Jam.
You sent for me?
Viol.
I did, and do’s
the favour,
Your present state considered
and my power,
Deserve no greater Ceremony?
Jam.
Ceremonie?
I use to pay that where
I owe a duty,
Not to my Brothers wife:
I cannot fawn,
If you expect it from
me, you are cozen’d,
And so farewel.
Viol.
He bears up still; I
like it.
Pray you a word.
Jam.
Yes, I will give you
hearing
On equal terms, and
sit by you as a friend,
But not stand as a Sutor:
Now your pleasure?
Viol.
You are very bold.
Jam.
’Tis fit:
since you are proud,
I was not made to feed
that foolish humour,
With flattery and observance.
Viol.
Yet, with your favour,
A little form joyn’d
with respect to her,
That can add to your
wants, or free you from ’em
(Nay raise you to a
fate, beyond your hopes)
Might well become your
wisdom.
Jam.
It would rather
Write me a Fool, should
I but only think
That any good to me
could flow from you,
Whom for so many years
I have found and prov’d
My greatest Enemy:
I am still the same,
My wants have not transform’d
me: I dare tell you,
To your new cerus’d
face, what I have spoken
Freely behind your back,
what I think of you,
You are the proudest
thing, and have the least
Reason to be so that
I ever read of.
In stature you are a
Giantess: and your Tailor
Takes measure of you
with a Jacobs Staff,
Or he can never reach
you, this by the way
For your large size:
now, in a word or two,
To treat of your Complexion
were decorum:
You are so far from
fair, I doubt your Mother
Was too familiar with
the Moor that serv’d her,
Your Limbs and Features
I pass briefly over,
As things not worth
description; and come roundly
To your Soul, if you
have any; for ’tis doubtful.
Viol. I
laugh at this, proceed.
Jam.
This Soul I speak of,
Or rather Salt to keep
this heap of flesh
From being a walking
stench, like a large Inn,
Stands open for the
entertainment of
All impious practices:
but there’s no Corner
An honest thought can
take up: and as it were not
Sufficient in your self
to comprehend
All wicked plots, you
have taught the Fool, my Brother,
By your contagion, almost
to put off
The nature of the man,
and turn’d him Devil,
Because he should be
like you, and I hope
Will march to Hell together: