertain a servant, friend or guest above your rank or fortunes —
321Swain-witWhy —forgi’ me for swearing — what do you think of us?
322StrangeloveI think you gentlemen of worth and quality, and therefore welcome. I think you able
to maintain yourselves middlesized gent[lemen].n9219
324Swain-wit [to CIT-WIT] Give the lady leave to speak tho’.
325StrangeloveI’ll give access to none that the censoriousgg6035 world shall dare to judge
a suitor to me, or to find favour further than meat and wine.n9220
I give you my election for the chiefs
Of my familiar society.
I may perhaps call in, at least admit,
People of meaner garb, without (I hope)
Your grudge or envy; but they shall be men
Of science, art, and action.n10126
329Swain-witOf action, Madam? who do you mean? the players?
330StrangeloveWhy not? I love their qualitygg917 and them, and mean to have the use of some of ’em shortly,
besides musicians (poets in the first place) and painters: in which last-mentioned art [to DAINTY]
I hear you are excellent, though all this while so silent.n10127n9221
331DaintyI boast no skill or practice, Madam, but I have drawn some piecesn8371 that have been worth my pains in my rewards.
332StrangeloveI must commend their ingenuitygg5474 for whom
you took those pains. But (where I left) I must make use of wits, of arts,
and actions.gg4750
333Swain-witHere in your house, Madam, I would be glad to see the actors,
but I saw ’em at their own too lately, for I lost my purse there.
No matter, let it go. There was fifteen pound in’t tho!
334Cit-wit’Sprecious!gg4751 How now!
My fobgg4752 has
been fobbedn7077 today of
six pieces,gg80 and a dozen shillings at least.
Nothing but a bowedgg5475 groatgg75
left, as I hope for my grannam’sgg660 blessing.
335Court-witSure, you have been in some ill company.
336Cit-witPox of ill company, I say! My watch is gone out of my pocket too o’th’ right side.
337DaintyYou rose o’ the wrong side today, it seems. Were you in no crowd or quarrel?
338Cit-witI never was in any quarrel i’my life. I always run from ’em.
339Court-wit [Aside] I dare swear thou dost.
340Cit-witI only stood today at the coranto-shopn8735 to read the lastgg4753 great news; and I was
hoopedgg4754 in, I remember, by some that seemed to wonder as much as I.
341DaintyThen certainly there was a cutpurse amongst ’em.
343Swain-witBut first stay and hear my Lady tho’.
344Court-witAye, Madam, you were speaking of the use you would make of poet, painter, music, actor and the like.
345StrangeloveTrue, favourite. For a masque that I intend to have shortly, you shall perform
the poetical part, your servant Cit-wit the musical, and [to DAINTY] by your skill and
directions, the painter’s officegg352 for the scenes.gg4756 Dancers and speakers I have in store.
346Swain-witI must be something too tho’, must I not, Madam?
347StrangeloveMarry and thank you too, sir.
Enter PHILOMEL.
Now, your news.
348PhilomelSir Andrew Mendicant desires to see you, Madam.
349StrangeloveYou should have told him I would not be seen by him.
350PhilomelI told him you were busy. But he says he is to speak with you upon a weighty business from the court.
351Strangelove ’Tis the court-beggar. [To COURT-WIT] You know him,
favourite. Go not away: I’ll bring him in amongst you, and (as you love me) put some ridiculous projects to him.n9779Exit [STRANGELOVE].
352DaintyWhat’s that Sir Andrew Mendicant? Do you know him well?
353Court-witThou askest still a question like a guilty person, with a look resembling fear upon thy face.
354DaintyMy countenance is to blame, then, not my conscience.
355Cit-witI’ll tell you what he is.
356Swain-witStill answering others’ questions?
357Cit-witHe is a knight that hankersgg6075 about the Court, ambitious to make himself a lord by begging.
