Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/207

 BEN JONSON 191 complicated action, involving the most diversified characters, so closely and deftly knit that, without sacrifice of probability, the scene is concentrated in one house and the lane in front of it, and the time is no more than is occupied in the representation. The acrostic Argument indicates the mainspring of the piece very succinctly : — "The sickness hot, a master quit, for fear. His house in town, and left one servant there ; Ease him corrupted, and gave means to know A Cheater and his punk ; who now brought low. Leaving their narrow practice were become Cozeners at large ; and only wanting some House to set up, with him they here contract. Each for a share, and all begin to act." The cheater is Subtle, alchemist, fortune-teller, astrologer, dealer in familiar spirits (not of alcohol), passed master gamester, &c. &c. His worthy com- panion is Dol Common, who plays whatever parts occasion may call for. The servant is Jeremy, the butler, who, as Captain Face, touts for the firm, and also acts as Ulen Spiegel, the Lungs, Puffe, or Assis- tant of Subtle. "Much company they draw," con- tinues the Argument; and finely, in sooth, do they draw all the hooked and netted fish and fowl. Dapper, the lawyer's clerk, comes for a fly or familiar, "to rifle with at horses, and win cups ; " and then, as his greed grows, for one that shall enable him to win at all games. Tribulation Wholesome and Ananias, a pastor and deacon at Amsterdam, come for the philosopher's stone and the elixir of immortality; for which also comes Sir Epicure Mammon, "a