Friend, I receiue you: but (withall) I
acquaint
you, 40
Aforehand, if yo' offend mee, I mu?
Aforehand, if yo' offend mee, I mu?
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
SCENE.
II.
FITZ-DOTTRELL.
I, they doe, now, name _Bretnor_, as before, [97]
They talk'd of _Gre? ham_, and of Doctor _Fore-man_,
_Francklin_, and _Fiske_, and _Sauory_ (he was in too)
But there's not one of the? e, that euer could
Yet ? hew a man the _Diuell_, in true ? ort. 5
They haue their chri? talls, I doe know, and rings,
And virgin parchment, and their dead-mens ? culls
Their rauens wings, their lights, and _pentacles_,
With _characters_; I ha' ? eene all the? e. But--
Would I might ? ee the _Diuell_. I would giue 10
A hundred o' the? e pictures, to ? ee him
Once out of picture. May I proue a cuckold,
(And that's the one maine mortall thing I feare)
If I beginne not, now, to thinke, the Painters
Haue onely made him. 'Slight, he would be ? eene, 15
One time or other el? e. He would not let
An ancient gentleman, of a good hou? e,
As mo? t are now in _England_, the _Fitz-Dottrel's_
Runne wilde, and call vpon him thus in vaine,
As I ha' done this twelue mone'th. If he be not, 20
At all, why, are there Coniurers? If they be not,
Why, are there lawes again? t 'hem? The be? t arti? ts
Of _Cambridge_, _Oxford_, _Middlesex_, and _London_,
_Essex_, and _Kent_, I haue had in pay to rai? e him,
The? e fifty weekes, and yet h'appeares not. 'Sdeath, 25
I ? hall ? u? pect, they, can make circles onely
Shortly, and know but his hard names. They doe ? ay,
H'will meet a man (of him? elfe) that has a mind to him.
If hee would ? o, I haue a minde and a halfe for him:
He ? hould not be long ab? ent. Pray thee, come 30
I long for thee. An' I were with child by him,
And my wife too; I could not more. Come, yet,
_He expre? ? es a longing to ? ee the Diuell_
Good _Beelezebub_. Were hee a kinde diuell,
And had humanity in him, hee would come, but
To ? aue ones longing. I ? hould v? e him well, 35
I ? weare, and with re? pect (would he would try mee)
Not, as the Conjurers doe, when they ha' rais'd him.
Get him in bonds, and ? end him po? t, on errands.
A thou? and miles, it is prepo? terous, that; [100]
And I beleeue, is the true cau? e he comes not. 40
And hee has rea? on. Who would be engag'd,
That might liue freely, as he may doe? I ? weare,
They are wrong all. The burn't child dreads the fire.
They doe not know to entertaine the _Diuell_.
I would ? o welcome him, ob? erue his diet, 45
Get him his chamber hung with _arras_, two of 'hem,
I' my own hou? e; lend him my wiues wrought pillowes:
And as I am an hone? t man, I thinke,
If he had a minde to her, too; I should grant him,
To make our friend-? hip perfect. So I would not 50
To euery man. If hee but heare me, now?
And ? hould come to mee in a braue young ? hape,
And take me at my word? ha! Who is this?
[150] SD. ACT. I. om. 1716, f. (as regularly, after SC. I. of each
act. ) ACT . . . ] SCENE II. _The street before Fitzdottrel's House.
Enter_ FITZDOTTREL. G
[151] 12 picture, 1641
[152] 17 a] as W [as] G || good] good a G
[153] 21, 22 comma om. after 'why' and 'Why' 1692 f.
[154] 25 h'] he G
[155] 26 circle 1641
[156] 30 Prithee G
[157] 31 An'] an G
[158] 32 SN. _expresseth_ 1692, 1716, W || SN. om. G
ACT. I. SCENE. IIJ.
PVG. FITZ-DOTTRELL.