His brain is all projects, and his soul nothing but court-suits. He has begun
more knavishgg4757 suits at Court
than ever the king’s tailor honestly finished,
but never thrived by any, so that now he’s almost fallen
from a palace beggar to a spittlegg2455 one. His business to my Lady now can be
nothing but to borrow money to buy a pair of wheels to set some project a-going to Court for a monopoly.gg6036
358Swain-witThou wert in haste e’en now to look after thy money; but andgg857 thy life lay on’t,
thou must stay to abuse a man behind his back, who is a noble gentleman, thou knowst, and I have heard.
Yet (speak in thy conscience) wouldst thou not be beaten now?
359Court-witForbear: they come.
Enter STRANGELOVE [and] MENDICANT.
360StrangeloveSir, since it is requested by those great ones
Whose power cannot command me in this case
(For ’tis my charity and not my duty),
I am content that the mad Ferdinand
Shall sojourn in my house for his recovery.
The doctors therefore moved their honours to it
For that your frequent presence may be helpful
Towards his care.
362StrangeloveHe shall have it, then,
Towards the expiationgg4949 of the crime
They charge me with. But in case, Sir Andrew,
He should be cured by this means, I should then
Cross you in fortune and your future hopes
Of his estate, which you have begged, you say,
If he recover not.
363MendicantI must leave that to fortune, Madam.
364StrangeloveWill you be please, sir, to take notice of
These gentlemen, my friends.
[MENDICANT bows to them, and they to him.]n9222
They may be useful,
For they have all projectivegg4767 brains, I tell you.
365MendicantPray, of what nature are your projects, gentlemen?
366Court-witSir, my affection leans much to poetry, especially the dramatic.
367MendicantWriting of strange plays?
368Court-witI am glad I speak, sir, to your understanding. And myn8756 project is that no plays may be admitted to the stage,
but of their making who profess or endeavour to live by the quality, that no courtiers,
divines, students-at-law, lawyers’ clerks, tradesmen or prenticesn8755 be allowed
to write ’em, nor the works of any lay-poet whatsoever to be received to the stage,
though freely given unto the actors, nay though any such poet should give a sum of money with his play,
as with an apprentice, unless the author do also become bound that it shall do true and faithful service for a whole term.n8757
369MendicantHere’s a trimgg990 business towards, and as idle as the players going to law with their poets!n10133
370Court-witI have another, sir, to procure a patent for myself to have the only privilege
to give instructions to all the actors in the city (especially the younger sort),
the better to enable them to speak their parts emphatically and to the life.n8754
371MendicantYou were best take heed in time, then, that you well preserve your own voice,
for fear you do a spoil among ’em in teaching ’em to utter in unsavoury tunes.
Do I come hither to be mocked?
372Swain-witWill you hear mine tho’?n7054 I am a country gentleman, young, healthful and lusty.
I hear complaints of barrenness in the city and of men that cannot get their wives with child.
Get me but a patent for’t, I’ll undertake by myself and deputies
(provided that the woman be sound and handsome) to make them multiply, and upon reasonable conditions:
we will deal with the rich for money, and the poor for charity.
375Cit-witWe have our projects too, sir.
376Mendicant [to DAINTY] I would have yours first: you seem a civil and substantial gentleman.
377DaintyIn more private if you please, sir.
[drawing MENDICANT away from the others in order to steal his purse]
379DaintySir, I am a picture-drawer, limner,gg6039 or painter (if you please) and would gladly purchase authority,
by myself and deputies, for the painting of all the king’s- and queen’s-head signsn8375
for taverns, inns, ale-houses, and all houses and shops of trade throughout the kingdom
upon this ground:n8376 that they draw and hang up their royal images for signs in so hideous manner that men bless themselves to see’t.
380MendicantAye, marry, this hangs upon some ground.n8377 But are you an exquisitegg3800 workman in that art, sir?
381DaintyI am an artist in that mystery,gg4774 sir, and have drawn some of His Majesty’s pictures,
by copy only but so to the life that gentlemen have kneeled to ’em for suits and knighthoods.
382MendicantIndeed, sir!
383DaintyYes, sir, and great lords I have pictured so powerfully,
their own followers suddenly rushing into the room have started back and solemnly stood baregg154 to ’em as they hung o’ the walls.
384MendicantIs’t possible?!
385DaintyI drew a stern judge and a civil lawyer so to the life that after their corpses were in the grave,
a man durst not look upon their pictures without a bribe, or double fee in’s hand.
386MendicantI do admire you!
387DaintyI ha’ drawn ladies, too, with that alluring beauty, that men have loved
their dead pictures for their painted looks, more than their living persons for all their virtues.
[MENDICANT makes to leave but is prevented.]
389StrangeloveAn excellent fellow: I like him for that fancy more than all the rest.
390Cit-witPray hear my project too, sir?
391StrangeloveYes, good sir Andrew, you shall not part so abruptly.
392Cit-witMine is a good commonwealth’s business against the common plague,
that reigns i’ th’ City, of pickpockets and cutpurses. I myself ha’
been robbed today, and am going to a good membergg4775 that deals in private
for the recoveries of such goods, one that shall undertake, if you’ll but get a patent,
for a cutpurse-hall, or office, to help all men to their own again, allowing but the tithes of their losses,
and freeing the offending parties.n7099
393MendicantFie, fie! Here’s tithing indeed.
394Cit-witProvided that notice be brought to the office within four and twenty hours after any such loss.
395MendicantEnough, enough.
396Cit-witWe may by the same course secure the counties too, and make the hangman hang himself.n7100
397MendicantLet every man be wise enough to look to his purse, and there will be no cutpurses, nor need of your patent.
398Swain-witAs wise a man as you may lose his purse tho’, as I ha’ done myself in a crowd.
399MendicantHe puts me in mind of a crowd I was in once today of company
I liked not— Ha!!!— [Aside] Foregg5478
heaven,’tis gone, and I dare not discover it for being laughed at!
400Court-witIt seems none of your projects will pass with you, Sir Andrew.
401StrangeloveCome, sir, they are but (as you said) merry with you.
402MendicantBe you merry with them, good Madam, you know the serious work I came about – in which I suddenlygg4781 shall presume to give you a revisit.
403StrangelovePray do, Sir Andrew, bring your madman. My garden lodgingsgg4782
shall be his Bedlam.gg3160 Come, gentlemen, ’tis dinner-time.
Edited by Marion O'Connor
n9617 2.1
n8784 gallery,
n10231 wrong not my lady’s couch with your spurs,
. Then Brome general editor Richard Cave and actor Robert Lister, in the respective roles of Court-wit and Swain-wit, invented visual business which referred back to the initial warning: see clip . gg4682 rowel
gg4683 twit
n7028 I am a gentleman tho’.
gg294 baggage,
n9200 [SWAIN-WIT and PHILOMEL] kiss, [pro]long[edly].
for discussion and for performance. This required the reassignment of that second sentence from Swain-wit to Cit-wit: whichever of the two it is who kisses Philomel, he evidently initiates the embrace with that sentence "I would be further acquainted with you tho'." see video . For the editorial arguments for, and consequences of, giving the kiss to Swain-wit and reassigning other sentences to Cit-wit, see [NOTE n10226] to speech No. 180. n10226 [Cit-wit]
, and [NOTE n9200]. Although that distribution of dialogue and business proved theatrically preferable to the original, the workshop solution has not been adopted in this edition because it is dramatically problematic, being irreconcilable with what Brome indicates about Swain-wit and Cit-wit. On the one hand, it makes no sense for Cit-wit, who is said to have made Philomel his choice already, to be told to await time and place for further acquaintance. It makes even less sense for Cit-wit to be saying `tho'' before that syllable has been firmly established as Swain-wit's verbal tic. (Swain-wit will utter it fully six times in this scene before Strangelove bounces it back to him [CB 2.1.speech306], in an echo at which Swain-wit takes explicit offence. Swain-wit then speaks it another five times before Cit-wit, apparently impressed by his own effrontery, speaks it once [CB 2.1.speech327]. Much later in the play Cit-wit will speak it again when, in Act 5, he recycles Swain-wit's verbal abuse [CB 5.1.speech929].) And on the other hand, it makes sense for Swain-wit, as the only newcomer among the three wits, to express, and enact, a desire for further acquaintance with Philomel, and it makes sense for Cit-wit, as the one with an established interest in her person, to interrupt Swain-wit's intrusion upon it. This dynamic is secured by assigning the kiss to Swain-wit and re-assigning, to Cit-wit, the two sentences which call time: `Have you done now? You will have time enough for further an better acquaintance.' n10227 [To PHILOMEL]
gg4684 jackanapes
n10225 forgi’ me for swearing,
. Actor Robert Lister, who played Swain-wit, then put one of his suggestions into practice: see clip .gg4685 handsel
gg1915 ‘Slife
gg4686 wilding
gg4687 crab,
gg4688 press
gg4689 verjuice
gs1728 forbear,
gg5465 stand further,
n8356 o’ to
gg1195 tother
n7030 he whistles tother way. What, backwards?
