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Pol. Yes, sir; the spider and the bee, Suck from one flower.

Per. Good sir Politick,

I cry you mercy; I have heard much of you: "Tis true, sir, of your raven.

Pol. On your knowledge? [the tower'. Per. Yes, and your lion's whelping in Pol. Another whelp!

[wick!

Per. Another, sir. Pol. Now heaven! What prodigies be these? The fires at BerAnd the new star! these things concurring, strange!

And full of omen! saw you those meteors ? 'Per. I did, sir.

Pol. Fearful! Pray you, sir, confirm me,
Were there three porpoises seen above the
As they give out?
[bridge,

Per. Six, and a sturgeon, sir.'
Pol. I am astonish'd.

Per. Nay, sir, be not so*; I'll tell you a greater prodigy than these Pol. What should these things portend! Per. The very day [don, (Let me be sure) that I put forth from LonThere was a whale discover'd in the river, As high as Woolwich, that had waited there (Few know how many months) for the subOf the Stode fleet. [version

Pol. Is't possible? believe it, [dukes! 'Twas either sent from Spain, or the archSpinola's whale, upon my life, my credit ! Will they not leave these projects? Worthy Some other news. [sir,

Per. Faith, Stone the fool is dead, And they do lack a tavern-fool extremely. Pol. Is Mass' Stone dead?

Per. He's dead, sir; why? I hope, You thought him not immortal? O, this knight [thing (Were he well known) would be a precious To fit our English stage: he that should [feign But such a fellow, should be thought to Extremely, if not maliciously.

write

Pol. Stone dead! [you apprehend it ? Per. Dead. Lord! how deeply, sir, He was no kinsman to you?

Pol. That I know of. [fool. Well! that same fellow was an unknown Per. And yet you knew him, it seems? Pol. I did so. Sir,

[heads I knew him one of the most dangerous Living within the state, and so I held him. Per. Indeed, sir?

Pol. While he liv'd, in action. He has receiv'd weekly intelligence, Upon my knowledge, out of the Low Countries,

(For all parts of the world) in cabbages'; And those dispens'd again to ambassadors, In oranges, musk-melons, apricots, Limons, pomecitrons, and such-like; sometimes,

In Colchester oysters, and your Selsey

cockles.

Per. You make me wonder!

Pol. Sir, upon my knowledge. Nay, I've observ'd him, at your public ordinary,

Take his advertisement from a traveller

2 Pol. Marry, sir, of a raven that should build In a ship-royal of the king's.] Dr. Grey swallows that built in Cleopatra's admiral-ship. Shakspeare's Antony and Cleopatra, act iv. sc. 8.

thinks this is probably an allusion to the See Life of Antony, by Plutarch; and

Yes, and your lion's whelping in the tower.] Alluding to the lioness, which brought forth a young lion in the tower, 5th August, 1604.-Dr. GREY.

Were there three porpoises seen above the bridge,

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As they give out?

Per. Nay, sir, be not so.] Be not what? The old books will tell us, which supply the passage that is wanting:

Per. Six and a sturgeon, sir.

"Pol. I am astonish'd. Per. Nay, sir, be not so."

There was a whale discover'd in the river,

As high as Woolwich.] This is mentioned by Stow, as happening in January, 1605.— Dr. GREY.

For the Stode-fleet, we should now perhaps say, the Hamburg-fleet. Stode is about 20 miles distant from Hamburg, on the other side the Elbe.

"He has receiv'd weekly intelligence.

Out of the Low Countries, in CABBAGES.] This is not an expression thrown out at random, or by chance. Cabbages were not originally the natural growth of England; but about this time they were sent to us from Holland, and so became the product of our kitchengardens. I mention this circumstance, trifling as it seems, because it serves to point out that propriety and decorum, which so strongly mark the character of Jonson.

(A conceal'd statesman) in a trencher of
meat;

And instantly, before the meal was done,
Convey an answer in a tooth-pick.
Per. Strange!

How could this be, sir?

Pol. Why, the meat was cut

So like his character, and so laid, as he
Must easily read the cypher.

Per. I have heard,

He could not read, sir.

Pol. So 'twas given out

(In politic) by those that did employ him:
But he could read, and had your languages,
And to't as sound a noddle
[they were

Per. I have heard, sir,
That your Baboons were spies, and that
A kind of subtle nation near to China.

