 | The Magnetick Lady :or, Hvmors Reconcil'd |  |
Scene I.
Compasse, Ironside.Com.
Welcome good Captaine Ironside, and brother;
You shall along with me. I'm lodg'd hard by,
Here at a noble Ladies house i'th' street,
The Lady Loadstones (one will bid us welcome)
Where there are Gentlewomen, and male Guests,
Of severall humors, cariage, constitution,
Profession too: but so diametrall
One to another, and so much oppos'd,
As if I can but hold them all together,
And draw 'hem to a sufferance of themselves,
But till the Dissolution of the Dinner;
I shall have just occasion to beleeve
My wit is magisteriall; and our selves
Take infinite delight, i'the successe.
Iro.
Troth, brother Compasse, you shall pardon me;
I love not so to multiply acquaintance
At a meales cost, 'twill take off o' my freedome
So much: or bind me to the least observance.
Com.
Why Ironside, you know I am a Scholler,
And part a Souldier; I have beene imployed,
By some the greatest States-men o' the kingdome,
These many yeares: and in my time convers'd
With sundry humors, suiting so my selfe
To company, as honest men, and knaves,
Good-fellowes, Hypocrites, all sorts of people,
Though never so divided in themselves,
Have studied to agree still in the usage,
And handling of me (which hath beene faire too.)
Iro.
Sir I confesse you to be one well read
In men, and manners; and that, usually,
10
Rather subject themselves unto your censure,
Then give you least occasion of distaste,
By making you the subject of their mirth:
But (to deale plainely with you, as a brother)
When ever I distrust i'my owne valour:
Ile never beare me on anothers wit,
Or offer to bring off, or save my selfe
On the opinion of your Iudgement, gravitie,
Discretion, or what else. But (being away)
You'are sure to have lesse-wit-worke, gentle brother,
My humour being as stubborne, as the rest,
And as unmannageable.
Com.
You doe mistake
My Caract of your friendship, all this while!
Or at what rate I reckon your assistance
Knowing by long experience, to such Animals,
Halfe-hearted Creatures, as these are, your Foxe, there,
Vnkenneld with a Cholerick, ghastly aspect,
Or two or three comminatory Termes,
Would run their feares to any hole of shelter,
Worth a dayes laughter! I am for the sport:
For nothing else.
Iro.
But, brother, I ha' seene
A Coward, meeting with a man as valiant
As our St. George (not knowing him to be such,
Or having least opinion that hee was so)
Set to him roundly, I, and swindge him soundly:
And i'the vertue of that errour, having
Once overcome, resolv'd for ever after
To erre; and thinke no person, nor no creature
More valiant then himselfe.
Com.
I thinke that too.
But, Brother, (could I over intreat you)
I have some little plot upon the rest
If you would be contented, to endure
A sliding reprehension, at my hands,
To heare your selfe, or your profession glanc'd at
In a few sleighting termes: It would beget
Me such a maine Authority, o' the by:
And doe your selfe no dis-repute at all!
Iro.
Compasse, I know that universall causes
In nature produce nothing; but as meeting
Particular causes, to determine those,
And specifie their acts. This is a piece
Of Oxford Science, staies with me ere since
I left that place; and I have often found
The truth thereof, in my private passions:
For I doe never feele my selfe perturb'd
With any generall words 'gainst my profession,
Vnlesse by some smart stroke upon my selfe
They doe awake, and stirre me: Else, to wise
And well experienc'd men, words doe but signifie;
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Whose soules are nought, but a Syntaxis of them.
Com.
Here comes our Parson, Parson Palate here
A venerable youth! I must salute him,
And a great Clerke! hee's going to the Ladies,
And though you see him thus, without his Cope,
I dare assure you, hee's our Parish Pope!
God save my reverend Clergy, Parson Palate.
| The Magnetick Lady :or, Hvmors Reconcil'd | |