Was not thy mother a
Gentlewoman?
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
To morrow, Sir,
Will equally ? erue your occa? ion's,---- 85
And therefore, let me obtaine, that you will yeeld
To timing a poore Gentlemans di? tre? ? es,
In termes of hazard. --
FIT. By no meanes!
MER. I mu? t
Get him this money, and will. --
FIT. Sir, I prote? t,
I'd rather ? tand engag'd for it my ? elfe: 90
Then you ? hould leaue mee.
MER. O good S^r. do you thinke
So cour? ely of our manners, that we would,
For any need of ours, be pre? t to take it:
Though you be pleas'd to offer it.
FIT. Why, by heauen,
I meane it!
MER. I can neuer beleeue le? ? e. 95
But wee, Sir, mu? t pre? erue our dignity,
As you doe publi? h yours. By your faire leaue, Sir.
_Hee offers to be gone. _
FIT. As I am a Gentleman, if you doe offer
To leaue mee now, or if you doe refu? e mee, 99
I will not thinke you loue mee.
MER. Sir, I honour you.
And with iu? t rea? on, for the? e noble notes,
Of the nobility, you pretend too! But, Sir--
I would know, why? a motiue (he a ? tranger)
You ? hould doe this?
(EVE. You'll mar all with your finene? ? e)
FIT. Why, that's all one, if 'twere, Sir, but my fancy. 105
But I haue a _Bu? ine? ? e_, that perhaps I'd haue
Brought to his _office_.
MER. O, Sir! I haue done, then;
If hee can be made profitable, to you. [134]
FIT. Yes, and it ? hall be one of my ambitions
To haue it the fir? t _Bu? ine? ? e_? May I not? 110
EVE. So you doe meane to make't, a perfect _Bu? ine? ? e_.
FIT. Nay, I'll doe that, a? ? ure you: ? hew me once.
MER. S^r, it concernes, the fir? t be a perfect _Bu? ine? ? e_,
For his owne honour!
EVE. I, and th' reputation
Too, of my place.
FIT. Why, why doe I take this cour? e, el? e? 115
I am not altogether, an _A? ? e_, good Gentlemen,
Wherefore ? hould I con? ult you? doe you thinke?
To make a ? ong on't? How's your manner? tell vs.
MER. Doe, ? atisfie him: giue him the whole cour? e.
EVE. Fir? t, by reque? t, or otherwi? e, you offer 120
Your _Bu? ine? ? e_ to the _Court_: wherein you craue:
The iudgement of the _Ma? ter_ and the _A? si? tants_.
FIT. Well, that's done, now, what doe you vpon it?
EVE. We ? treight S^r, haue recour? e to the ? pring-head;
Vi? it the ground; and, ? o di? clo? e the nature: 125
If it will carry, or no. If wee doe finde,
By our proportions it is like to proue
A ? ullen, and blacke _Bus'ne? ? e_ That it be
Incorrigible; and out of, treaty; then.
We file it, a _Dependance_!
FIT. So 'tis fil'd. 130
What followes? I doe loue the order of the? e things.
EVE. We then adui? e the party, if he be
A man of meanes, and hauings, that forth-with,
He ? ettle his e? tate: if not, at lea? t
That he pretend it. For, by that, the world 135
Takes notice, that it now is a _Dependance_.
And this we call, Sir, _Publication_.
FIT. Very ? ufficient! After _Publication_, now?
EVE. Then we grant out our _Proce? ? e_, which is diuers;
Eyther by _Chartell_, Sir, or _ore-tenus_, 140
Wherein the Challenger, and Challengee
Or (with your _Spaniard_) your _Prouocador_,
And _Prouocado_, haue their ? euerall cour? es--
FIT. I haue enough on't! for an hundred pieces?
Yes, for two hundred, vnder-write me, doe. 145
Your man will take my bond?
MER. That he will, ? ure.
But, the? e ? ame Citizens, they are ? uch ? harks!
