hath great power, Grimalkin prate.»>-At noon I drink for thirst, at night | Do I affect the favours of the court. for fellowship, but, above all, I love to usher in the I would be great, for greatness bashful morning under the auspices of a freshening And that's the fruit I reach at.stoup of liquor. (Sings) « Ale in a Saxon rumkin then Great spirits ask great play-room. Who could sit, makes valour burgeon in tall men.»-But, I crave par- With these prophetic swellings in my breast, don. I fear I keep that gentleman from serious That prick and goad me on, and never cease, thoughts. There be those that wait for me in the cellar. To the fortunes something tells me I was born to? Who, with such monitors within to stir him, Would sit him down, with lazy arms across, A unit, a thing without a name in the state, A something to be govern'd, not to govern, A fishing, hawking, hunting, country gentleman? Who are they? WOODVIL. DRUNKEN MAN. Gentlemen, my good friends, Cleveland, Delaval, and Truby. I know by this time they are all clamorous for [Exit, singing. me. WOODVIL. [Exit. All hot, and young, court-seekers, like himself, [Exit LovEL. My life upon his faith and noble mind, Now universal England getteth drunk SIMON. I never thought but nobly of my brother, With which she jingling goes through all her towns and In riotous living, graceless society, villages. The baffled factions in their houses sculk: They and their dreams have ended. Fools do sing, Some shallow mouths cry out, that I am smit Nor yet to be seen whispering with some great one, And mirth unpalatable, hours better employ'd SIR WALTER. I would not owe my life to a jealous court, SIMON. And John has ta'en you, father, at your word, Only the dangerous errors, fond conceits, As, namely, riches, honors, birth, place, courtesy, Soul-killing lies, and truths that work small good, (MARGARET enters in boy's apparel.) You, that are read SIR WALTER. So deeply in our story, what are you? Ye have handsome English faces, She fears to ask it, You to the sweet society of your equals, Not many; some few, as thus:- Like some hot amourist with glowing eyes, Where the world's fashion smiles on youth and beauty. Go eddying round; and small birds, how they fare, MARGARET. When mother Autumn fills their beaks with corn, Where young men's flatteries cozen young maids' Filch'd from the careless Amalthea's horn; beauty, And how the woods berries and worms provide To view the graceful deer come tripping by, To mark the structure of a plant or tree, And all fair things of earth, how fair they be. MARGARET (smiling). And afterwards them paint in simile. SIR WALTER. Mistress Margaret will have need of some refreshment. Please you, we have some poor viands within. MARGARET. Indeed I stand in need of them. SIR WALTER. Under the shade of a thick-spreading tree, Upon the grass, no better carpeting, To seek some safe night-lodging in the town, SIMON. Allons, young Frenchman For more devotion, to be sure.—(To a servant). Sirrah, fetch the gilt goblets. [The goblets are brought. They drink the king's health, kneeling. A shout of general approbation following the first appearance of the go blets. JOHN. We have here the unchecked virtues of the grape. How the vapours curl upwards! It were a life of gods to dwell in such an element: to see, and hear, and talk brave things. Now fie upon these casual potations. That a man's most exalted reason should depend upon the ignoble fermenting of a fruit, which sparrows pluck at as well as we! GRAY (aside to Lovel). Observe how he is ravished. LOVEL. Vanity and gay thoughts of wine do meet in him and engender madness. [While the rest are engaged in a wild kind of talk, John advances to the front of the stage and soliloquizes. JOHN. My spirits turn to fire, they mount so fast. I am too hot now and o'ercapable, For the tedious processes, and creeping wisdom, Of human acts, and enterprises of a man. I want some seasonings of adversity, To take these swellings down, divines call vanity. FIRST GENTLEMAN. Mr Woodvil, Mr Woodvil. SECOND GENTLEMAN. Where is Woodvil? GRAY. What be they? LOVEL. The work of London artists, which our host has provided in honour of this day. SECOND GENTLEMAN. 'Sdeath, who would part with his wine for a rocket? LOVEL. Why truly, gentlemen, as our kind host has been at the pains to provide this spectacle, we can do no less than be present at it. It will not take up much time. Every man may return fresh and thirsting to his liquor. THIRD GENTLEMAN. There is reason in what he says. SECOND GENTLEMAN. Charge on then, bottle in hand. There 's husbandry in that. [They go out, singing. Only Lovel remains, who observes Woodvil. JOHN (still talking to himself). This Lovel here's of a tough honesty, Would put the rack to the proof. He is not of that sort, Which haunt my house, snorting the liquors, And when their wisdoms are afloat with wine, Spend vows as fast as vapours, which go off Even with the fumes, their fathers. He is one, Whose sober morning actions Shame not his o'ernight's promises; Talks little, flatters less, and makes no promises; Why should I fear this man? Where is the company gone? LOVEL. [Seeing LOVEL. To see the fire-works, where you will be expected to follow. But I perceive you are better engaged. JOHN. I have been meditating this half-hour May lawfully forswear himself for his friend; LOVEL. Let him alone. I have seen him in these lunes before. I think many men would die for their friends. His abstractions must not taint the good mirth. |