Just as your worship came here, of your worship:
I pray you speak for me to master doctor.

Face. He shall do anything. Doctor, do you hear?
This is my friend, Abel, an honest fellow;
He lets me have good tobacco, and he does not
Sophisticate it with sack-lees or oil,

Nor washes it in muscadel and grains,
Nor buries it in gravel, under ground,
Wrapped up in greasy leather, or pissed clouts:
But keeps it in fine lily pots, that, opened,
Smell like conserve of roses, or French beans.
He has his maple block, his silver tongs,

4

Winchester pipes, and fire of juniper:

A neat, spruce, honest fellow, and no goldsmith."
Sub. He is a fortunate fellow, that I am sure on.

Face. Already, sir, have you found it? Lo thee, Abel!
Sub. And in right way toward riches-

He will be of the clothing of his company,

7

6

And next spring called to the scarlet; spend what he can. Face. What, and so little beard?

Sub. Sir, you must think,

He may have a receipt to make hair come:

But he'll be wise, preserve his youth, and fine for't;

His fortune looks for him another way.

Face. 'Slid, doctor, how canst thou know this so soon? I am amused at that.

8

Sub. By a rule, captain,

In metoposcopy," which I do work by;

A certain star in the forehead, which you see not.

Your chestnut or your olive-coloured face

Does never fail: and your long ear doth promise.

I knew't, by certain spots, too, in his teeth,
And on the nail of his mercurial finger.

Face. Which finger's that?

Sub. His little finger. Look.

You were born upon a Wednesday?

Drug. Yes, indeed, sir.

Sub. The thumb, in chiromancy, we give Venus; The forefinger to Jove; the midst to Saturn;

The ring to Sol; the least to Mercury,

Who was the lord, sir, of his horoscope,

His house of life being Libra; which foreshowed

He should be a merchant, and should trade with balance. Face. Why, this is strange! Is it not, honest Nab? Sub. There is a ship now coming from Ormus, That shall yield him such a commodity

Of drugs- This is the west, and this the south? (Pointing to the plan)

Drug. Yes, sir.

Sub. And those are your two sides?

Drug. Ay, sir.

Sub. Make me your door then, south; your broad side,

west:

And on the east side of your shop, aloft,

Write Mathlai, Tarmiel, and Baraborat;

Upon the north part, Rael, Velel, Thiel.

They are the names of those Mercurial spirits
That do fright flies from boxes.

Drug. Yes, sir.

Sub. And

Beneath your threshold, bury me a loadstone
To draw in gallants that wear spurs: the rest,
They'll seem 10 to follow.

Face. That's a secret, Nab!

Sub. And, on your stall,11 a puppet, with a vice 12 And a court-fucus,13 to call city-dames:

You shall deal much with minerals.

Drug. Sir, I have

At home, already

Sub. Ay, I know you have arsenic,
Vitriol, sal-tartar, argaile,11 alkali,

Cinoper: 15 I know all.-This fellow, captain,
Will come, in time, to be a great distiller,
And give a say 16-I will not say directly,
But very fair-at the philosopher's stone.
Face. Why, how now, Abel! is this true?
Drug. Good captain,

What must I give? (Aside to FACE)

Face. Nay, I'll not counsel thee.

Thou hear'st what wealth (he says, spend what thou canst), Thou'rt like to come to.

Drug. I would gi' him a crown.

Face. A crown! and toward such a fortune? heart, Thou shalt rather gi' him thy shop. No gold about thee? Drug. Yes, I have a portague,17 I have kept this half

year.

Face. Out on thee, Nab! 'Slight, there was such an offer

Shalt keep't no longer, I'll give't him for thee. Doctor, Nab prays your worship to drink this, and swears

He will appear more grateful, as your skill

Does raise him in the world.

Drug. I would entreat. Another favour of his worship.

Face. What is❜t, Nab?

Drug. But to look over, sir, my almanack,18 And cross out my ill-days, that I may neither

Bargain, nor trust upon them.

Face. That he shall, Nab:

Leave it, it shall be done, 'gainst afternoon.

Sub. And a direction for his shelves.

Face. Now, Nab,

Art thou well pleased, Nab?

Drug. 'Thank, sir, both your worships.

From-ACT I, SCENE 3.

(Exit DRUGGER)

A

JOHN EARLE (1601-1665)

S Ben Jonson endeavored to portray the foibles of society

in his humour comedies, so John Earle tried to analyze the various types of the seventeenth century in his character essays. Earle was a churchman who was a true supporter of the Stuarts during the Civil War and Commonwealth. When he returned from exile with Charles II, he regained his position in the Church and became Bishop of Worcester and later of Salisbury.

His Microcosmography was published in 1628 and became immediately very popular. In later editions he added new character sketches until he brought the number to seventy-eight in the sixth edition (1633). Many of his characters were drawn from the university world (Merton College, Oxford) in which he lived when the book was written. Through his wit and insight he contrived to make these satiric sketches original in spite of the fact that he followed the model of the Greek writer, Theophrastus. He revealed the customs of his time and occasionally analyzed traits which are universal. A Young Gentleman of the University and A Shop-keeper show his keen and penetrating satire.

A YOUNG GENTLEMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY

Is one that comes there to wear a gown, and to say hereafter, he has been at the University. His Father sent him thither, because he heard there were the best Fencing and Dancing Schools; from these he had his Education, from his Tutor the over-sight. The first Element of his knowledge is to be shown the Colleges, and initiated in a Tavern by the way, which hereafter he will learn of himself. The two marks of his seniority is the bare Velvet of his gowns and his proficiency at Tennis, where when he can once play a Set, he is a Fresh-man no more. His study