.gg4690 spoke
gg857 and
n7031 Chalivere
, near the end.) In any case, I am grateful to Michael Leslie for recognising it.gg4691 civil
n7032 metropolitan wit of Court,
n8357 Winter-plum.
gg4696 piece!
gg4695 bear up
n8359 he gelt himself beyond sea for spite one did him
gg4692 gelt
gg2091 spite
gg4693 lay-gospeller
gg4694 humour
gg103 presently.
gg499 conference
gg355 dainty
gg2674 wit.
gg4691 civil
gg4697 port
n7033 by sure token and a sad one.
gg4695 bears up
gg571 place.
gg4699 finger-works,
gg4698 pursing
gg4700 spaniel’s
gg1012 stayed
gg4701 inform,
gg150 humorous
gg4702 ingenuity.
gg5468 cockscombly
gg150 humorous
n7034 rag woman.
gs1728 Forbear,
n7042 Odso! The lady’s coming,
gg103 presently.
gg483 sack
gg4717 fashions
n8361 [COURT-WIT, SWAIN-WIT, CIT-WIT andDAINTY through one stage door].
n9201 Enter STRANGELOVE and RAPHAEL [through the other stage door].
gg236 anon.
n9202 [PHILOMEL exits.]
gg4642 glass
n7043 by- and idle talk,
n9206 Begins it so? whom is that spoken to?
gs1658 conjure
gs818 humour,
gg4062 singular
gs1659 familiar,
gg150 humorous
n9204 Why then, all’s paid and welcome, good Sir Raphael.
gs1066 railings,
n7044 Revilings,
n9864 shot at you in hot volleys.
gs1069 humour:
n9203 You come too near me, sir: ’cause I ‘would have it so’?
gg6072 impiously
gs1069 humour
n7045 To lead men into brakes with foolish fire.
gg5469 set yourself at gaze
gg5737 allure
gg6029 assurèd
gg2375 compunction!
gs1180 quick.
n10244 Consider then, good Madam, since I know,
.gs1069 humour,
gs1660 hopeful
gg5218 chidden
gg2284 construction?
gg885 leave
gg6030 deflowered
gg4718 cavalry
gg2319 breach
n7046 do
gg4732 decline,
gg5436 divert
n9210 You have read, you have read, Sir Raphael, you have read.
n9209 [STRANGELOVE] falls on[to] her couch.
