 | The Elder Brother |  |
SCENA IV.
Enter Charles.Cha.
I have forgot to eat and sleep with reading, and all
my faculties turn into study; 'tis meat and sleep; what need
I outward garments, when I can cloath my self with understanding?
The Stars and glorious Planets have no Tailors,
yet ever new they are, and shine like Courtiers. The Seasons
of the year find no fond Parents, yet some are arm'd in silver
Ice that glisters, and some in gawdy Green come in
like Masquers. The Silk-worm spins her own suit and lodging,
and has no aid nor partner in her labours. Why
should we care for any thing but knowledge, or look upon
the World but to contemn it?
Enter Andrew.
And.
Would you have any thing?
Char.
Andrew, I find there is a flie grown o'er the Eye
o'th' Bull, which will go near to blind the Constellation.
And.
Put a Gold-ring in's nose, and that will cure him.
Char.
Ariadne's Crown's away too; two main Stars that
held it fast are slip out.
And.
Send it presently to Galateo, the Italian Star-wright,
he'll set it right again with little labour.
Char.
Thou art a pretty Scholar.
And.
I hope I shall be; have I swept Books so often to
know nothing?
Char.
I hear thou art married.
And.
It hath pleas'd your Father to match me to a Maid
of his own chusing; I doubt her Constellation's loose too,
and wants nailing; and a sweet Farm he has given us a mile
off, Sir.
Char.
Marry thy self to understanding, Andrew; these
Women are Errata in all Authors, they're fair to see to, and
bound up in Vellam, smooth, white and clear, but their
contents are monstrous; they treat of nothing but dull age
and diseases. Thou hast not so much wit in thy head, as there
is on those shelves, Andrew.
And.
I think I have not, Sir.
Char.
No, if thou had'st, thou'ld'st ne'er married:
Woman in thy bosom, they're Cataplasms made o'th' deadly
sins: I ne'er saw any yet but mine own Mother; or if I
did, I did regard them but as shadows that pass by of under
creatures.
And.
Shall I bring you one? I'le trust you with my own
Wife; I would not have your Brother go beyond ye; they're
the prettiest Natural Philosophers to play with.
Char.
No, no, they're Opticks to delude mens eyes with
Does my younger Brother speak any Greek yet, Andrew?
And.
No, but he speaks High Dutch, and that goes
daintily.
Char.
Reach me the Books down I read yesterday, and
of Brass I shew'd you, and set the great Sphere by;
then take the Fox tail, and purge the Books from dust; last,
take your Lilly, and get your part ready.
And.
Shall I go home, Sir? my Wife's name is Lilly,
there my best part lies, Sir.
Charles.
I mean your Grammar, O thou Dunderhead
would'st thou be ever in thy Wife's Syntaxis? Let me have
no noise, nor nothing to disturb me; I am to find a secret.
And.
So am I too; which if I find, I shall make some
smart for't—
[Exeunt.
| The Elder Brother | |