Hist. Thank you, captain. Jupiter and the rest of the gods confine your modern delights without disgust.
Tuc. Stay, thou shalt see the Moor ere thou goest. [Enter DEMETRIUS at a distance. What's he with the half arms there, that salutes us out of his cloak, like a motion, ha?
Hist. O, sir, his doublet's a little decayed; he is otherwise a very simple honest fellow, sir, one Demetrius, a dresser of plays about the town here; we have hired him to abuse Horace, and bring him in, in a play, with all his gallants, as Tibullus, Mecaenas, Cornelius Gallus, and the rest.
Hist. O, it will get us a huge deal of money, captain, and we have need on't; for this winter has made us all poorer than so many starved snakes: nobody comes at us, not a gentleman, nor a--
Tuc. But you know nothing by him, do you, to make a play of?
Hist. Faith, not much, captain; but our author will devise that that shall serve in some sort.
Tuc. Why, my Parnassus here shall help him, if thou wilt. Can thy author do it impudently enough?
Hist. O, I warrant you, captain, and spitefully enough too; he has one of tho most overflowing rank wits in Rome; he will slander any man that breathes, if he disgust him.
Tuc. I'll know the poor, egregious, nitty rascal; an he have these commendable qualities, I'll cherish him--stay, here comes the Tartar--I'll make a gathering for him, I, a purse, and put the poor slave in fresh rags; tell him so to comfort him.-- [Demetrius comes forward.
Be-enter Minos, with 2 Pyrgus on his shoulders, and stalks backward and forward, as the boy acts.
2 Pyr. Where art thou, boy? where is Calipolis? Fight earthquakes in the entrails of the earth, And eastern whirlwinds in the hellish shades; Some foul contagion of the infected heavens Blast all the trees, and in their cursed tops The dismal night raven and tragic owl Breed and become forerunners of my fall!
Tuc. Well, now fare thee well, my honest penny-biter: commend me to seven shares and a half, and remember to-morrow.--If you lack a service, you shall play in my name, rascals; but you shall buy your own cloth, and I'll have two shares for my countenance. Let thy author stay with me. [Exit Histrio. Dem. Yes, sir.
Tuc. 'Twas well done, little Minos, thou didst stalk well: forgive me that I said thou stunk'st; Minos; 'twas the savour of a poet I met sweating in the street, hangs yet in my nostrils.