上

Dramatis Personae.

COVENT GARDEN.

KITELY, a merchant,

Captain BOBADIL,

KNO'WELL, an old gentleman,
ED. KNO'WELL, his son,
BRAIN-WORM, the father's man,
Mr. STEPHEN, a country gull,
DOWNRIGHT, a plain squire,
WELL-BRED, his half brother,

Justice CLEMENT, an old merry magis-} Mr. Booth.

trate,

EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR.

ACT 1. SCENE I.

A Court-Yard before KNO'WELL's House. Enter KNO'WELL and BRAINWORM.

Kno'well.

A GOODLY day toward! and a fresh morning! Brain-worm,

Call up young master. Bid him rise, sir.

Tell him I have some business to employ him.

Bra. I will, sir, presently.

Kno. But hear you, sirrah.

If he be at his book, disturb him not.

Bra. Well, sir.

[Exit.

Kno. How happy, yet, should I esteem myself,

Could I, by any practice, wean the boy
From one vain course of study he affects.
He is a scholar, if a man may trust
The liberal voice of Fame in her report,
Of good account, in both our universities;
B

Either of which have favoured him with graces :
But their indulgence must not spring in me
A fond opinion, that he cannot err.
Myself was once a student; and, indeed,
Fed with the self-same humour, he is now,
Dreaming on nought but idle poetry,

That fruitless, and unprofitable art,

Good unto none, but least to the professors, Which, then, I thought the mistress of all knowledge:

But since time and the truth have wak'd my judg

ment,

And reason taught me better to distinguish

The vain from th' useful learnings→→→→→→

Enter Master STEPHEN.

Cousin Stephen!

What news with you, that you are here so early? Step. Nothing, but e'en come to see how you do, uncle.

▸ Kno. That's kindly done, you are welcome, coz. Step. Ay, I know that, sir, I would not ha' come else. How doth my cousin Edward, uncle?

Kno. O, well, coz, go in and see: I doubt he be scarce stirring yet.

Step. Uncle, afore I go in, can you tell me an’ he have e'er a book of the sciences of hawking and hunting? I would fain borrow it.

Kno. Why, I hope you will not a hawking now, will you?

Step. No wosse, but I'll practise against the next year, uncle. I have bought me a hawk, and a hood, and bells, and all; I lack nothing but a book to keep it by.

Kno. O, most ridiculous!

Step. Nay, look you now, you are angry, uncle. Why, you know, an' a man have not skill in the hawking and hunting languages now-a days, I'll not give a rush for him. They are more studied than the Greek, or the Latin. He is for no gallant's company without 'em. And by Gad's lid I scorn it, I, so I do, to be a consort for every hum-drum, hang 'em scroyls, there's nothing in 'em, i' the world. What do you talk on it? Because I dwell at Hogsden, I shall keep company with none but the archers of Finsbury! or the citizens, that come a ducking to Islington ponds! A fine jest i'faith! slid, a gentleman mun show himself like a gentleman. Uncle, I pray you be not angry. I know what I have to do, I trow, I am no novice.

Kno. You are a prodigal, absurd coxcomb: go to!
Nay, never look at me, it's I that speak.
Take't as you will, sir, I'll not flatter you.

Ha' you not yet found means enow to waste
That which your friends have left you, but you must
Go cast away your money on a kite,

And know not how to keep it when you've done?
O, it's comely! this will make you a gentleman!
Well, cousin, well! I see you are e'en past hope