Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/145

 O the old Houſe in the Market, where I would fain have ſeen Macbeth, for the Acting as well as the Divertiſement; but this not the Night, ſo went Half-Price, and did ſee the Unpoliſhed Gem inſtead. Touchstone did play Brother Dick, a Country Clown, and his Figure, in a Coat ſhort in the Waiſt, a huge ſtriped Waiſtcoat, Trouſers too big for him tucked up at the Ankles, Hob-Nail Boots, and a great ill-maped Hat, mighty droll, and did move the People to clap their Hands and laugh the Moment he come on the Stage. Then did he take off his Hat, and ſhow a red-cropped Head, and ſmooth down his Hair, and make a Face upon the Audience, whereat they did laugh again, and then turning round mow them a Back View of himſelf, which made them laugh the more. Still greater Laughter the Moment he opened his Mouth, and I did laugh too, as much as any, though I heard not what he ſaid; but only for the Oddneſs of his Voice, which is ſuch that methinks I could not keep my Countenance to hear him, even if he were ſpeaking Hamlet. Mighty droll to fee him in a fine Houſe make himſelf at Home after the Faſhion of a Bumpkin, and hear him in his ruſtical Drawl and Twang relate all the News and Tattle of his Village. What with his clodhopping Gait, and Awkwardneſs, and Independence, and Impudence, he did make, methinks, the verieſt