No More Learning

_The Cheats_, 1662, apparently refers to _The Devil is an Ass_ in
the _Prologue_. The characters of Bilboe and Titere Tu belong to the
same class of low bullies as Merecraft and Everill, but the evident
prototypes of these characters are Subtle and Face in _The Alchemist_.

A third play of Wilson's, _The Projectors_, 1664, shows unmistakable
influence of _The Devil is an Ass_. The chief object of satire is
of course the same, and the character of Sir Gudgeon Credulous is
modeled after that of Fitzdottrel. The scenes in which the projects are
explained, 2. 1 and 3. 1, are similar to the corresponding passages in
Jonson. The _Aulularia_ of Plautus is a partial source, so that the
play in some features resembles _The Case is Altered_. In 2. 1 Wilson
imitates the passage in the _Aulularia_, which closes Act 2. Sc. 1 of
_The Devil is an Ass_ (see note 2. 1. 168).

Brome, Jonson's old servant and friend, also handled the subject of
monopolies (see page lxi).
Jonson's influence is especially marked in
_The Court Beggar_. The project of perukes (_Wks. _ 1. 192) should be
compared with Merecraft's project of toothpicks.

Mrs. Susanna Centlivre's _Busie Body_ uses the motives borrowed from
Boccaccio (see pp. xlv ff. ). The scenes in which these appear must have
been suggested by Jonson's play (Genest 2. 419), though the author
seems to have been acquainted with the _Decameron_ also. In Act. 1.
Sc. 1 Sir George Airy makes a bargain with Sir Francis Gripe similar
to Wittipol's bargain with Fitzdottrel. In exchange for the sum of a
hundred guineas he is admitted into the house for the purpose of moving
his suit to Miranda. 'for the space of ten minutes, without lett or
molestation', provided Sir Francis remain in the same room, though out
of ear shot (2d ed.