Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/270

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NOTES AND QUERIES, [u s. vm. OCT. 4, 1913.

In Act I. sc. i. Leonora, addressing Con- tarino, observes :

. . . .noble houses

Have no such goodly prospects any way As into their own land.

' D.L.C,,' I. I. (Hazlitt, iii. 16). a sentiment whose origin may be found in
 * Newes from my Lodging,' signed " B. R.":

" That the best prospect is to looke inward.'' Bimbault, p. 187.

Crispiano, speaking to Sanitonella of his eon, says that he would find no fault with him for keeping a good house

But his kitchen. I 'd have no bigger than a saw- pit;

For the smallness of a kitchen, without question, Makes many noblemen, in France and Spain, Build the rest of the house the bigger.

4 D.L.C.,' II. i. (Hazlitt, iii. 31). This is from the Character of ' A French Cooke ' :

" He is the prime cause why noblemen build their Houses so great, for the smallness of the Kitchin, makes the house the bigger." Rim- bault, p. 144.

Note Webster's alteration of " noblemen " to " noblemen in France and Spain" It i characteristic of his method of altering borrowed material for the purpose of his play.

A few pages later comes one of the pas- sages borrowed from Jonson :

. . . .the fair lands

That were the client's, are the lawyer's now, And those rich manors there of goodman Taylor's, Had once more wood upon them, than the yard By which they were" measured out for the last purchase,

says Meercraft in ' The Devil is an Ass '

(II. i.).

This is Webster's version :

Ariosto. Those lands that were the client's are

now become

The lawyer's ; and those tenements that were The country gentleman's, are now grown To be his tailor's. Julio. Tailor's ? Ariosto. Yes, tailors in France they grow to

great

Abominable purchase, and become great officers. ' D.L.C.,' II. i. (Hazlitt, iii. 34).

In the course of the same dialogue there occurs a passage of arms between Ariosto and Julio. Ariosto, who is reproving Julio for his profligacy, bids him abandon his dissolute courses : " O young quat," he exclaims,

. . . .incontinence is plagued In all the creatures of the world ! Julio's retort,

When did you ever hear that a cock-sparrow Had the French pox ?

4 D.L.C.,' II. i. (Hazlitt, iii. 33).

is from a passage in * Newes from the verie Countrie ' :

" That intemperance is not so unwholsome here ; for none ever saw Sparrow sicke of the poxe." Rimbault, p. 177.

' Newes from the verie Countrie ' is sub- scribed "I. D." Its authorship is generally attributed to John Donne, and it appears in the 1669 edition of his poems.

Later on in the same scene Ariosto warns Julio against apothecaries who deal in selling commodities to young gallants. They are, he says, " terrible exactors "

Take heed of them, they '11 rent thee like tenter- hooks. ' D.L.C.,' II. i. (Hazlitt, iii. 35). ' A Golden Asso,' we are told in the ' Cha- racters,'

"Is a young thing, whose father went to the Diuell . . . . his disposition is cut, and knaves rent him like Tenter-hookes." Rimbault, p. 53.

Shortly afterwards follows an interview between Contarino and Ercole in which the former tells the latter that he must fight a duel with him. Ercole first inquires whether they are to have seconds. " None," says Contarino, " for fear of prevention." Ercole's next question is as to the length of their weapons, to which Contarino replies, "We '11 fit them by the way," adding :

So whether our time calls us to live or die, Let us do both like noble gentlemen, And true Italians.

' D.L.C.,' II. i. (Hazlitt, iii. 39).

Here a,gain Webster has had recourse to the character of 'A Noble and retir'd House- keeper ' :

" He hath this hand over Fortune, that her injuries, how violent and sudden soever, they do not daunt him ; for whether his time call him to live or die, he can do both nobly." Rimbault, p. 116.

In the fourth scene of Act II. the Capuchin, on hearing that Romelio has seduced a nun, observes :

These are crimes that either must make work For speedy repentance, or for the devil.

' D.L.C.,' II. iv. (Hazlitt, iii. 51). a sentiment borrowed by Webster from ' Newes of my Morning Worke,' signed Mist. B.":

" That sinne makes worke for repentance, or the Divell." Rimbault, p. 189.

The resemblance between the two following passages, though not very close, again suggests Webster's indebtedness to the New Characters ' :

Romelio. O jealousy, How violent, especially in women ! How often has it rais'd the devil up in form of a law case.

' D.L.C.,' III. ii. (Hazlitt, iii. 67).