it.
Mendacio, come hither quickly, sirrah.

MEN. Madam.

LIN. Hark, hither in thine ear.

MEN. Why do you whisht[298] thus? here's none to hear you.

LIN. I dare not trust these secrets to the earth,
E'er since she brought forth reeds, whose babbling noise
Told all the world of Midas' ass's ears.
[_She whispers him in the ear_.] Dost understand me?

MEN. Ay, ay, ay--never fear that--there's a jest indeed--
Pish, pish--madam--do you think me so foolish?--Tut, tut, doubt not.

LIN. Tell her, if she do not--

MEN. Why do you make any question of it?--what a stir is here--I
warrant you--presently!
[_Exit_ MENDACIO.

LIN. Well, I'll to supper, and so closely cover
The rusty canker of mine iron spite
With golden foil of goodly semblances.
But if I do not trounce them--

[_Exit_ LINGUA.

ACTUS QUINTUS, SCAENA PRIMA.

MENDACIO, _with a bottle in his hand_.

MEN. My Lady Lingua is just like one of these lean-witted comedians
who, disturbing all to the fifth act, bring down some Mercury or Jupiter
in an engine to make all friends: so she, but in a contrary manner,
seeing her former plots dispurposed, sends me to an old witch called
Acrasia to help to wreak her spite upon the Senses. The old hag, after
many an encircled circumstance, and often naming of the direful Hecate
and Demogorgon. gives me this bottle of wine, mingled with such hellish
drugs and forcible words that, whosoever drinks of it shall be presently
possessed with an enraged and mad kind of anger.

SCAENA SECUNDA.

MENDACIO, CRAPULA, APPETITUS _crying_.

MEN. What's this, Crapula beating Appetitus out of doors? ha?

CRA. You filthy long crane, you mean slave, will you kill your guests
with blowing continual hunger in them? The Senses have overcharged their
stomachs already, and you, sirrah, serve them up a fresh appetite with
every new dish. They had burst their guts if thou hadst stayed but a
thought longer. Begone, or I'll set thee away; begone, ye gnaw-bone,
raw-bone rascal![299] [_Beats him_.

MEN. Then my device is clean spoiled. Appetitus should have been as the
bowl to present this medicine to the Senses, and now Crapula hath beaten
him out of doors; what shall I do? [_Aside_.]

CRA. Away, sirrah. [_Beats him_.

APP. Well, Crapula, well; I have deserved better at your hands than so.
I was the man, you know, first brought you into Gustus's ser