No More Learning

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. , p. 8). In Act 2. Sc. 1 the bargain is carried out
in much the same way as in Boccaccio and in Jonson. Miranda remaining
dumb and Sir George answering for her.

In Act 3. Sc. 4 (2d ed. , p. 38) Miranda in the presence of her
guardian sends a message by Marplot not to saunter at the garden gate
about eight o'clock as he has been accustomed to do, thus making an
assignation with him (compare _DA. _ 2. 2. 52).