there is
such a pudder with their marching and countermarching, as, though never
a one of them draw a sword, you would think they were training; which
till I found that they did it only to entertain strangers, I came from
among them as wise as I went thither But in the Parliament of Oceana you
had no balls nor dancing, but sober conversation; a man might know and
be known, show his parts, and improve them. And now if you take the
advice of this same fellow, you will spoil all with his whimsies. Mr.
Speaker--cry you mercy, my Lord Archon, I mean--set the wisest man of
your house in the great Council of Venice, and you will not know him
from a fool. Whereas nothing is more certain than that flat and dull
fellows in the judgment of all such as used to keep company with them
before, upon election into our house, have immediately chitted like
barley in the vat, where it acquires a new spirit, and flowed forth into
language, that I am as confident as I am here, if there were not such
as delight to abuse us, is far better than Tully's; or, let anybody but
translate one of his orations, and speak it in the house, and see if
everybody do not laugh at him.

"This is a great matter, Mr. Speaker; they do not cant it with your
book-learning, your orbs, your centres, your prime magnitudes, and your
nebulones, things I profess that would make a sober man run stark mad to
hear them; while we, who should be considering the honor of our country
and that it goes now or never upon our hand, whether it shall be
ridiculous to all the world, are going to nine-holes or trow madam for
our business, like your dumb Venetian, whom this same Sir Politic your
resident, that never saw him do anything but make faces, would insinuate
to you, at this distance, to have the only knack of state. Whereas if
you should take the pains, as I have done, to look a little nearer,
you would find these same wonderful things to be nothing else but mere
natural fopperies, or capriccios as they call them in Italian, even
of the meanest, of that nation. For, put the case you be travelling in
Italy, ask your contadino, that is, the next country-fellow you meet,
some question, and presently he ballots you an answer with a nod, which
is affirmative; or a shake with his head, which is the negative box; or
a shrug with his shoulder, which is the bossolo di non sinceri. Good!
You will admire Sandys for telling you, that grotta di cane is a
miracle: and I shall be laughed at,