Sir, your good pardon, that I thus pre? ume
Vpon your priuacy. I am borne a Gentleman,
A younger brother; but, in ? ome di? grace,
Now, with my friends: and want ? ome little meanes,
To keepe me vpright, while things be reconcil'd. 5
Plea? e you, to let my ? eruice be of v? e to you, Sir.
FIT. Seruice? 'fore hell, my heart was at my mouth,
Till I had view'd his ? hooes well: for, tho? e ro? es
Were bigge inough to hide a clouen foote.
_Hee lookes and ? uruay's his feet: ouer and ouer. _
No, friend, my number's full. I haue one ? eruant, 10
Who is my all, indeed; and, from the broome
Vnto the bru? h: for, iu? t so farre, I tru? t him.
He is my Ward-robe man, my Cater, Cooke,
Butler, and Steward; lookes vnto my hor? e:
And helpes to watch my wife. H'has all the places, 15
That I can thinke on, from the garret downward,
E'en to the manger, and the curry-combe.
PVG. Sir, I ? hall put your wor? hip to no charge,
More then my meate, and that but very little,
I'le ? erue you for your loue.
FIT. Ha? without wages? 20
I'le harken o' that eare, were I at lea? ure.
But now, I'm bu? ie. 'Pr'y the, friend forbeare mee,
And' thou had? t beene a _Diuell_, I ? hould ? ay [101]
Somewhat more to thee. Thou do? t hinder, now,
My meditations.
PVG. Sir, I am a _Diuell_. 25
FIT. How!
PVG. A true _Diuell_, S^r.
FIT. Nay, now, you ly:
Vnder your fauour, friend, for, I'll not quarrell.
I look'd o' your feet, afore, you cannot coozen mee,
Your ? hoo's not clouen, Sir, you are whole hoof'd.
_He viewes his feete againe. _
PVG. Sir, that's a popular error, deceiues many: 30
But I am that, I tell you.
FIT. What's your name?
PVG. My name is _Diuell_, S^r.
FIT. Sai'? t thou true.
PVG. in-deed, S^r.
FIT. 'Slid! there's ? ome _omen_ i' this! what countryman?
PVG. Of _Derby-? hire_, S^r. about the _Peake_.
FIT. That Hole
Belong'd to your Ance? tors?
PVG. Yes, _Diuells_ ar? e, S^r. 35
FIT. I'll entertaine him for the name ? ake. Ha?
And turne away my tother man? and ? aue
Foure pound a yeere by that? there's lucke, and thrift too!
The very _Diuell_ may come, heereafter, as well.
Friend, I receiue you: but (withall) I acquaint you, 40
Aforehand, if yo' offend mee, I mu? t beat you.
It is a kinde of exerci? e, I v? e.
And cannot be without.
PVG. Yes, if I doe not
Offend, you can, ? ure.
FIT. Faith, _Diuell_, very hardly:
I'll call you by your ? urname, 'cau? e I loue it. 45
[159] 46 'hem] 'em G
[160] 47 Wife's 1716 wife's W, G passim
[161] 53 word? --_Enter_ PUG _handsomely shaped and apparelled_. G
[162] SD. on. G
[163] 9 SN. on. G || _Aside. _ G
[164] 13 m'acater W
[165] 15 He has W, G
[166] 17 Even G
[167] 21 I'd W, G
[168] 22 I am G 'Prythe 1692 'Prithee 1716, W Prithee G
[169] 23 An' 1716, W An G || had? t] hast 1692, 1716
[170] 26 Sir 1641. f. passim
[171] 28 cozen 1692, f. passim
[172] 29 SN. om. G
[173] 31 that, I] that I 1692, f.
[174] 37 t'other 1692, f.
[175] 39 [_Aside. _ G
[176] 41 you W, G
ACT. I. SCENE. IIII.
INGINE. WITTIPOL. MANLY.
FITZDOTTRELL. PVG.
Yonder hee walkes, Sir, I'll goe lift him for you.
WIT. To him, good _Ingine_, rai? e him vp by degrees,
Gently, and hold him there too, you can doe it.
