University of Virginia Library

Scene VI.

To them.
Sir Diaphanous. Practise.
Com.
No; here they come! the prime Magnetick Guests
Our Lady Loadstone so respects: the Artick!
And th'Antartick! Sir Diaphanous Silke-worme!
A Courtier extraordinary; who by diet
Of meates, and drinkes; his temperate exercise;
Choise musick; frequent bathes; his horary shifts
Of Shirts and Wast-coats; meanes to immortalize
Mortality it selfe; and makes the essence
Of his whole happinesse the trim of Court.

Dia.
I thanke you Mr. Compasse, for your short
Encomiastick.

Rut.
It is much in little, Sir.

Pal.
Concise, and quick: the true stile of an Orator.

Com.
But Mr. Practise here, my Ladies Lawyer!
Or man of Law: (for that's the true writing)
A man so dedicate to his profession,
And the preferments goe along with it;
As scarce the thundring bruit of an invasion,
Another eighty eight, threatning his Countrey
With ruine; would no more worke upon him,
Then Syracusa's Sack, on Archimede:
So much he loves that Night-cap! the Bench-gowne!
With the broad Guard o'th back! These shew
A man betroth'd unto the study of our Lawes!

Pra.
Which you but thinke the crafty impositions,
Of subtile Clerks, feats of fine understanding,
To abuse Clots, and Clownes with, Mr. Compasse,
Having no ground in nature, to sustaine it
Or light, from those cleare causes: to the inquiry
And search of which, your Mathematicall head,
Hath so devow'd it selfe.

Com.
Tut, all men are
Philosophers, to their inches. There's within,
Sir Interest, as able a Philosopher,
In buying, and selling! has reduc'd his thrifte,
To certaine principles, and i'that method!
As hee will tell you instantly, by Logarythmes,
The utmost profit of a stock imployed:
(Be the Commoditie what it will) the place,
Or time, but causing very, very little,
Or, I may say, no paralaxe at all,
In his pecuniary observations!
He has brought your Neices portion with him, Madam;
At least the man that must receive it; Here
They come negotiating the affaire;
You may perceive the Contract in their faces;
And read th'indenture: If you'ld signe 'hem. So.