something imperfect in favouring the first com-
plaint; hasty and tinder-like upon too: trivial 56
motion; one that converses more with the but-
tock of the night than with the forehead of the
morning. What I think I utter, and spend my
malice in my breath. Meeting two such weals- 60
men as you are,—I cannot call you Lycurguses,
—if the drink you give me touch my palate
adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I cannot
say your worships have delivered the matter 64
well when I find the ass in compound with the
major part of your syllables; and though I
must be content to bear with those that say you
are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that 68
tell you have good faces. If you see this in the
map of my microcosm, follows it that I am
known well enough too? What harm can your
bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, 72
if I be known well enough too?
Bru. Come, sir, come, we know you well
enough.
Men. You know neither me, yourselves, nor 76
anything. You are ambitious for poor knaves'
caps and legs: you wear out a good wholesome
forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange-
wife and a fosset-seller, and then rejourn the 80
controversy of three-pence to a second day of
55 something . . . complaint: somewhat hasty in judgment
57 motion: occasion, incitement
57–59 one . . . morning; cf. n.
59, 60 spend . . . breath: get rid of my ill will by putting it into words
60 wealsmen: politicians
61 Lycurguses: great lawgivers
63–66 I cannot . . . syllables; cf. n.
70 map . . . microcosm; cf. n.
72 bisson conspectuities: blinded sight; cf. n.
78 caps and legs: applause and reverence
79 orange-wife: hawker of oranges
80 fosset-seller: seller of faucets, taps for barrels
rejourn: postpone