Shew your ? elfe now, a _Mathematicall_ broker.
ING. I'll warrant you for halfe a piece.
WIT. 'Tis done, S^r. 5
MAN. Is't po? ? ible there ? hould be ? uch a man?
WIT. You ? hall be your owne witne? ? e, I'll not labour
To tempt you pa? t your faith.
MAN. And is his wife
So very hand? ome, ? ay you?
WIT. I ha' not ? eene her,
Since I came home from trauell: and they ? ay, 10
Shee is not alter'd. Then, before I went,
I ? aw her once; but ? o, as ? hee hath ? tuck
Still i' my view, no obiect hath remou'd her.
MAN. 'Tis a faire gue? t, Friend, beauty: and once lodg'd [102]
Deepe in the eyes, ? hee hardly leaues the Inne. 15
How do's he keepe her?
WIT. Very braue. Howeuer,
Himselfe be fordide, hee is ? en? uall that way.
In euery dre? ? ing, hee do's ? tudy her.
MAN. And furni? h forth himselfe ? o from the _Brokers_?
WIT. Yes, that's a hyr'd ? uite, hee now has one, 20
To ? ee the _Diuell_ is an _A? ? e_, to day, in:
(This _Ingine_ gets three or foure pound a weeke by him)
He dares not mi? ? e a new _Play_, or a _Fea? t_,
What rate ? oeuer clothes be at; and thinkes
Him? elfe ? till new, in other mens old.
MAN. But ? tay, 25
Do's he loue meat ? o?
WIT. Faith he do's not hate it.
But that's not it. His belly and his palate
Would be compounded with for rea? on. Mary,
A wit he has, of that ? trange credit with him,
'Gain? t all mankinde; as it doth make him doe 30
Iu? t what it li? t: it raui? hes him forth,
Whither it plea? e, to any a? ? embly'or place,
And would conclude him ruin'd, ? hould hee ? cape
One publike meeting, out of the beliefe
He has of his owne great, and Catholike ? trengths, 35
In arguing, and di? cour? e. It takes, I ? ee:
H'has got the cloak vpon him.
Ingine _hath won_ Fitzdottrel, _to '? ay on the cloake_.
FIT. A faire garment,
By my faith, _Ingine_!
ING. It was neuer made, Sir,
For three ? core pound, I a? ? ure you: 'Twill yeeld thirty.
The plu? h, Sir, co? t three pound, ten ? hillings a yard! 40
And then the lace, and veluet.
FIT. I ? hall, _Ingine_,
Be look'd at, pretitly, in it! Art thou ? ure
The _Play_ is play'd to day?
ING. O here's the bill, S^r.
_Hee giues him the_ Play-_bill_.
I', had forgot to gi't you.
FIT. Ha? the _Diuell_!
I will not lo? e you, Sirah! But, _Ingine_, thinke you, 45
The Gallant is ? o furious in his folly?
So mad vpon the matter, that hee'll part
With's cloake vpo' the? e termes?
ING. Tru? t not your _Ingine_,
Breake me to pieces el? e, as you would doe
A rotten _Crane_, or an old ru? ty _Iacke_, 50
That has not one true wheele in him. Doe but talke with him.
FIT. I ? hall doe that, to ? atisfie you, _Ingine_,
And my ? elfe too. With your leaue, Gentlemen.
_Hee turnes to_ Wittipol.
Which of you is it, is ? o meere Idolater
To my wiues beauty, and ? o very prodigall 55
Vnto my patience, that, for the ? hort parlee?
Of one ? wift houres quarter, with my wife,
He will depart with (let mee ? ee) this cloake here
The price of folly? Sir, are you the man?
WIT. I am that vent'rer, Sir.
FIT. Good time! your name 60
Is _Witty-pol_?
WIT. The ? ame, S^r.
FIT. And 'tis told me, [103]
Yo' haue trauell'd lately?
WIT. That I haue, S^r.
FIT. Truly,
Your trauells may haue alter'd your complexion;
But ? ure, your wit ? tood ? till.