There's an old debt of forty, I ga' my word
For one is runne away, to the _Bermudas_,
And he will hooke in that, or he wi' not doe. 150
_He whi? pers_ Fitz-dottrell _a? ide_.
FIT. Why, let him. That and the ring, and a hundred pieces,
Will all but make two hundred?
MER. No, no more, Sir.
What ready _Arithmetique_ you haue? doe you heare?
_And then_ Guilt-head.
A pretty mornings worke for you, this? Do it,
You ? hall ha' twenty pound on't.
GVI. Twenty pieces? [135] 155
(PLV. Good Father, do't)
MER. You will hooke ? till? well,
Shew vs your ring. You could not ha' done this, now
With gentlene? ? e, at fir? t, wee might ha' thank'd you?
But groane, and ha' your courte? ies come from you
Like a hard ? toole, and ? tinke? A man may draw 160
Your teeth out ea? ier, then your money? Come,
Were little _Guilt-head_ heere, no better a nature,
I ? hould ne'r loue him, that could pull his lips off, now!
_He pulls_ Plutarchus _by the lips_.
Was not thy mother a Gentlewoman?
PLV. Yes, Sir.
MER. And went to the Court at _Chri? tmas_,
and S^t. _Georges-tide_? 165
And lent the Lords-men, chaines?
PLV. Of gold, and pearle, S^r.
MER. I knew, thou mu? t take, after ? ome body!
Thou could'? t not be el? e. This was no ? hop-looke!
I'll ha' thee Captaine _Guilt-head_, and march vp,
And take in _Pimlico_, and kill the bu? h, 170
At euery tauerne! Thou shalt haue a wife,
If ? mocks will mount, boy. How now? you ha' there now
Some _Bri? to-? tone_, or _Corni? h_ counterfeit
You'ld put vpon vs.
_He turns to old_ Guilt-head.
GVI. No, Sir I a? ? ure you:
Looke on his lu? ter! hee will ? peake him? elfe! 175
I'le gi' you leaue to put him i' the Mill,
H'is no great, large ? tone, but a true _Paragon_,
H'has all his corners, view him well.
MER. H'is yellow.
GVI. Vpo' my faith, S^r, o' the right black-water,
And very deepe! H'is ? et without a foyle, too. 180
Here's one o' the yellow-water, I'll ? ell cheape.
MER. And what do you valew this, at? thirty pound?
GVI. No, Sir, he cost me forty, ere he was ? et.
MER. Turnings, you meane? I know your _Equinocks_:
You'are growne the better Fathers of 'hem o' late. 185
Well, where't mu? t goe, 'twill be iudg'd, and, therefore,
Looke you't be right. You ? hall haue fifty pound for't.
_Now to_ Fitz-dottrel.
Not a deneer more! And, becau? e you would
Haue things di? patch'd, Sir, I'll goe pre? ently,
Inquire out this _Lady_. If you thinke good, Sir. 190
Hauing an hundred pieces ready, you may
Part with tho? e, now, to ? erue my kin? mans turnes,
That he may wait vpon you, anon, the freer;
And take 'hem when you ha' ? eal'd, a game, of _Guilt-head_.
FIT. I care not if I do!
MER. And di? patch all, 195
Together.
FIT. There, th'are iu? t: a hundred pieces!
I' ha' told 'hem ouer, twice a day, the? e two moneths.
_Hee turnes 'hem out together.
And_ Euerill _and hee fall to ? hare_.
MER. Well, go, and ? eale, then, S^r, make your returne
As ? peedy as you can.
EVE. Come gi' mee.
MER. Soft, Sir.
EVE. Mary, and faire too, then. I'll no delaying, Sir. 200
MER. But, you will heare?
EVE. Yes, when I haue my diuident.
MER. Theres forty pieces for you.
EVE. What is this for? [136]
MER. Your halfe. You know, that _Guilt-head_ mu? t ha' twenty.
