Plautus, Menaechmi

ARGVMENTVM

M ercator Siculus, quoi erant gemini filii,
E i surrupto altero mors optigit.
N omen surrepticii illi indit qui domist
A vos paternus, facit Maenaechmum e Sosicle.
E t is germanum, postquam adolevit, quaeritat
C ircum omnis oras. post Epidamnum devenit:
H ic fuerat alitus ille surrepticius.
M enaechmum omnes civem credunt advenam
E umque appellant meretrix, uxor et socer.
I se cognoscunt fratres postremo invicem.

Ben Jonson, The Alchemist

THE ARGUMENT

T he Sickness hot, a Master quit, for fear,
H is House in Town, and left one Servant there.
E ase him corrupted, and gave means to know

A Cheater, and his Punk; who, now brought low,
L eaving their narrow Practice, were become
C os'ners at large; and only wanting some
H ouse to set up, with him they here contract,
E ach for a Share, and all begin to act.
M uch Company they draw, and much abuse,
I n casting Figures, telling Fortunes, News,
S elling of Flies, flat Bawd'ry, with the Stone;
T ill it, and they, and all in Fume are gone.

Anthony Munday, The Mirror of Mutability

The Author's Commendation of the Right Honorable Earle of Oxenford

E xcept I should in freendship seeme ingrate,
D enying duty, where to I am bound:
W ith letting slip your Honnors woorthy state,
A t all assayes, which I haue Noble found.
R ight well I might refrayne to handle pen:
D enouncing aye the company of men.

D own dire despayre, let courage come in place,
E xalt his fame whom Honnor dooth imbrace.

V ertue hath aye adornd your valiant hart,
E xampled by your deeds of lasting fame:
R egarding such as take God Mars his parte,
E che where by proofe, in Honnor and in name.

E che one dooth knowe no fables I expresse,
A s though I should encroche for priuate gayne:
R egard you may (at pleasure) I confesse,
L etting that passe, I vouch to dread no paine.
E che where, gainst such as can my faith distaine.

O r once can say, he deales with flatterye:
F orging his tales to please the fantasye.

O f mine intent your Honnor iudge I craue,
X ephirus blowe your Fame to Orient skyes:
E xtoll I pray this valiant Brittayne braue,
N ot seeming once Bellona to despise.
F or valliantnes beholde young Cæsar heere,
O r Hanniball loe Hercules in place:
R ing foorth (I say) his Fame both farre and neere,
D out not to say, De Vere will foes deface.