the Strand, and met him forty times fince, and yet he dares not challenge it. William Sly. Do you hear, fir? this play is a bitter play. Henry Condell. Why, fir, 'tis neither fatire nor moral, bur the mere paffage of an hiftory: yet there are a fort of discontented creatures that bear a ftinglefs envy to great ones, and thefe will wrest the doings of any man to their bafe, malicious appliment: but should their interpretation come to the teft, like your marmofet, they presently turn their teeth to their tail and eat it. William Sly. I will not go far with you; but I fay, any man that hath wit may cenfure, if he fit in the twelve-penny room: and I fay again, the play is bitter. Henry Burbage. Sir, you are like a patron that, prefenting a poor fcholar to a benefice, enjoins him not to rail against any thing that stands within compafs of his patron's folly. Why should not we enjoy the antient freedom of poefy? Shall we protest to the ladies, that their painting makes them angels? or to my young gallant, that his expence in the brothel fhall gain him reputation? No, fir, fuch vices as ftand not accountable to law fhould be cur'd as men heal tetters, by cafting ink upon them. Would you be fatisfied in any thing elfe, fir? William Sly. Ay marry would I. I would know how you came by this play? Faith, fir, the book was loft; and because 'twas pity fo good a play should be loft, we found it, and play it. William Sly. I wonder you would play it, another company having interest in it. 14 Henry Condell. 4 Why not Malevole in folio with us, as well as Ieronimo in decimo fexto with them? They taught us a name for our play, we call it, One for another. 14 Why not Malevole, &c.] See Mr. Collins's Note on Troilus and Crefida, vol. IX. edit. 1778, p. 8. S. William Henry Burbage. Sooth, not greatly needful; only as your fallet to your great feaft, to entertain a little more time, and to abridge the notreceiv'd cuttom of mufick in our theatre. I must leave you, fir. [Exit Burbage. I durft lay four of mine ears the play is not fo well acted as John Lowin Marry, fir, because I have heard of a fellow would offer to lay a hundred pound wager, that was not worth five baubees: and in this kind you might venture four of your elbows: yet God defend your coat fhould have so many. Sinklow. Nay, truly, I am no great cenfurer, and yet I might have been one of the college of criticks once. My coufin here hath an excellent memory, indeed, fir. William Sly. Who, I? I'll tell you a strange thing of myself; and I can tell you, for one that never ftudied the art of memory, 'tis very ftrange too. What's that, fir? 15 Ad Parmenonis fuem] Henry Condell. William Sly. Why, I'll lay an hundred pound, I'll walk but once down by the Goldfmith's-row in Cheap, take notice of the figns, and you them with a breath instantly. tell 'Tis very ftrange. John Lowin. William Sly. They begin as the world did, with Adam and Eve. There's in all just five and fifty. I do ufe to meditate much when I come to plays too. What do you think might come into a man's head now, feeing all this company I know not, fir. Henry Condell. William Sly. I have an excellent thought. If fome fifty of the Grecians that were cramm'd in the horfe-belly had eaten garlick, do you pot think the Trojans might have smelt out their knavery ♪ Very likely. Henry Condell. William Sly. By God, I wou'd they had, for I love Hector horribly. O but cuz, cuz! Sinklow. 1 Great Alexander when he came to the tōmb of Achillēs,| Spāke with ăļīg lõud voice. Othōu thrice blēssed and|hāppy.| William Sly. Alexander was an afs to speak fo well of a filthy 17 cullion. John Lovin. Good fir, will you leave the stage? I'll help you to a private room. Come, cuz, prologue? William Sly. let's take fome tobacco. Have you never a 16 Great Alexander, &c.] These two lines are hexameters, that "halt ill on Roman feet," like those of Sydney mentioned by Pope. Into fuch verfe Stany hurft tranflated the four firft Books of Virgil. S. cullion] See Note 87, Gammer Gurton's Needle vol. II. p. 63. 17 John Not any, fir. John Lowin. William Sly. Let me fee, I will make one extempore; Come to them, and fencing of a congey with arms and legs, "Gentlemen 18, I could wish for the women's fakes you had "all foft cushions; and, gentlewomen, I could wish that for "the men's fakes you had all more cafy standings." What would they wish more but the play now? And that they shall have instantly. 18 Gentlemen, &c.] This feems intended as a burlesque on the EpiLogue to As you like it. THE THE MALCONTENT. ACTUS I. SCENA I. W The vileft out-of-tune mufick being heard. Enter Biliofo and Prepaffo. Biliofo. HY, how now? are ye mad, or drunk, or both, or all ? Prepallo. Are ye building Babylon, there? Biliofo. Here's a noise in court! you think you are in a tavern, do you not? Prepafo. You think you are in a brothel-houfe, do you not? This room is ill-fcented. Enter one with a perfume. So, perfume, perfume; fome upon me, I pray thee: the duke upon instant entrance; fo, make place there. is ACTUS I. SCENA II. Enter the duke Pietro Jacomo, Ferrardo, count Equato, count Cello before, and Guerrino. Pietro facomo. WHERE breathes that musick? Biliofo. |