Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/229

BEN JONSON 213 himself, "with that same foolish vice of honesty." Ananias and Tribulation come to rescue the same things, which they have bought of Subtle for a hundred marks, as orphans' goods, and left with him for transmutation : Lovewit threatens to cudgel them out of the house, and they depart with anathema maranatha. Our Drugger comes, and is beaten out again. Kastril enters, dragging in his sister, and rating her in that refined style which was conserved by those staunchest of Conservatives, the country gentlemen, even till the time of Fielding and Squire Western. Lovewit confronts the puerile bully : — '■^ Love. Come, will you quarrel? I will feize [chastise] you, sirrah ; Why do you not buckle to your tools ? Kas. Od's light, This is a fine old boy as e'er I saw ! Love. What, do you change your copy now ? proceed, Here stands my dove : stoop at her if you dare. Kas. 'Slight, I must love him 1 I cannot choose, i' faith, An' I should be hanged for't ! Suster, I protest, I honour thee for this match. Love, O, do you so, sir ? Kas. Yes, an' thou canst take tobacco and drink, old boy, I'll give her five hundred pound more to her marriage. Than her own state. Love. Fill a pipe full, Jeremy. Face. Yes ; but go in and take it, sir. Love. We will ; I will be ruled by thee in everything, Jeremy. Kas. 'Slight, thou art not hide-bound, thou art a jovy boy I Come, let us in, I pray thee, and take our whiffs." Thus tobacco is vindicated at the close of the comedy, as, like your If, a great peace-maker. Oh that rich region of comedy ! Oh our poor work-a-day