 | The Sophister |  |
Scena prima.
Enter Description.
If I goe any farther let me be frozen to death, like Sir
Hugh Willowby, or be made Cuckold with the tedious
Traveller Ulysses: It were impossible to see all, yet I
should see more than I should be able to relate, and like
Munster, or Sir Iohn Mandevill, relate more than any
would beleeve. I care not how these women take it. The
Tailor in Plutarch would as soone make a habit for the
Moone, as any man a Description of them, and so long
would it fit them. I thinke they consist of Materia prima,
they are capable of all formes and impressions, but
constant to none: And it is no great matter to describe
them you see them curiously painted every where. And
who would e're thought these Schollers should have so
much troubled me: I supposing they had beene so like in
their humours, as they are agreeable in their formalities,
though first to have drawne the Characters of some of
Criticks, Phantasticke Humorists, and malicious Satyrists,
I found it no lesse impossible than perilous to deale with
that kinde, and indeed am quite dismaid from going any
farther in this enterprize. Well, I will deliver backe
to the Lords their Commission, and rather sue for
a Protection. But who comes here, Distinction?
Enter Ambiguity in Distinctions Cloake.
Amb.
How now Description, didst thou see our Soveraigne
Sophime?
Desc.
Hath Distinction gotten Ambiguities Linsie woolsie
Coate? or Ambiguity Distinctions party-colour'd Cloak? My
cunning is quite stagger'd; I know not whether I should
beleeve mine eyes or mine eares.
Ambig.
Doth your feeling serve you any better?
He strikes him.
Desc.
Oh, is it you? No wonder I mistooke Ambiguity.
They say a man may know the Divell by his cloven
Foote; I am sure one may know thee by thy double
hand.
Ambigu.
Why double hand? I hope I have not foure
hands.
Desc.
Nay, thou hast but one hand rather; thou art
Ambo-dexter.
Ambig.
Is not that best? So Plato would have his
Citizens.
Desc.
But he would not have them double tongu'd, as
you are.
Ambig.
Then bee like Scaliger and Mithridates, who
had foure and twenty tongues, should have had no place in
his Common-wealth.
Desc.
There is great difference. They many waies could
Amb.
That's a signe my words are most significant, which
is no small commendation.
Des.
Right, if the signification be single and true.
Amb.
Why not double and true?
Des.
That's impossible.
Amb.
O grosse! what truer than the Oracles, which deliver'd
their mindes even with my voice? and who more
trusted, whose words cost more, than our common Lawyers,
who for their facility in double dealing, and speaking on both
sides, are called the Oracles of the City? But tell me, sawest
thou my new disguised Master Sophime?
Des.
I prethee, how cam'st thou by this Cloake?
Amb.
Thou answer'st not what I aske thee.
Des.
Nor doest thou aske what I intend to answer thee.
Amb.
But see here comes mad Discourse, he will make us
admirable sport.
Des.
Well, I will not come neare him if he be mad.
Amb.
Nor I, if he were in his wits.
| The Sophister | |