Pol. I, I, your Mamaluchi. Faith, they

had

[they
Their hand in a French plot or two; but
Were so extremely given to women, as
They made discovery of all: yet I
Had my advices here (on Wednesday last)
From one of their own coat, they were re-
turn'd,

Made their relations, (as the fashion is)
And now stand fair for fresh employment.
Per. 'Heart!

This sir Pol. will be ignorant of nothing.
It seems, sir, you know all ?

Pol. Not all, sir: but

I have some general notions: I do love
To note, and to observe; though I live out
Free from the active torrent, yet I'ld mark
The currents and the passages of things,
For mine own private use; and know the
And flows of state.

Per. Believe it, sir, I hold
Myself in no sinall tie unto my fortunes,

[ebbs

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7 Which he, that CRY'D Italian to me, taught me.] I doubt the truth of cry'd; if chiamare had been used in the sense of indottrinare, I should have liked it much, but it is not so. What if we should alter it then to,

"He that read Italian to me."-Mr. SYMPSON. The same correction stands in the margin of Mr. Theobald's copy; but if the reader does not acquiesce in the conjecture of these learned gentlemen, we may imagine the expression was humorously designed, to intimate the tone, or whining manner of the teacher. Amongst the old Romans, the proper tuning and measuring the words, was usually taught to children by their first masters; and this first reading Macrobius calls by the name of singing: Videris enim mihi ita adhuc Virgilianos habere versus, qualiter eos pueri, magistris prælegentibus, canebamus.-SATURNAL. 1. 1. c. 24.

I think it therefore not improbable, that the poet here intended the pedant's manner in teaching his scholar the proper accent.

Fellows of out-side, and mere bark.] This is a Greek phrase; how♪ns ò avne, Long.

sect. 3.

Fellows, to MOUNT a BANK.] Plainly alluding to the etymology of a mountebank: Ital. montar in banco. So presently, "I who was wont to fix my bank in face of the public piazza, &c."-This whole episode of sir Politick Would-be never did, nor ever can please. He seems to be brought in merely to lengthen out the play. Perhaps too 'tis particular satire.-Mr. UPTON.

I cannot help thinking this episode to be rather an excrescence than a beauty, as it has no sort of connection with the rest of the play: yet the character is not destitute of humour, and possibly might be intended for some particular person. However, it exposes with great life the taste of that state-intriguing age, in which it was easier to find a politician, than a

man.

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The only languag'd men of all the world! Per. And, I have heard, they are most lewd impostors; [belyers Made all of terms and shreds; no less Of great men's favours, than their own vile med'cines;

Which they will utter upon monstrous oaths; Selling that drug for two-pence, ere they [before.

part, Which they have valu'd at twelve crowns Pol. Sir, calumnies are answer'd best with [friends?

silence.

Yourself shall judge. Who is it mounts, my Mos. Scoto of Mantua, sir. Pol. Is't he? Nay, then, I'll proudly promise, sir, you shall behold Another man than has been phant'sied to you. [bank,

I wonder yet, that he should mount his Here in this nook, that has been wont t' appear

In face of the Piazza! Here he comes.
Volp. Mount, Zany.

Gre. Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Pol. See how the people follow him! he's
[Note,

a man

May write ten thousand crowns in bank here. Mark but his gesture: I do use to observe The state he keeps in getting up!

Per. 'Tis worth it, sir.

Volp. "Most noble gentlemen, and my "worthy patrons, it may seem strange, that "I, your Scoto Mantuano, who was ever "wont to fix my bank in face of the public "Piazza, near the shelter of the Portico to "the Procuratia, should now, after eight "months absence from this illustrious city "of Venice, humbly retire myself into an "obscure nook of the Piazza.”

Pol. Did not I now object the same?
Per. Peace, sir.