EVE. And what's your ring there? ? hall I ha' none o' that?
MER. O, thats to be giuen to a _Lady_! 205
EVE. Is't ? o?
MER. By that good light, it is.
EV. Come, gi' me
Ten pieces more, then.
MER. Why?
EV. For _Guilt-head_? Sir,
Do'you thinke, I'll 'low him any ? uch ? hare:
MER. You mu? t.
EVE. Mu? t I? Doe you your mu? ts, Sir, I'll doe mine,
You wi' not part with the whole, Sir? Will you? Goe too. 210
Gi' me ten pieces!
MER. By what law, doe you this?
EVE. E'n Lyon-law, Sir, I mu? t roare el? e.
MER. Good!
EVE. Yo' haue heard, how th' _A? ? e_ made his diui? ions, wi? ely?
MER. And, I am he: I thanke you.
EV. Much good do you, S^r.
MER. I ? hall be rid o' this tyranny, one day?
EVE. Not,
While you doe eate; and lie, about the towne, here; 216
And coozen i' your bullions; and I ? tand
Your name of credit, and compound your bu? ine? ? e;
Adiourne your beatings euery terme; and make
New parties for your proiects. I haue, now, 220
A pretty ta? que, of it, to hold you in
Wi' your_ Lady Tayle-bu? h_: but the toy will be,
How we ? hall both come off?
MER. Leaue you your doubting.
And doe your portion, what's a? ? ign'd you: I
Neuer fail'd yet.
EVE. With reference to your aydes? 225
You'll ? till be vnthankfull. Where ? hall I meete you, anon?
You ha' ? ome feate to doe alone, now, I ? ee;
You wi? h me gone, well, I will finde you out,
And bring you after to the audit.
MER. S'light!
There's _Ingines_ ? hare too, I had forgot! This raigne 230
Is too-too-vn? uportable! I mu? t
Quit my ? elfe of this va? ? alage! _Ingine! _ welcome.
[457] SD. om. G
[458] 1 [_takes Meer. aside.
Will equally ? erue your occa? ion's,---- 85
And therefore, let me obtaine, that you will yeeld
To timing a poore Gentlemans di? tre? ? es,
In termes of hazard. --
FIT. By no meanes!
MER. I mu? t
Get him this money, and will. --
FIT. Sir, I prote? t,
I'd rather ? tand engag'd for it my ? elfe: 90
Then you ? hould leaue mee.
MER. O good S^r. do you thinke
So cour? ely of our manners, that we would,
For any need of ours, be pre? t to take it:
Though you be pleas'd to offer it.
FIT. Why, by heauen,
I meane it!
MER. I can neuer beleeue le? ? e. 95
But wee, Sir, mu? t pre? erue our dignity,
As you doe publi? h yours. By your faire leaue, Sir.
_Hee offers to be gone. _
FIT. As I am a Gentleman, if you doe offer
To leaue mee now, or if you doe refu? e mee, 99
I will not thinke you loue mee.
MER. Sir, I honour you.
And with iu? t rea? on, for the? e noble notes,
Of the nobility, you pretend too! But, Sir--
I would know, why? a motiue (he a ? tranger)
You ? hould doe this?
(EVE. You'll mar all with your finene? ? e)
FIT. Why, that's all one, if 'twere, Sir, but my fancy. 105
But I haue a _Bu? ine? ? e_, that perhaps I'd haue
Brought to his _office_.
MER. O, Sir! I haue done, then;
If hee can be made profitable, to you. [134]
FIT. Yes, and it ? hall be one of my ambitions
To haue it the fir? t _Bu? ine? ? e_? May I not? 110
EVE. So you doe meane to make't, a perfect _Bu? ine? ? e_.
FIT. Nay, I'll doe that, a? ? ure you: ? hew me once.
MER. S^r, it concernes, the fir? t be a perfect _Bu? ine? ? e_,
For his owne honour!
EVE. I, and th' reputation
Too, of my place.
