 | The Warde |  |
scaena. 3.
(enter to him Mr Simple, & page.)Simple.
by your leave good cozen Hodgefeild, I am come
to call you to the bearebaiting; yonder is
old sackerson to be baited; all the doggs
are ready, & the beare already mussled.
come will yee goe?
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not now kind cozen Simple. Ime employde
this afternoone, & so engaged, I cannot
attend your sports.
Simple.
why then, you loose most noble sport, I tell yee
better then any game Cupid can play.
play, meethinks—
when the beare fights, especially Sackerson
(or the soone of sacke, which wine sure makes himm valiant;)
mars or minerva should assist the sport
It is soe noble; I am sure the gods sport at it
& therefore looke a care for to translate,
neere the trallucent starre of ursa major
(the ancestour of Sackerson) the fiery tribe
of starres, which waite on the caelestial curve.
Hodge.
I vow; the beares have made my cozen frantique,
synce when so learned cozen!
Simp.
ever since—I loved the sport; all recreation makes
that once a man delights in, every subject
as noble, as the arts themselves Can make him.
the exercise of ringing makes men Statists
& learnes them soe to change your tune each minute
with this most subtle posy; he can't live,
that cannot readily change, & dissemble.
this exercise doth teach the wise professour
to hold his peace & sound in a true distance,
or else, that needes he must run ore & jangle.
It teaches men likewise the noble art
of memory, & how by figures swiftly
to broach a new arithmetique from the changes.
Then hunting (by wise Xenaphon) is calld
an image & an exercise of warre.
the flying at the brooke is an Idea
of natural philosophy: by the which
the natural passes of the aire to water
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& solidly demonstrated; then
fishing doth teach us, how to sift the seas
& to make way for navigation
by groping under waters with a plummet.
Hodge.
prithee! have done good, cozen wise good cheape,
thou art now noe Simple scoller.
Simp.
but—coz—Hodgefeild!
the exercise of beare-baiting is the only
Caelestiall sport!
Hodge.
Fy! now you are prophane!
Simp.
hold of your censure, Cupidineues Kinseman,
your friend Ralph Simple, speakes the simple truth
& hates a prophane, & dammee roaring wezand.
I say our exercise is caelestial
for first it is the ground of that brave Art
that scolers term Astronomy: & next
Princes doe use it altogether now
upon the holiest daies; & therefore I
am not to be much blamed (if I call)
this noble exercise, caelestiall.
page.
but Sir, whilst thus you reade your lecture
sackerson, is almost drench't.
Simp.
farewell, coz Hodgefeild, I am for the Beare:
whilst for your mistresse love you'l shed a Teare.
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