indeed one good quality: he is not exceptious, for he so
passionately affects the reputation of understanding raillery that
he will construe an affront into a jest, and call downright rudeness
and ill language satire and fire.

FAIN. If you have a mind to finish his picture, you have an
opportunity to do it at full length. Behold the original.


SCENE VI.


[To them] WITWOUD.

WIT. Afford me your compassion, my dears; pity me, Fainall,
Mirabell, pity me.

MIRA. I do from my soul.

FAIN. Why, what's the matter?

WIT. No letters for me, Betty?

BET. Did not a messenger bring you one but now, sir?

WIT. Ay; but no other?

BET. No, sir.

WIT. That's hard, that's very hard. A messenger, a mule, a beast