FIT. Why, why doe I take this cour? e, el? e? 115
I am not altogether, an _A? ? e_, good Gentlemen,
Wherefore ? hould I con? ult you? doe you thinke?
To make a ? ong on't? How's your manner? tell vs.
MER. Doe, ? atisfie him: giue him the whole cour? e.
EVE. Fir? t, by reque? t, or otherwi? e, you offer 120
Your _Bu? ine? ? e_ to the _Court_: wherein you craue:
The iudgement of the _Ma? ter_ and the _A? si? tants_.
FIT. Well, that's done, now, what doe you vpon it?
EVE. We ? treight S^r, haue recour? e to the ? pring-head;
Vi? it the ground; and, ? o di? clo? e the nature: 125
If it will carry, or no. If wee doe finde,
By our proportions it is like to proue
A ? ullen, and blacke _Bus'ne? ? e_ That it be
Incorrigible; and out of, treaty; then.
We file it, a _Dependance_!
FIT. So 'tis fil'd. 130
What followes? I doe loue the order of the? e things.
EVE. We then adui? e the party, if he be
A man of meanes, and hauings, that forth-with,
He ? ettle his e? tate: if not, at lea? t
That he pretend it. For, by that, the world 135
Takes notice, that it now is a _Dependance_.
And this we call, Sir, _Publication_.
FIT. Very ? ufficient! After _Publication_, now?
EVE. Then we grant out our _Proce? ? e_, which is diuers;
Eyther by _Chartell_, Sir, or _ore-tenus_, 140
Wherein the Challenger, and Challengee
Or (with your _Spaniard_) your _Prouocador_,
And _Prouocado_, haue their ? euerall cour? es--
FIT. I haue enough on't! for an hundred pieces?
Yes, for two hundred, vnder-write me, doe. 145
Your man will take my bond?
MER. That he will, ? ure.
But, the? e ? ame Citizens, they are ? uch ? harks!
There's an old debt of forty, I ga' my word
For one is runne away, to the _Bermudas_,
And he will hooke in that, or he wi' not doe. 150
_He whi? pers_ Fitz-dottrell _a? ide_.
FIT. Why, let him. That and the ring, and a hundred pieces,
Will all but make two hundred?
MER. No, no more, Sir.
What ready _Arithmetique_ you haue? doe you heare?
_And then_ Guilt-head.
A pretty mornings worke for you, this? Do it,
You ? hall ha' twenty pound on't.
GVI. Twenty pieces? [135] 155
(PLV. Good Father, do't)
MER. You will hooke ? till? well,
Shew vs your ring. You could not ha' done this, now
With gentlene? ? e, at fir? t, wee might ha' thank'd you?
But groane, and ha' your courte? ies come from you
Like a hard ? toole, and ? tinke? A man may draw 160
Your teeth out ea? ier, then your money? Come,
Were little _Guilt-head_ heere, no better a nature,
I ? hould ne'r loue him, that could pull his lips off, now!
_He pulls_ Plutarchus _by the lips_.
Was not thy mother a Gentlewoman?
PLV. Yes, Sir.
MER. And went to the Court at _Chri? tmas_,
and S^t. _Georges-tide_? 165
And lent the Lords-men, chaines?
PLV. Of gold, and pearle, S^r.
MER. I knew, thou mu? t take, after ? ome body!
Thou could'? t not be el? e. This was no ? hop-looke!
I'll ha' thee Captaine _Guilt-head_, and march vp,
And take in _Pimlico_, and kill the bu? h, 170
At euery tauerne! Thou shalt haue a wife,
If ? mocks will mount, boy. How now? you ha' there now
Some _Bri? to-? tone_, or _Corni? h_ counterfeit
You'ld put vpon vs.
_He turns to old_ Guilt-head.
GVI. No, Sir I a? ? ure you:
Looke on his lu? ter! hee will ? peake him? elfe! 175
I'le gi' you leaue to put him i' the Mill,
H'is no great, large ? tone, but a true _Paragon_,
H'has all his corners, view him well.