Volp. "Let me tell you: I am not (as "your Lombard proverb saith) cold on my "feet; or content to part with my commo"dities at a cheaper rate, than I accustom"ed: look not for it. Nor that the calum"nious reports of that impudent detractor, " and shame to our profession, (Alessandro "Buttone, I mean) who gave out, in public, "I was condemned a' Sforzato to the galleys, for poisoning the cardinal Bembo's

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Volp. I protest, I, and my six servants, "are not able to make of this precious "liquor, so fast as it is fetch'd away from my "lodging by gentlemen of your city; "strangers of the Terrafirma; worshipful "merchants; I, and senators too: who, "ever since my arrival, have detained me "to their uses, by their splendidous libera"lities. And worthily. For, what avails

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your rich man to have his magazines stuft "with moscadelli, or of the purest grape, "when his physicians prescribe him (on "pain of death) to drink nothing but water "cocted with aniseeds? O, health! health! "the blessing of the rich! the riches of the poor! who can buy thee at too dear a rate, since there is no enjoying this world "without thee? Be not then so sparing of your purses, honourable gentlemen, as to "abridge the natural course of lite

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66 cook, hath at all attached, much less "dejected me. No, no, worthy gentlemen,

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10 These turdy-facy-nasty-paty-lousy-fartical rogues.] Volpone personates a mountebank, in order to get the sight and speech of Corvino's wife: he accordingly makes an oration, in imitation of these quacks, under her window. Our poet has here put into his mouth a long compounded word, after the manner of Aristophanes, who has many of the like kind to banter the dithyrambic poets.—Mr. UPTON.

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Per. I would he had put in dry too. Pol. 'Pray you, observe.

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Volp. To fortify the most indigent and "crude stomach, I, were it of one that "(through extreme weakness) vomited "blood, applying only a warm napkin to "the place, after the unction and fricace; "for the vertigine in the head, putting but "a drop into your nostrils, likewise behind "the ears; a most sovereign and approved "remedy: the mal caduco, cramps, con"vulsions, paralysies, epilepsies, tremor"cordia, retired nerves, ill vapours of the "spleen, stopping of the liver, the stone, "the strangury, hernia ventosa, iliaca pas"sio; stops a dysenteria immediately "easeth the torsion of the small guts; and "cures melancholia hypochondriaca, be"ing taken and applied, according to my "printed receipt. [Pointing to his bill and "his glass.] For, this is the physician, this "the medicine; this counsels, this cures; "this gives the direction, this works the ef"fect: and (in sum) both together may be "term'd an abstract of the theorick and "practick in the Esculapian art. Twill "cost you eight crowns. And, Zan Fritada, "pr'y thee sing a verse extempore in ho"nour of it."

Pol. How do you like him, sir?
Per. Most strangely, I!

Pol. Is not his language rare?

Per. But Alchimy,

[books".

I never heard the like: or Broughton's

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"Ne, had been known, the Danish Gonswart,

"Or Paracelsus, with his long sword."

Per. All this, yet, will not do; eight crowns is high.

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Volp. "No more. Gentlemen, if I had "but time to discourse to you the miracu "lous effects of this my oil, surnamed Oglio "del Scoto; with the countless catalogue "of those I have cured of th' aforesaid, and many more diseases; the patents and pri vileges of all the princes and common"wealths of Christendom; or but the depositions of those that appear'd on my part, before the signiory of the Sanita, and "most learned College of Physicians; "where I was authorized, upon notice taken "of the admirable virtues of my medicaments, and mine own excellency, in mat"ter of rare and unknown secrets, not only "to disperse them publicly in this famous city, but in all the territories, that happily joy under the government of the most pious and magnificent states of Italy, But may some other gallant fellow say, O, "there be divers that make profession to "have as good, and as experimented re"ceipts as yours: indeed, very many have

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assay'd, like apes in imitation of that, "which is really and essentially in me, to "make of this oil; bestow'd great cost in

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furnaces, stills, alembecks, continual fires, "and preparation of the ingredients, (as in"deed there goes to it six hundred several "simples, besides some quantity of human "fat, for the conglutination, which we buy "of the anatomists); but, when these practi"tioners come to the last decoction, blow, "blow, puff, puff, and all flies in fumo: ha, "ha, ha. Poor wretches! I rather pity their "folly and indiscretion, than their loss of "time and money; for these may be reco"vered by industry: but to be a fool born, " is a disease incurable. For myself, I always from my youth have endeavour'd to "get the rarest secrets, and book them, "either in exchange or for money: "spared nor cost nor labour, where any "thing was worthy to be learned. And, gentlemen, honourable gentlemen, I will "undertake (by virtue of chymical art) out "of the honourable hat that covers your "head, to extract the four elements; that "is to say, the fire, air, water, and earth, "and return you your felt without burn or "stain. For, whilst others have been at the "Balloo, I have been at my book; and am "now past the craggy paths of study, and

