One is a rhymer, sir, o' your
own batch, but doth think himself a poet-major of the town; the other,
I will not venture his description till you come.
own batch, but doth think himself a poet-major of the town; the other,
I will not venture his description till you come.
World's Greatest Books - Volume 17 - Poetry and Drama
Lona lays her hands on his
shoulder with the words, "Brother-in-law, you have at last discovered
that the spirit of Truth and the spirit of Freedom are the real
Pillars of Society. "
FOOTNOTES:
[O] "The Pillars of Society," published in 1877, is perhaps
the most conspicuous of the series of psychological dramatic studies
through which Ibsen has exercised untold influence on European drama.
In it he deals with the problem of hypocrisy in a small commercial
centre of industry, and pours scorn on contemporary humanity, while
cherishing the highest hopes of human possibilities for the future.
BEN JONSON[P]
Every Man in His Humour
_Persons in the Comedy_
OLD KNOWELL
YOUNG KNOWELL, _in love with Bridget_
BRAIN-WORM
MASTER STEPHEN, _a country gull_
MASTER MATTHEW, _a town gull_
CAPTAIN BOBADILL
DOWN-RIGHT
WELL-BRED, _his half-brother_
KITELY, _husband to Down-right's sister_
COB, CASH, FORMAL
JUSTICE CLEMENT
DAME KITELY
BRIDGET, _Kitely's sister_
TIB, _Cob's wife_
ACT I
SCENE I. --_In_ KNOWELL'S _house. Enter_ KNOWELL, _with a letter from_
WELL-BRED _to_ YOUNG KNOWELL.
KNOWELL: This letter is directed to my son.
Yet I will break it open.
What's here? What's this?
(_Reads_) "Why, Ned, I beseech thee, hast thou forsworn all thy
friends i' the Old Jewry? Dost thou think us all Jews that inhabit
there yet? If thou dost, come over and but see our frippery. Leave thy
vigilant father alone, to number over his green apricots evening and
morning, o' the north-west wall. Prythee, come over to me quickly this
morning; I have such a present for thee!
One is a rhymer, sir, o' your
own batch, but doth think himself a poet-major of the town; the other,
I will not venture his description till you come. "
Why, what unhallowed ruffian would have writ In such a scurrilous
manner to a friend! Why should he think I tell my apricots?
[_Enter_ BRAIN-WORM.
Take you this letter, and deliver it my son,
But with no notice I have opened it, on your life.
[_Exeunt. Then, enter_ YOUNG KNOWELL, _with the letter,
and_ BRAIN-WORM.
YOUNG KNOWELL: Did he open it, say'st thou?
BRAIN-WORM: Yes, o' my word, sir, and read the contents.
For he charged me on my life to tell nobody
that he opened it, which unless he had done he would
never fear to have it revealed.
[YOUNG KNOWELL _moves apart to read the letter. Enter_
STEPHEN. KNOWELL _laughs_.
STEPHEN: 'Slid, I hope he laughs not at me; an he
do----
KNOWELL: Here was a letter, indeed, to be intercepted
by a man's father! Well, if he read this with
patience---- (_Seeing_ STEPHEN) What, my wise cousin!
Nay, then, I'll furnish our feast with one gull more.
shoulder with the words, "Brother-in-law, you have at last discovered
that the spirit of Truth and the spirit of Freedom are the real
Pillars of Society. "
FOOTNOTES:
[O] "The Pillars of Society," published in 1877, is perhaps
the most conspicuous of the series of psychological dramatic studies
through which Ibsen has exercised untold influence on European drama.
In it he deals with the problem of hypocrisy in a small commercial
centre of industry, and pours scorn on contemporary humanity, while
cherishing the highest hopes of human possibilities for the future.
BEN JONSON[P]
Every Man in His Humour
_Persons in the Comedy_
OLD KNOWELL
YOUNG KNOWELL, _in love with Bridget_
BRAIN-WORM
MASTER STEPHEN, _a country gull_
MASTER MATTHEW, _a town gull_
CAPTAIN BOBADILL
DOWN-RIGHT
WELL-BRED, _his half-brother_
KITELY, _husband to Down-right's sister_
COB, CASH, FORMAL
JUSTICE CLEMENT
DAME KITELY
BRIDGET, _Kitely's sister_
TIB, _Cob's wife_
ACT I
SCENE I. --_In_ KNOWELL'S _house. Enter_ KNOWELL, _with a letter from_
WELL-BRED _to_ YOUNG KNOWELL.
KNOWELL: This letter is directed to my son.
Yet I will break it open.
What's here? What's this?
(_Reads_) "Why, Ned, I beseech thee, hast thou forsworn all thy
friends i' the Old Jewry? Dost thou think us all Jews that inhabit
there yet? If thou dost, come over and but see our frippery. Leave thy
vigilant father alone, to number over his green apricots evening and
morning, o' the north-west wall. Prythee, come over to me quickly this
morning; I have such a present for thee!
One is a rhymer, sir, o' your
own batch, but doth think himself a poet-major of the town; the other,
I will not venture his description till you come. "
Why, what unhallowed ruffian would have writ In such a scurrilous
manner to a friend! Why should he think I tell my apricots?
[_Enter_ BRAIN-WORM.
Take you this letter, and deliver it my son,
But with no notice I have opened it, on your life.
[_Exeunt. Then, enter_ YOUNG KNOWELL, _with the letter,
and_ BRAIN-WORM.
YOUNG KNOWELL: Did he open it, say'st thou?
BRAIN-WORM: Yes, o' my word, sir, and read the contents.
For he charged me on my life to tell nobody
that he opened it, which unless he had done he would
never fear to have it revealed.
[YOUNG KNOWELL _moves apart to read the letter. Enter_
STEPHEN. KNOWELL _laughs_.
STEPHEN: 'Slid, I hope he laughs not at me; an he
do----
KNOWELL: Here was a letter, indeed, to be intercepted
by a man's father! Well, if he read this with
patience---- (_Seeing_ STEPHEN) What, my wise cousin!
Nay, then, I'll furnish our feast with one gull more.