WIT. It may well be, Sir.
All heads ha' not like growth.
FITZ-DOTTRELL.
I, they doe, now, name _Bretnor_, as before, [97]
They talk'd of _Gre? ham_, and of Doctor _Fore-man_,
_Francklin_, and _Fiske_, and _Sauory_ (he was in too)
But there's not one of the? e, that euer could
Yet ? hew a man the _Diuell_, in true ? ort. 5
They haue their chri? talls, I doe know, and rings,
And virgin parchment, and their dead-mens ? culls
Their rauens wings, their lights, and _pentacles_,
With _characters_; I ha' ? eene all the? e. But--
Would I might ? ee the _Diuell_. I would giue 10
A hundred o' the? e pictures, to ? ee him
Once out of picture. May I proue a cuckold,
(And that's the one maine mortall thing I feare)
If I beginne not, now, to thinke, the Painters
Haue onely made him. 'Slight, he would be ? eene, 15
One time or other el? e. He would not let
An ancient gentleman, of a good hou? e,
As mo? t are now in _England_, the _Fitz-Dottrel's_
Runne wilde, and call vpon him thus in vaine,
As I ha' done this twelue mone'th. If he be not, 20
At all, why, are there Coniurers? If they be not,
Why, are there lawes again? t 'hem? The be? t arti? ts
Of _Cambridge_, _Oxford_, _Middlesex_, and _London_,
_Essex_, and _Kent_, I haue had in pay to rai? e him,
The? e fifty weekes, and yet h'appeares not. 'Sdeath, 25
I ? hall ? u? pect, they, can make circles onely
Shortly, and know but his hard names. They doe ? ay,
H'will meet a man (of him? elfe) that has a mind to him.
If hee would ? o, I haue a minde and a halfe for him:
He ? hould not be long ab? ent. Pray thee, come 30
I long for thee. An' I were with child by him,
And my wife too; I could not more. Come, yet,
_He expre? ? es a longing to ? ee the Diuell_
Good _Beelezebub_. Were hee a kinde diuell,
And had humanity in him, hee would come, but
To ? aue ones longing. I ? hould v? e him well, 35
I ? weare, and with re? pect (would he would try mee)
Not, as the Conjurers doe, when they ha' rais'd him.
Get him in bonds, and ? end him po? t, on errands.
A thou? and miles, it is prepo? terous, that; [100]
And I beleeue, is the true cau? e he comes not. 40
And hee has rea? on. Who would be engag'd,
That might liue freely, as he may doe? I ? weare,
They are wrong all. The burn't child dreads the fire.
They doe not know to entertaine the _Diuell_.
I would ? o welcome him, ob? erue his diet, 45
Get him his chamber hung with _arras_, two of 'hem,
I' my own hou? e; lend him my wiues wrought pillowes:
And as I am an hone? t man, I thinke,
If he had a minde to her, too; I should grant him,
To make our friend-? hip perfect. So I would not 50
To euery man. If hee but heare me, now?
And ? hould come to mee in a braue young ? hape,
And take me at my word? ha! Who is this?
[150] SD. ACT. I. om. 1716, f. (as regularly, after SC. I. of each
act. ) ACT . . . ] SCENE II. _The street before Fitzdottrel's House.
Enter_ FITZDOTTREL. G
[151] 12 picture, 1641
[152] 17 a] as W [as] G || good] good a G
[153] 21, 22 comma om. after 'why' and 'Why' 1692 f.
[154] 25 h'] he G
[155] 26 circle 1641
[156] 30 Prithee G
[157] 31 An'] an G
[158] 32 SN. _expresseth_ 1692, 1716, W || SN. om. G
ACT. I. SCENE. IIJ.
PVG. FITZ-DOTTRELL.
Sir, your good pardon, that I thus pre? ume
Vpon your priuacy. I am borne a Gentleman,
A younger brother; but, in ? ome di? grace,
Now, with my friends: and want ? ome little meanes,
To keepe me vpright, while things be reconcil'd. 5
Plea? e you, to let my ? eruice be of v? e to you, Sir.
