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Read Ebook: Thomas Heywood by Heywood Thomas Symonds John Addington Author Of Introduction Etc Verity A W Arthur Wilson Editor
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Ebook has 1607 lines and 51166 words, and 33 pages
A strange play you are like to have, for know, We use no drum, nor trumpet, nor dumb show; No combat, marriage, not so much to-day As song, dance, masque, to bombast out a play; Yet these all good, and still in frequent use With our best poets; nor is this excuse Made by our author, as if want of skill Caused this defect; it's rather his self will. Will you the reason know? There have so many Been in that kind, that he desires not any At this time in his scene, no help, no strain, Or flash that's borrowed from another's brain; Nor speaks he this that he would have you fear it, He only tries if once bare lines will bear it: Yet may't afford, so please you silent sit, Some mirth, some matter, and perhaps some wit.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
Two young Gentlemen:
Geraldine, Delavil,
Old Wincott.
Young Lionel, a riotous Citizen.
Old Geraldine, Father of Young Geraldine.
Old Lionel, a Merchant, Father of Young Lionel.
Reignald, a parasitical Serving-man.
Robin, an old country Serving-man.
Roger the Clown, Servant to Old Wincott.
Rioter, a Spendthrift.
Two Gallants, his Companions.
Master Ricott, a Merchant.
A Gentleman, Companion to Delavil.
A Usurer and his Man.
The Owner of the House, supposed to be possessed.
A Tavern Drawer.
Servants.
Wincott's Wife, a young Gentlewoman.
Prudentilla, her Sister.
Blanda, a Whore.
Scapha, a Bawd.
Two Wenches, Companions to Blanda.
Bess, Chambermaid to Mistress Wincott.
SCENE--London and Barnet.
THE ENGLISH TRAVELLER.
ACT THE FIRST.
Delavil. Oh, friend, that I to mine own notion Had joined but your experience! I have The theoric, but you the practic.
Young Geraldine. I Perhaps have seen what you have only read of.
Delavil. There's your happiness. A scholar in his study knows the stars, Their motion and their influence, which are fixed And which are wandering, can decipher seas, And give each several land his proper bounds; But set him to the compass, he's to seek, When a plain pilot can direct his course From hence unto both the Indies; can bring back His ship and charge, with profits quintuple. I have read Jerusalem, and studied Rome, Can tell in what degree each city stands, Describe the distance of this place from that-- All this the scale in every map can teach; Nay, for a need could punctually recite The monuments in either; but what I Have by relation only, knowledge by travel, Which still makes up a complete gentleman, Proves eminent in you.
Young Geraldine. I must confess I have seen Jerusalem and Rome, have brought Mark from the one, from the other testimony, Known Spain, and France, and from their airs have sucked A breath of every language: but no more Of this discourse, since we draw near the place Of them we go to visit.
Clown. Noble Master Geraldine, worshipful Master Delavil!
Delavil. I see thou still rememberest us.
Clown. Remember you! I have had so many memorandums from the multiplicities of your bounties, that not to remember you were to forgot myself; you are both most ingeniously and nobly welcome.
Young Geraldine. And why ingeniously and nobly?
Clown. Because had I given your welcomes other attributes than I have done, the one being a soldier, and the other seeming a scholar, I should have lied in the first, and showed myself a kind of blockhead in the last.
Young Geraldine. I see your wit is nimble as your tongue; But how doth all at home?
Clown. Small doings at home, sir, in regard that the age of my master corresponds not with the youth of my mistress, and you know cold January and lusty May seldom meet in conjunction.
Delavil. I do not think but this fellow in time may for his wit and understanding make almanacks.
Clown. Not so, sir, you being more judicious than I, I'll give you the pre-eminence in that, because I see by proof you have such judgment in times and seasons.
Delavil. And why in times and seasons?
Clown. Because you have so seasonably made choice to come so just at dinner-time. You are welcome, gentlemen; I'll go tell my master of your coming. since my travel Was only aimed at language, and to know; These passed me but as common objects did-- Seen, but not much regarded.
Prudentilla. Oh, you strive To express a most unheard-of modesty, And seldom found in any traveller, Especially of our country, thereby seeking To make yourself peculiar.
Young Geraldine. I should be loth Profess in outward show to be one man, And prove myself another.
Prudentilla. One thing more: Were you to marry, you that know these climes, Their states and their conditions, out of which Of all these countries would you choose your wife?
Young Geraldine. I'll answer you in brief: as I observe, Each several clime, for object, fare, or use, Affords within itself for all of these What is most pleasing to the man there born: Spain, that yields scant of food, affords the nation A parsimonious stomach, where our appetites Are not content but with the large excess Of a full table; where the pleasing'st fruits Are found most frequent, there they best content; Where plenty flows, it asks abundant feasts; For so hath provident Nature dealt with all. So in the choice of women: the Greek wantons, Compelled beneath the Turkish slavery, Vassal themselves to all men, and such best Please the voluptuous that delight in change; The French is of one humour, Spain another, The hot Italian has a strain from both, All pleased with their own nations--even the Moor, He thinks the blackest the most beautiful; And, lady, since you so far tax my choice, I'll thus resolve you: being an Englishman, 'Mongst all these nations I have seen or tried, To please me best, here would I choose my bride.
Prudentilla. And happy were that lady, in my thoughts, Whom you would deign that grace to.
Wife. How now, sister! This is a fashion that's but late come up. For maids to court their husbands.
Wincott. I would, wife, It were no worse, upon condition They had my helping hand and purse to boot, With both in ample measure. Oh, this gentleman I love, nay almost dote on.
Wife. You've my leave To give it full expression.
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