FAL. Not I, in good faith -- and he has a body like an angel!
[ASIDE.

FUNG. How long is't since he went?

FAL. Why, but e'en now; did you not meet him? -- and a tongue able to
ravish any woman in the earth.
[ASIDE.

FUNG. O, for God's sake -- I'll please you for your pains, [TO HIS
TAILOR.] -- But e'en now, say you? Come, good sir: 'slid, I had forgot it
too: if any body ask for mine uncle Sogliardo, they shall have him at the
herald's office yonder, by Paul's
[EXIT WITH HIS TAILOR.

FAL. Well, I will not altogether despair: I have heard of a citizen's
wife has been beloved of a courtier; and why not I? heigh, ho! well, I
will into my private chamber, lock the door to me, and think over all his
good parts one after another.
[EXIT.

MIT. Well, I doubt, this last scene will endure some grievous torture.

COR. How? you fear 'twill be rack'd by some hard construction?

MIT. Do not you?

COR. No, in good faith: unless mine eyes could light me beyond sense. I
see no reason why this should be more liable to the rack than the rest:
you'll say, perhaps, the city will not take it well that the merchant is
made here to doat so perfectly upon his wife; and she again to be so
'Fastidiously' affected as she is.

MIT. You have utter'd my thought, sir, indeed.

COR. Why, by that proportion, the court might as well take offence at him
we call the courtier, and with much more pretext, by how much the place
transcends, and goes before in dignity and virtue: but can you imagine
that any noble or true spirit in court, whose sinewy and altogether
unaffected graces, very worthily express him a courtier, will make any
exception at the opening of such as empty trunk as this Brisk is? or think
his own worth impeached, by beholding his motley inside?

MIT. No, sir, I do not.

COR. No more, assure you, will any grave, wise citizen, or modest matron,
take the object of this folly in Deliro and his wife; but rather apply it
as the foil to their own virtues. For that were to affirm, that a man
writing of Nero, should mean all emperors; or speaking of Machiavel,
comprehend all statesmen; or in our Sordido, all farmers; and so of the
rest: than which nothing can be uttered more malicious or absurd. Indeed
there are a sort of these narrow-eyed decypherers, I confess, that will
extort strange