FIT. Seruice? 'fore hell, my heart was at my mouth,
Till I had view'd his ? hooes well: for, tho? e ro? es
Were bigge inough to hide a clouen foote.
_Hee lookes and ? uruay's his feet: ouer and ouer. _
No, friend, my number's full. I haue one ? eruant, 10
Who is my all, indeed; and, from the broome
Vnto the bru? h: for, iu? t so farre, I tru? t him.
He is my Ward-robe man, my Cater, Cooke,
Butler, and Steward; lookes vnto my hor? e:
And helpes to watch my wife. H'has all the places, 15
That I can thinke on, from the garret downward,
E'en to the manger, and the curry-combe.
PVG. Sir, I ? hall put your wor? hip to no charge,
More then my meate, and that but very little,
I'le ? erue you for your loue.
FIT. Ha? without wages? 20
I'le harken o' that eare, were I at lea? ure.
But now, I'm bu? ie. 'Pr'y the, friend forbeare mee,
And' thou had? t beene a _Diuell_, I ? hould ? ay [101]
Somewhat more to thee. Thou do? t hinder, now,
My meditations.
PVG. Sir, I am a _Diuell_. 25
FIT. How!
PVG. A true _Diuell_, S^r.
FIT. Nay, now, you ly:
Vnder your fauour, friend, for, I'll not quarrell.
I look'd o' your feet, afore, you cannot coozen mee,
Your ? hoo's not clouen, Sir, you are whole hoof'd.
_He viewes his feete againe. _
PVG. Sir, that's a popular error, deceiues many: 30
But I am that, I tell you.
FIT. What's your name?
PVG. My name is _Diuell_, S^r.
FIT. Sai'? t thou true.
PVG. in-deed, S^r.
FIT. 'Slid! there's ? ome _omen_ i' this! what countryman?
PVG. Of _Derby-? hire_, S^r. about the _Peake_.
FIT. That Hole
Belong'd to your Ance? tors?
PVG. Yes, _Diuells_ ar? e, S^r. 35
FIT. I'll entertaine him for the name ? ake. Ha?
And turne away my tother man? and ? aue
Foure pound a yeere by that? there's lucke, and thrift too!
The very _Diuell_ may come, heereafter, as well.
Friend, I receiue you: but (withall) I acquaint you, 40
Aforehand, if yo' offend mee, I mu? t beat you.
It is a kinde of exerci? e, I v? e.
And cannot be without.
PVG. Yes, if I doe not
Offend, you can, ? ure.
FIT. Faith, _Diuell_, very hardly:
I'll call you by your ? urname, 'cau? e I loue it. 45
[159] 46 'hem] 'em G
[160] 47 Wife's 1716 wife's W, G passim
[161] 53 word? --_Enter_ PUG _handsomely shaped and apparelled_. G
[162] SD. on. G
[163] 9 SN. on. G || _Aside. _ G
[164] 13 m'acater W
[165] 15 He has W, G
[166] 17 Even G
[167] 21 I'd W, G
[168] 22 I am G 'Prythe 1692 'Prithee 1716, W Prithee G
[169] 23 An' 1716, W An G || had? t] hast 1692, 1716
[170] 26 Sir 1641. f. passim
[171] 28 cozen 1692, f. passim
[172] 29 SN. om. G
[173] 31 that, I] that I 1692, f.
[174] 37 t'other 1692, f.
[175] 39 [_Aside. _ G
[176] 41 you W, G
ACT. I. SCENE. IIII.
INGINE. WITTIPOL. MANLY.
FITZDOTTRELL. PVG.
Yonder hee walkes, Sir, I'll goe lift him for you.
WIT. To him, good _Ingine_, rai? e him vp by degrees,
Gently, and hold him there too, you can doe it.
Shew your ? elfe now, a _Mathematicall_ broker.
ING. I'll warrant you for halfe a piece.