MER. H'is yellow.
GVI. Vpo' my faith, S^r, o' the right black-water,
And very deepe! H'is ? et without a foyle, too. 180
Here's one o' the yellow-water, I'll ? ell cheape.
MER. And what do you valew this, at? thirty pound?
GVI. No, Sir, he cost me forty, ere he was ? et.
MER. Turnings, you meane? I know your _Equinocks_:
You'are growne the better Fathers of 'hem o' late. 185
Well, where't mu? t goe, 'twill be iudg'd, and, therefore,
Looke you't be right. You ? hall haue fifty pound for't.
_Now to_ Fitz-dottrel.
Not a deneer more! And, becau? e you would
Haue things di? patch'd, Sir, I'll goe pre? ently,
Inquire out this _Lady_. If you thinke good, Sir. 190
Hauing an hundred pieces ready, you may
Part with tho? e, now, to ? erue my kin? mans turnes,
That he may wait vpon you, anon, the freer;
And take 'hem when you ha' ? eal'd, a game, of _Guilt-head_.
FIT. I care not if I do!
MER. And di? patch all, 195
Together.
FIT. There, th'are iu? t: a hundred pieces!
I' ha' told 'hem ouer, twice a day, the? e two moneths.
_Hee turnes 'hem out together.
And_ Euerill _and hee fall to ? hare_.
MER. Well, go, and ? eale, then, S^r, make your returne
As ? peedy as you can.
EVE. Come gi' mee.
MER. Soft, Sir.
EVE. Mary, and faire too, then. I'll no delaying, Sir. 200
MER. But, you will heare?
EVE. Yes, when I haue my diuident.
MER. Theres forty pieces for you.
EVE. What is this for? [136]
MER. Your halfe. You know, that _Guilt-head_ mu? t ha' twenty.
EVE. And what's your ring there? ? hall I ha' none o' that?
MER. O, thats to be giuen to a _Lady_! 205
EVE. Is't ? o?
MER. By that good light, it is.
EV. Come, gi' me
Ten pieces more, then.
MER. Why?
EV. For _Guilt-head_? Sir,
Do'you thinke, I'll 'low him any ? uch ? hare:
MER. You mu? t.
EVE. Mu? t I? Doe you your mu? ts, Sir, I'll doe mine,
You wi' not part with the whole, Sir? Will you? Goe too. 210
Gi' me ten pieces!
MER. By what law, doe you this?
EVE. E'n Lyon-law, Sir, I mu? t roare el? e.
MER. Good!
EVE. Yo' haue heard, how th' _A? ? e_ made his diui? ions, wi? ely?
MER. And, I am he: I thanke you.
EV. Much good do you, S^r.
MER. I ? hall be rid o' this tyranny, one day?
EVE. Not,
While you doe eate; and lie, about the towne, here; 216
And coozen i' your bullions; and I ? tand
Your name of credit, and compound your bu? ine? ? e;
Adiourne your beatings euery terme; and make
New parties for your proiects. I haue, now, 220
A pretty ta? que, of it, to hold you in
Wi' your_ Lady Tayle-bu? h_: but the toy will be,
How we ? hall both come off?
MER. Leaue you your doubting.
And doe your portion, what's a? ? ign'd you: I
Neuer fail'd yet.
EVE. With reference to your aydes? 225
You'll ? till be vnthankfull. Where ? hall I meete you, anon?
You ha' ? ome feate to doe alone, now, I ? ee;
You wi? h me gone, well, I will finde you out,
And bring you after to the audit.
MER. S'light!
There's _Ingines_ ? hare too, I had forgot! This raigne 230
Is too-too-vn? uportable! I mu? t
Quit my ? elfe of this va? ? alage! _Ingine! _ welcome.
[457] SD. om. G
[458] 1 [_takes Meer. aside.
