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Jonson, Ben, 1573-1637

"Cynthia's Revels"

Then, for your ladies, the most proud, witty
creatures, all things apprehending, nothing understanding,
perpetually laughing, curious maintainers of fools, mercers, and
minstrels, costly to be kept, miserably keeping, all disdaining but
their painter and apothecary, 'twixt whom and them there is this
reciprock commerce, their beauties maintain their painters, and
their painters their beauties.
MER. Sir, you have plaid the painter yourself, and limn'd them to
the life. I desire to deserve before them.
AMO. [RETURNING THE CERTIFICATE.] This is authentic. We must
resolve to entertain the monsieur, howsoever we neglect him.
HED. Come, let's all go together, and salute him.
ANA. Content, and not look on the other.
AMO. Well devised; and a most punishing disgrace.
HED. On.
AMO. Monsieur, we must not so much betray ourselves to
discourtship, as to suffer you to be longer unsaluted: please you
to use the state ordain'd for the opponent; in which nature,
without envy, we receive you.
HED. And embrace you.
ANA. And commend us to you, sir.
PHI. Believe it, he is a man of excellent silence.
PHA. He keeps all his wit for action.
ANA. This hath discountenanced our scholaris, most richly.


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