WIT. 'Tis done, S^r. 5
MAN. Is't po? ? ible there ? hould be ? uch a man?
WIT. You ? hall be your owne witne? ? e, I'll not labour
To tempt you pa? t your faith.
MAN. And is his wife
So very hand? ome, ? ay you?
WIT. I ha' not ? eene her,
Since I came home from trauell: and they ? ay, 10
Shee is not alter'd. Then, before I went,
I ? aw her once; but ? o, as ? hee hath ? tuck
Still i' my view, no obiect hath remou'd her.
MAN. 'Tis a faire gue? t, Friend, beauty: and once lodg'd [102]
Deepe in the eyes, ? hee hardly leaues the Inne. 15
How do's he keepe her?
WIT. Very braue. Howeuer,
Himselfe be fordide, hee is ? en? uall that way.
In euery dre? ? ing, hee do's ? tudy her.
MAN. And furni? h forth himselfe ? o from the _Brokers_?
WIT. Yes, that's a hyr'd ? uite, hee now has one, 20
To ? ee the _Diuell_ is an _A? ? e_, to day, in:
(This _Ingine_ gets three or foure pound a weeke by him)
He dares not mi? ? e a new _Play_, or a _Fea? t_,
What rate ? oeuer clothes be at; and thinkes
Him? elfe ? till new, in other mens old.
MAN. But ? tay, 25
Do's he loue meat ? o?
WIT. Faith he do's not hate it.
But that's not it. His belly and his palate
Would be compounded with for rea? on. Mary,
A wit he has, of that ? trange credit with him,
'Gain? t all mankinde; as it doth make him doe 30
Iu? t what it li? t: it raui? hes him forth,
Whither it plea? e, to any a? ? embly'or place,
And would conclude him ruin'd, ? hould hee ? cape
One publike meeting, out of the beliefe
He has of his owne great, and Catholike ? trengths, 35
In arguing, and di? cour? e. It takes, I ? ee:
H'has got the cloak vpon him.
Ingine _hath won_ Fitzdottrel, _to '? ay on the cloake_.
FIT. A faire garment,
By my faith, _Ingine_!
ING. It was neuer made, Sir,
For three ? core pound, I a? ? ure you: 'Twill yeeld thirty.
The plu? h, Sir, co? t three pound, ten ? hillings a yard! 40
And then the lace, and veluet.
FIT. I ? hall, _Ingine_,
Be look'd at, pretitly, in it! Art thou ? ure
The _Play_ is play'd to day?
ING. O here's the bill, S^r.
_Hee giues him the_ Play-_bill_.
I', had forgot to gi't you.
FIT. Ha? the _Diuell_!
I will not lo? e you, Sirah! But, _Ingine_, thinke you, 45
The Gallant is ? o furious in his folly?
So mad vpon the matter, that hee'll part
With's cloake vpo' the? e termes?
ING. Tru? t not your _Ingine_,
Breake me to pieces el? e, as you would doe
A rotten _Crane_, or an old ru? ty _Iacke_, 50
That has not one true wheele in him. Doe but talke with him.
FIT. I ? hall doe that, to ? atisfie you, _Ingine_,
And my ? elfe too. With your leaue, Gentlemen.
_Hee turnes to_ Wittipol.
Which of you is it, is ? o meere Idolater
To my wiues beauty, and ? o very prodigall 55
Vnto my patience, that, for the ? hort parlee?
Of one ? wift houres quarter, with my wife,
He will depart with (let mee ? ee) this cloake here
The price of folly? Sir, are you the man?
WIT. I am that vent'rer, Sir.
FIT. Good time! your name 60
Is _Witty-pol_?
WIT. The ? ame, S^r.
FIT. And 'tis told me, [103]
Yo' haue trauell'd lately?
WIT. That I haue, S^r.
FIT. Truly,
Your trauells may haue alter'd your complexion;
But ? ure, your wit ? tood ? till.
WIT. It may well be, Sir.
All heads ha' not like growth.
