University of Virginia Library

Scene 1.

Host.
Ferret.
I am not pleas'd, indeed, you are i'the right;
Nor is my house pleas'd, if my signe could speake,
The signe o'the light Heart. There, you may read it;
So may your master too, if he looke on't.
A heart weigh'd with a fether, and out weigh'd too:
A brayne-child o'mine owne! and I am proud on't!
And if his worship thinke, here, to be melancholy,
In spight of me or my wit, he is deceiu'd;
I will maintayne the Rebus 'gainst all humors,
And all complexions i'the body of Man,
That's my word, or i'the Isle of Britaine!

[Ferret.]
You haue reason good mine host.

Hos.
Sir I haue rime too.
Whether it be by chance or art,
A heauy purse makes a light Heart.
There 'tis exprest! first, by a purse of gold,
A heauy purse, and then two Turtles, makes,
A heart with a light stuck in't, a light heart!
Old Abbot Islip could not inuent better,
Or Prior Bolton with his bolt and Ton.
I am an Innekeeper, and know my grounds,
And study 'hem; Brayne o'man, I study 'hem:
I must ha' iouiall guests to driue my ploughs,
And whistling boyes to bring my haruest home,
Or I shall heare no Flayles thwack. Here, your master,
And you ha'beene this fornight, drawing fleas
Out of my mattes, and pounding 'hem in cages
Cut out of cards, & those rop'd round with pack-thred
Drawne thorow birdlime! a fine subtilty!
Or poring through a multiplying glasse,
Vpon a captiu'd crab-louse, or a cheese-mite
To be dissected, as the sports of nature,
With a neat Spanish needle! Speculations
That doe become the age, I doe confesse!
As measuring an Ants egges, with the Silke-wormes,
By a phantassique instrument of thred,
Shall giue you their iust difference, to a haire!
Or else recouering o'dead flyes, with crums!
(Another queint conclusion i'the physicks)
Which I ha seene you busie at, through the key-hole—
But neuer had the fate to see a flye—
Ent. Loue.
Aliue i'your cups, or once heard, drinke mine host,
Or such a chearfull chirping charme come from you.