Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A35337
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Sir Salomon, or, The cautious coxcomb a comedy as it is acted at His Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre.
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Caryll, John, 1625-1711.; Molière, 1622-1673. Ecole des femmes.
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1671
(1671)
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Wing C746; ESTC R11614
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62,207
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104
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Sir Salomon OR THE Cautious Coxcomb A COMEDY As it is ACTED at His Royal Highness the Duke of York's THEATRE LONDON Printed for H. Herringman at the Blew Anchor in the Lower Walk of the New Exchange 1671. The Prologue YOu that frequent the Stage must needs allow The Sect of Poets their Fanaticks too How could so many else their Gifts impart In spight of Nature and in scorn of Art All tedious Methods we cut short and grow Poets and Saints by thinking we are so A strong Faith does the business and the place Of VVit supplies in those in these of Grace Their Muse and Spirit differ but in Name VVith equal Rage all but themselves they damn When either carries on the Work o th' Day 'T is a Stage-Sermon or a Pulpet-Play Both Trade in Lofty-Sounds and can Dispense VVith the Formalities of Wit and Sense The Stars at their Nativity did Reign VVith a Malignant Influence o're the Brain Leaving it dry and shrunck as Marrow-Bone Or Shell-fish dwindle in a waning-Moon And therefore our Fore-Fathers wisely said A perfect Poet was born such not made Nor is our Saint less Privileg'd by Birth For though some Virtuosi may hold forth That Eggs when first they drop are not laid addle Yet both our Twins came Gifted from the Cradle Their Brains are stumm'd and in a constant Huffe And what workes out is Froth and Humming Stuffe But we allow these Insects are not bred Alwayes from VVind and Hollowness i th' Head Sometimes an empty-stomach does infuse The Canting-spirit and the scribling-Muse And thus some sharply VVrite for a Third Day And some for Sundayes-Pudding Preach and Pray But when we Preachers name those who contemn The Laws we mean and whom the Laws condemn And when we talke of Poets only they Of his low Forme are meant who vamp'd this Play VVhich wants of Gyant-VVit the brawny-strength And is but Punchinello drawn at length The Persons SIr Salomon Single Mr. Single his Son Mr. VVoodland Mr. Peregreen his Son Mr. VVary Mr. Barter an Indy-Merchant Sir Arthur Addell Mrs. Iulia Daughter to Wary. Mrs. Betty Daughter to Barter Timothy Sir Salomon's Steward Ralph Allice Servants of Sir Salomon and Attendants on Mrs. Betty 2 Foot boyes Constable and VVatch Roger Wary's Man Harry Woodland 's Man A Nurse The SCENE LONDON Sir Salomon OR THE CAUTIOUS COXCOMB A COMEDY The First Act. Enter Sir Salomon Single and Timothy his Servant Sir Salom. TImothy Timot. Sir Sir Salo. Are the Writings ingrost and ready for Sealing Timot. Yes Sir just now I saw the Wax clapt on Sir Salo. 'T is well But prethee tell me What said my Lawyer to this settlement of my Estate Timot. In troth I fear your Worship will be displeas'd should I tell you his sense of it Sir Salo. No no I love to hear Fooles spend their Grave Fopperies 'T is the divertisement of my life to laugh at their Folly Timot. Truly Sir he seems to be of opinion that your settlement is not good in Law Sir Salo. How not good in Law That 's pleasant when he himself drew up the Writings Timot. The defect lies not in them I only speak his words but in your Worship For sayes he it will be strongly presum'd that whenever you Seal such a Conveyance you are not Compos Mentis you understand me Sir It being impossible that any man in his right Sences should throw away his whole Fortune upon an unknown Woman who by all signs and tokens will be deem'd no better then your Concubine and at the same time disinherit an only Son who has so fair an esteem in the World Sir Salo. Let the Fool please himself with his Scrupulous Fancies Timothy there was a necessity of this Fellows Suspition and Wonder For had I nam'd her in the Deed as my Wife and exprest a consideration of Marriage my whole Design might have taken vent and so miscarry'd For 't were unreasonable to expect that a Lawyer whose Trade is Talking should keep silence And should my cast-off Son have smelt the design his Wants and Despair would have left no stone unmov'd to disappoint it Besides in setling my Estate on her I run no hazard of prejudicing my self For when I Seal the Writings I 'le Seal her too for my Wife And then if we have Children Timot. That is when your Worship has Seal'd and she 's deliver'd Sir Salo. No quibling good Timothy Then I say who but they should inherit my Estate If we have none at least my Rebel Son is out o' dores and she who has my Heart has my Estate Timot. I must confess the secret Conduct of this Design is very admirable For Sir I think she her self who to morrow must be your Lady is hitherto no less kept in ignorance both of your Name and Quality then all the rest of your nearest Servants and Relations are of her Person and your resolution to Marry her Sir Salo. O Timothy The Art of Secrecy is the Secret of the World 'T is the Rudder that silently governs the whole Bulk of Human affairs A Secret well kept like Powder close ramm'd does certain execution when ever you give Fire with a just aime Therefore have I kept and educated this tender Virgin in so private and remote a Quarter of the Town Therefore have I disguis'd my Person under a borrow'd name to her and those Servants I plac'd about her that it should not be in the power of any body to acquaint the World with my Design Timot. But with your Worships leave I am afraid the World will judge hardly of you for abandoning thus your only Son and making him an utter stranger to your Blood and Estate Sir Salo. The World 's an Ass and so is doubly he Who incommodes himself to humour fools Timot. But Nature Sir Sir Salo. Nature What 's that 'T is the blind side of our Reason the soft place in our Souls Children owe all to Parents but there lies no Obligation on the Parents side on if there did when Sons Rebellious prove those Bonds are Cancell'd Timot. I must not doubt your Justice But Sir 't is your misfortune to treat him ill of whom the World speaks well Sir Salom. Who Courts Opinion is a Slave to Slaves And gives up Liberty and Happiness To be controld by every idle Breath Let my young Master cramm himself and swell With the Worlds empty Praise 'T will do him just as much good as the vain Reproches of loose Tongues will do me hurt Timothy call in all my Servants for now I intend to publish my Wedding that they Timothy whisles may accordingly know their duty Enter Servants 1 Servant Sir my young Master came this morning Sir Salom. laying his Man over the pate Slave your young Master Am I grown old Or have you any Master but my self All you that eate my Bread this warning take That he who was my Son is no more so And Who dares own the Person I discard In place of