He can't be brought (now he has spent his own)
To think there is inheritance, or means,

But all a common riches; all men bound
To be his bailiffs.

Mer. This is something dangerous.

Unc. No gentleman, that has estate, to use it

In keeping house or followers: for those ways
He cries against for eating sins, dull surfeits,
Cramming of serving-men, mustering of beggars,
Maintaining hospitals for kites and curs,

Grounding their fat faiths upon old country proverbs,
"God bless the founders." These he would have ventur'd
Into more manly uses, wit and carriage,

And never thinks of state or means, the groundworks,
Holding it monstrous, men should feed their bodies
Aud starve their understandings.

VALENTINE joins them.

Val. Now to your business, uncle.

Unc. To your state then.

Val. 'Tis gone, and I am glad on 't; name 't no more;
'Tis that I pray against, and Heaven has heard me.
I tell you, sir, I am more fearful of it

(I mean, of thinking of more lands and livings)
Than sickly men are o' travelling o' Sundays,
For being quell'd with carriers. Out upon it!
Caveat emptor; let the fool out-sweat it,
That thinks he has got a catch on't.

Unc. This is madness,

To be a wilful beggar.

Val. I am mad then,

And so I mean to be. Will that content you?
How bravely now I live! how jocund!

How near the first inheritance! without fears!

How free from title troubles!

Unc. And from means too!

Val. Means!

Quell'd with carriers.] Plagued to death with the people whom the circumstance brings around them?

2 Caveat emptor.] Let the purchaser beware.

Why, all good men's my means; my wit 's my plough,
The town's my stock, tavern's my standing-house
(And all the world know, there's no want): all gentle-
That love society, love me; all purses
[men,

That wit and pleasure open, are my tenants;
Every man's clothes fit me; the next fair lodging
Is but my next remove; and when I please

To be more eminent, and take the air,

A piece is levied, and a coach prepar'd,

And I go I care not whither. What need 's state here? Unc. But say these means were honest, will they last, sir? Val. Far longer than your jerkin, and wear fairer.

Your mind's enclos'd; nothing lies open nobly: Your very thoughts are hinds, that work on nothing But daily sweat and trouble. Were my way So full of dirt as this,-'tis true,-I'd shift it. Are my acquaintance graziers ?-But, sir, know, No man that I 'm allied to in my living, But makes it equal whether his own use Or my necessity pull first: nor is this forc'd, But the mere quality and poisure of goodness. And do you think I venture nothing equal? Unc. You pose me, cousin.

Val. What's my knowledge, uncle?

Is 't not worth money? What's my understanding?
Travel? reading? wit? all these digested? my daily
Making men, some to speak, that too much phlegm
Had frozen up; some, that spoke too much, to hold
Their peace, and put their tongues to pensions; some
To wear their clothes, and some to keep them: these
Are nothing, uncle? Besides these ways, to teach
The way of nature, a manly love, community
To all that are deservers, not examining

How much or what's done for them: it is wicked.
Are not these ways as honest as persecuting
The starv'd inheritance with musty corn
The very rats were fain to run away from?
Or selling rotten wood by the pound, like spices?
1 Of money.

2 Poisure.] Balance. Equipoise.

I tell you, sir, I would not change way with you
(Unless it were to sell your state that hour,
And if 't were possible, to spend it then too)

For all your beans in Rumnillo. Now you know me.

["The wit of Fletcher is excellent, like his serious scenes; but there is something strained and far-fetched in both. He is too mistrustful of Nature; he always goes a little on one side of her. Shakespeare chose her without a reserve; and had riches, power, understanding, and long life with her, for a dowry."-LAMB.

I have inserted these passages from Wit Without Money, because Lamb has put them in his Specimens ; otherwise Valentine, though amusing as a caricature, is ridiculous as a copy from life. As an hypothetical jester, letting his animal spirits run riot, he is very pleasant as well as witty; as an actual liver by his wits, which is the necessary dramatic supposition, he would soon have found all men his "bailiffs" in a very modern sense of the word.]

THE LITTLE FRENCH LAWYER.

AN EXTEMPORE DUELLIST.

LA WRIT, a lawyer, is pressed into being second in a duel.
SCENE-A Field outside one of the gates of Paris.
Enter CLEREMONT.

Cler. I am first i' th' field; that honour's gain'd of our side;
Pray Heaven, I may get off as honourably!
The hour is past; I wonder Dinant comes not:
This is the place; I cannot see him yet:
It is his quarrel too that brought me hither,
And I ne'er knew him yet but to his honour
A firm and worthy friend; yet I see nothing,
Nor horse, nor man.

'Twould vex me to be left here To the mercy of two swords, and two approv'd ones. I never knew him last.

Enter BEAUPRE and VERDONE.

Beau. You're well met, Cleremont.

Verdone. You're a fair gentleman, and love your friend, sir.

What, are you ready? The time has overta'en us.

Beau. And this, you know, the place.

Cler. No Dinant yet.

[Aside.

Beau. We come not now to argue, but to do:

We wait you, sir.

Cier. There's no time past yet, gentlemen;

We have day enough. Is 't possible he comes not?

You see I am ready here, and do but stay

Till my friend come!

"Twill not be long.

Verdone. We came to fight.

Walk but a turn or two;

Cer. Ye shall fight, gentlemen,

And fight enough: but a short turn or two!

[Aside.

I think I see him; set up your watch, we'll fight by it. Beau. That is not he; we will not be deluded.

Cier. (aside.) Am I bobb'd' thus ?-Pray take a pipe of tobacco,

Or sing but some new air; by that time, gentlemenVerdone. Come, draw your sword; you know the custom First come, first served.

Cler. Though it be held a custom,

And practised so, I do not hold it honest.

[here, sir;

What honour can you both win on me single ?

Beau. Yield up your sword then.

Cler. Yield my sword! that's Hebrew ;

I'll be first cut a-pieces.

Hold but a while,

I'll take the next that comes.

Enter an Old Gentleman.

You are an old gentleman ?

Gent. Yes, indeed am I, sir.
Cler. And wear no sword?

Gent. I need none, sir.

Cler. I would you did, and had one ;

I want now such a foolish courtesy.
You see these gentlemen ?

Gent. You want a second?

In good faith, sir, I was never handsome at it.

1 Bobb'd.] Bob is a word of unknown origin for a mocking trick. Or does it come from Bob-cherry, a play full of disappointments ?

2 Win on me single.] It was once the custom of duels in France for seconds as well as principals to fight; som etimes two seconds to one principal.

I would

you had
my son; but he's in Italy.
(Aside.) A proper gentleman! (To the other.) You may
do well, gallants,

If your quarrel be not capital, to have more mercy;
The gentleman may do his country——

Cler. Now I beseech you, sir,

If you daren't fight, don't stay to beg my pardon :
There lies your way.

Gent. Good morrow, gentlemen.

Verdone. You see your fortune;

You had better yield your sword.

Cler. 'Pray ye, stay a little;

Upon mine honesty, you shall be fought with.

Enter Two Gentlemen.

[Exit.

Well, Dinant, well!-These wear swords, and seem brave fellows.

As you are gentlemen, one of you supply me:

I want a second now, to meet these gallants;
You know what honour is.

1 Gent. Sir, you must pardon us:

We go about the same work you are ready for,

And must fight presently; else we were your servants. 2 Gent. God speed you, and good day! [Exeunt Gentlemen. Cler. Am I thus colted ?1

Beau. Come, either yield

Cler As you are honest gentlemen,

Stay but the next, and then I'll take my fortune;

And if I fight not like a man

Cold now and treacherous !

-Fy, Dinant! [Aside.

La Writ. (within.) I understand your causes,
Yours about corn, yours about pins and glasses-
Will ye
make me mad? have I not all the parcels ?
And his petition too, about bell-founding?
Send in your witnesses.-What will ye have me do?
Will you have me break my heart? my brains are
And tell your master, as I am a gentleman, [melted!
His cause shall be the first. Commend me to your mistress,

Colted.] Made a fool of;-treated like one young in horse-dealing (for so the term seems to have originated).