Every Man out of His Humour Part 9

SOG. List, list, they are come from hunting; stand by, close under this terras, and you shall see it done better than I can show it.

CAR. So it had need, 'twill scarce poise the observation else.

SOG. Faith, I remember all, but the manner of it is quite out of my head.

FAST. O, withdraw, withdraw, it cannot be but a most pleasing object.

[THEY STAND ASIDE.

ENTER PUNTARVOLO, FOLLOWED BY HIS HUNTSMAN LEADING A GREYHOUND.

PUNT. Forester, give wind to thy horn. -- Enough; by this the sound hath touch'd the ears of the inclos'd: depart, leave the dog, and take with thee what thou has deserved, the horn and thanks.

[EXIT HUNTSMAN.

CAR. Ay, marry, there is some taste in this.

FAST. Is't not good?

SOG. Ah, peace; now above, now above!

[A WAITING-GENTLEWOMAN APPEARS AT THE WINDOW.

PUNT. Stay; mine eye hath, on the instant, through the bounty of the window, received the form of a nymph. I will step forward three paces; of the which, I will barely retire one; and, after some little flexure of the knee, with an erected grace salute her; one, two, and three! Sweet lady, G.o.d save you!

GENT. [ABOVE.] No, forsooth; I am but the waiting-gentlewoman.

CAR. He knew that before.

PUNT. Pardon me: 'humanum est errare'.

CAR. He learn'd that of his chaplain.

PUNT. To the perfection of compliment (which is the dial of the thought, and guided by the sun of your beauties,) are required these three specials; the gnomon, the puntilios, and the superficies: the superficies is that we call place; the puntilios, circ.u.mstance; and the gnomon, ceremony; in either of which, for a stranger to err, 'tis easy and facile; and such am I.

CAR. True, not knowing her horizon, he must needs err; which I fear he knows too well.

PUNT. What call you the lord of the castle, sweet face?

GENT. [ABOVE.] The lord of the castle is a knight, sir; signior Puntarvolo.

PUNT. Puntarvolo! O --

CAR. Now must he ruminate.

FAST. Does the wench know him all this while, then?

CAR. O, do you know me, man? why, therein lies the syrup of the jest; it's a project, a designment of his own, a thing studied, and rehearst as ordinarily at his coming from hawking or hunting, as a jig after a play.

SOG. Ay, e'en like your jig, sir.

PUNT. 'Tis a most sumptuous and stately edifice! Of what years is the knight, fair damsel?

GENT. Faith, much about your years, sir.

PUNT. What complexion, or what stature bears he?

GENT. Of your stature, and very near upon your complexion.

PUNT. Mine is melancholy, --

CAR. So is the dog's, just.

PUNT. And doth argue constancy, chiefly in love. What are his endowments?

is he courteous?

GENT. O, the most courteous knight in Christian land, sir.

PUNT. Is he magnanimous?

GENT. As the skin between your brows, sir.

PUNT. Is he bountiful?

CAR. 'Slud, he takes an inventory of his own good parts.

GENT. Bountiful! ay, sir, I would you should know it; the poor are served at his gate, early and late, sir.

PUNT. Is he learned?

GENT. O, ay, sir, he can speak the French and Italian.

PUNT. Then he has travelled?

GENT. Ay, forsooth, he hath been beyond seas once or twice.

CAR. As far as Paris, to fetch over a fas.h.i.+on, and come back again.

PUNT. Is he religious?

GENT. Religious! I know not what you call religious, but he goes to church, I am sure.

FAST. 'Slid, methinks these answers should offend him.

CAR. Tut, no; he knows they are excellent, and to her capacity that speaks them.

PUNT. Would I might but see his face!

CAR. She should let down a gla.s.s from the window at that word, and request him to look in't.

PUNT. Doubtless the gentleman is most exact, and absolutely qualified; doth the castle contain him?