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"Or BROUGHTON's books.] We shall have occasion to give some account of this Broughton in a note on the Alchemist. Raymond Lullie, who is afterwards mentioned in the song, was a famous Hermetic philosopher; and Paracelsus is well known; but having no acquaintance with the Danish Gonswart, I cannot give the reader his history.

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Pot. I do assure you, sir, that is his aim. Volp. But, to cur price."

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Per And that withal, sir Pol.

Volp. "You all know (honourable gen"tlemen) I never valu'd this ampulla, or vial, at less than eight crowns; but for "this time, I am content to be depriv'd of "it for six; six crowns is the price; and "less in courtesie I know you cannot offer me: take it or leave it, how soever, both "it and I am at your service. I ask you "net as the value of the thing, tor then I "should demand of you a thousand crowns,

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so the cardinals Montalto, Fernese, the "great duke of Tus any, my gossip, with "divers other princes have given me; but "I despise money: only to shew my affec"tion to you, honourable gentlemen, and your illustrious state here, I have neglected the messages of these princes, "mine own offices, tram'd my journey hi"ther, only to present you with the fruits of my travels. Tune your voices once more "to the touch of your instruments, and give "the honourable assembly some delightful "recreation."

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Volp. Well, I am in a humour (at this "time) to make a present of the small

quantity my coffer contains: to the rich "in courtesie, and to the poor for God's "sake. Wherefore now mark; I ask'd you "six crowns; and six crowns, at other times, "you have paid me; you shall not give me "six crowns, nor five, nor tour, nor three, "nor two, nor one; nor half a ducat; no, "nor a muccinigo". Six-pence it will cost

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you, or six hundred pound-expect no "lower price, for by the banner of my front, "I will not bate a Bagatine, that I will have "only a pledge of your loves, to carry "something from amongst you, to shew, I "am not contemn'd by you. Therefore, now, toss your handkerchiefs, chearfully, chearfully; and be advertised, that the "first heroic spirit, that deigns to grace me "with a handkerchief, I will give it a little "remembrance of something, beside, shall "please it better, than if I had presented it "with a double pistolet."

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Per. Will you be that heroic spark, sir

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Volp. "Lady, I kiss your bounty; and "for this timely grace you have done your poor Scoto of Mantua, I will return you over and above my oil, a secret of that high and inestimable nature, shall make you for ever enamour'd on that minute, "wherein your eye first descended on so "mean (yet not altogether to be despis'd)

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an object. Here is a powder conceal'd in "this paper, of which, if I should speak to "the worth, nine thousand volumes were "but as one page, that page as a line, that "line as a word; so short is this pilgrimage "of man (which some call life) to the expressing of it. Would I reflect on the price why, the whole world is but as an empire, that empire as a province, that province as a bank, that bank as a private purse to the purchase of it. I will only "tell you; it is the powder that made Ve"nus a goddess (given her by Apollo), that kept her perpetually young, clear'd her "wrinkles, firm'd her gums, fill'd her skin, "colour'd her hair; from her, deriv'd to Helen, and at the sack of Troy (unfortunately) lost: till now, in this our age, it "was as happily recovered, by a studious antiquary, out of some ruins of Asia, who sent a mo ety of it to the court of France (but much sophisticated) wherewith the "ladies there, now, colour their hair. The "rest (at this present) remains with me; "extracted to a quintessence: so that, "wherever it but touches, in youth it per

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12 And am now AT the craggy paths of study, and come to the flowery plains of honour.] Read, am now past the craggy paths of study.

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Is here to get some three or four GAZETS?] A gazet was a small Venetian coin: and as this was the usual price given for the news-papers, the name of the coin was afterwards transferred to be the name of the news-paper itself.

14. Here's a med'cine for the NONES.] Or Nonce; for that very purpose.

15 No, nor a MUCCINIGO.] Muccinigo, or mocenigo, is a small Venetian coin.

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