 | The Diuell is an Asse |  |
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Scene. II.
Fitz-dottrell.I, they doe, now, name Bretnor, as before,
They talk'd of Gresham, and of Doctor Fore-man,
Francklin, and Fiske, and Sauory (he was in too)
But there's not one of these, that euer could
Yet shew a man the Diuell, in true sort.
They haue their christalls, I doe know, and rings,
And virgin parchment, and their dead-mens sculls
Their rauens wings, their lights, and pentacles,
With characters; I ha' seene all these. But—
Would I might see the Diuell. I would giue
A hundred o'these pictures, to see 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 seene,
One time or other else. He would not let
An ancient gentleman, of a good house,
As most 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,
At all, why, are there Coniurers? If they be not,
Why, are there lawes against 'hem? The best artists
Of Cambridge, Oxford, Middlesex, and London,
Essex, and Kent, I haue had in pay to raise him,
These fifty weekes, and yet h'appeares not. 'Sdeath,
I shall suspect, they, can make circles onely
Shortly, and know but his hard names. They doe say,
H'will meet a man (of himselfe) that has a mind to him.
If hee would so, I haue a minde and a halfe for him:
He should not be long absent. Pray thee, come
I long for thee. An' I were with child by him,
He expresses a longing to see the Diuell.
And my wife, too; I could not more. Come, yet,
Good Beelezebub. Were hee a kinde diuell,
And had humanity in him, hee would come, but
To saue ones longing. I should vse him well,
I sweare, and with respect (would he would try mee)
Not, as the Conjurers doe, when they ha' rais'd him.
Get him in bonds, and send him post, on errands.
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And I beleeue, is the true cause he comes not.
And hee has reason. Who would be engag'd,
That might liue freely, as he may doe? I sweare,
They are wrong all. The burn't child dreads the fire.
They doe not know to entertaine the Diuell.
I would so welcome him, obserue his diet,
Get him his chamber hung with arras, two of 'hem,
I' my own house; lend him my wiues wrought pillowes:
And as I am an honest man, I thinke,
If he had a minde to her, too; I should grant him,
To make our friend-ship perfect. So I would not
To euery man. If hee but heare me, now?
And should come to mee in a braue young shape,
And take me at my word? ha! Who is this?
| The Diuell is an Asse | |