.n9211 [Raphael]
n9212 Good thoughts possess you, Madam. I must hence.
n10245 Virtue
gg6031 Sanctity
gg1017 cried up
n7051 Ipse dixit
gg6032 styled
n9213 Where is she wandering now?[To STRANGELOVE]Be plainer, Madam.
gg491 want
gs1323 scruple
gs1719 shift
n7052 errand now to Rome to quit my scruple
n7110 Enter PHILOMEL.
gg4734 blessing
n9216 They are all in your wit-office, Madam, as you call the room, passing the time among the pipes and bottles, and singing catches. Here you may hear ’em, Madam.
gg4735 pipes
gg4736 catches.
gg5479 takes
n7053 madman
gs1720 right
n7066 [DAINTY,] COURT-WIT, SWAIN-WIT and CIT-WIT.
gg6033 wound
n7054 tho’
n7054 tho’.
n7069 gentleman of two hundred a year
gg4737 mopsy
gg1432 without,
gg4738 snout-fair
n7062 unde and my quare.
gg161 relation
gg5470 garb,
gs1721 Prattle
gg4745 freeness.
gg5680 creation,
n8710 whether of gleek or cribbage, in-and-in or hazard.
gg3407 gleek
gg4740 cribbage,
gg4741 in-and-in
gg4742 hazard.
gg4744 shotten-headed
gg3016 coxcomb
gs1722 prates!
gg6034 aspersion
gg4745 freeness
gg4746 love-knots,
gg4749 resorts,
n10125 I have four thousand a year to spend,
gg4747 housewife
gg4748 compass.
n9219 gent[lemen].
n8672 Middlesex indeed: born i’ th’ City.
n9220 I’ll give access to none that the censorious world shall dare to judge a suitor to me, or to find favour further than meat and wine.
gg6035 censorious
n9774 Yes, faith, a little money too, and make’s your fiddlers.
n7076 tho’.[Aside]Whew!
gg3389 Maugre
n10126 action.
n9221 Why not? I love their quality and them, and mean to have the use of some of ’em shortly, besides musicians (poets in the first place) and painters: in which last-mentioned art[to DAINTY] I hear you are excellent, though all this while so silent.
gg917 quality
n10127 though all this while so silent.
n8371 drawn some pieces
gg5474 ingenuity
gg4750 actions.
gg4751 ’Sprecious!
gg4752 fob
n7077 fobbed
gg80 pieces,
gg5475 bowed
gg75 groat
gg660 grannam’s
n8735 coranto-shop
gg4753 last
gg4754 hooped
n8374 honest Moll
gg103 presently.
gg352 office
gg4756 scenes.
n9779 ’Tis the court-beggar.[To COURT-WIT]You know him, favourite. Go not away: I’ll bring him in amongst you, and (as you love me) put some ridiculous projects to him.
gg6075 hankers
gg4757 knavish
gg2455 spittle
gg6036 monopoly.
gg857 and
gs1382 groundwork
gg2746 frenzy
gg4949 expiation
n9222 [MENDICANT bows to them, and they to him.]
gg4767 projective
n8756 my
n8755 courtiers, divines, students-at-law, lawyers’ clerks, tradesmen or prentices
n8757 unless the author do also become bound that it shall do true and faithful service for a whole term.
gg990 trim
n10133 as idle as the players going to law with their poets!
n8754 a patent for myself to have the only privilege to give instructions to all the actors in the city (especially the younger sort), the better to enable them to speak their parts emphatically and to the life.
n7054 tho’?
gg1195 tother.
n7093 tho’.
gg6038 reservedness.
gg6039 limner,
n8375 king’s- and queen’s-head signs
n8376 upon this ground:
n8377 hangs upon some ground.
gg3800 exquisite
gg4774 mystery,
gg154 bare
gg5477 boy!
n8378
gg4775 member
n7099 that deals in private for the recoveries of such goods, one that shall undertake, if you’ll but get a patent, for a cutpurse-hall, or office, to help all men to their own again, allowing but the tithes of their losses, and freeing the offending parties.
n7100 by the same course secure the counties too, and make the hangman hang himself.
gg5478 Fore
gg4781 suddenly
gg4782 lodgings
gg3160 Bedlam.
gg4780 waiters,
n7103 [All exit.]
© University of Sheffield, 2010
The transcribed text is made freely available for non-commercial usage.
Copyright, of the design and content, remains with the Royal Holloway, University of London
and the University of Sheffield. Commercial exploitation of this material is prohibited
without licence from the Royal Holloway, University of London and the University of Sheffield.