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Jonson, Ben, 1573-1637

"Cynthia's Revels"


PHA. Shame-faced, Moria! out upon him. Your shame-faced servant
is your only gull.
MOR. Go to, beauties, make much of time, and place, and occasion,
and opportunity, and favourites, and things that belong to them,
for I'll ensure you they will all relinquish; they cannot endure
above another year; I know it out of future experience; and
therefore take exhibition, and warning: I was once a reveller
myself, and though I speak it, as mine own trumpet, I was then
esteem'd --
PHI. The very march-pane of the court, I warrant you.
PHA. And all the gallants came about you like flies, did they not?
MOR. Go to, they did somewhat; that's no matter now.
PHA. Nay, good Moria, be not angry. Put case, that we four now
had the grant from Juno, to wish ourselves into what happy estate
we could, what would you wish to be, Moria?
MOR. Who, I! let me see now. I would wish to be a wise woman,
and know all the secrets of court, city, and country. I would know
what were done behind the arras, what upon the stairs, what in the
garden, what in the nymphs' chamber, what by barge, and what by
coach. I would tell you which courtier were scabbed and which not;
which lady had her own face to lie with her a-nights and which not;
who put off their teeth with their clothes in court, who their
hair, who their complexion; and in which box they put it.


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