Folger MS X.d.390, fol.1b

Back to Eusebius, Timotheus, Theophilus (Folger MS X.d.390)

(The following transcription is based on G. R. Proudfoot's in his Malone Society edition of "Five Dramatic Fragments," 62-64)

Fol.1b

Folger X.d.390, fol.1b. Reproduced by permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library.

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Tim[.] Insooth yo^r loue & company more deere

Wee estimate then glutting belly cheere

Eus. And well rememberd, furthehr I request

that euery man would bring w^th him a ffreind

the mo<re>, the Merryer and then mirth is best.

yet may excesse or <bi>tternes offend

ending in enmitie and humours wyld

all w^ch from vs be euer far exilde.

Tim. Amen. Eus. But being foure, w^thout excuses

bring foure & make the number of the Muses.

Tim. nay that must lye in yo^u. Eus. But one thing more

(at w^ch I hope, not any will repine)

see that of sawce you bring sufficient store

Ile fynd you onely meate w^th bread & wyne

Tim. What sorts of sawce, I pray yo^u should wee bring!

peppar! or sugar? or what other thing?

Eus. O you are wyde; no seasoning stuffe is meete

but such a sawce as better doth disgest

being more proffitable & more sweet, . . . . . . . . . . . . [Description of]

for euery kynd of meat still seruing best . . . . . . . . the best sawce

requiring no incumbrance nor expence

but moderate walking & due abstinence.

Tim. By this description, Hunger you implye.

Eus. yea thats the sawce I wish yo^u to prepare

cheifly in case where inuitations tye

yo^r stomachs, as myne doth to homely fare

least by yo^r feeding in too sparing wise

yo^r Host conceiue his vyands yo^u despize.

Tim. To gloz<i>ng Parasites & Epicures

that reckon Gurmundizing highest blisse

or those whome vitling specially allures

this yo^r aduise (I graunt) were not amisse.

But he in basenes doth exceed a Beast

who more then freindship doth respect a ffeast.

Eus. yet Amitie w^th Acts of Hospitalitie

fitly accords in euery generous Host

As wealth w^th hono^r, howbeit ffrugaliti<e>

ought allwayes to be Ruler of the Rost

But breifly none more <kindly> sh<all> receiue <y>o^u

how ere yo^r dyet proue, & so I <l>eaue yo^u. /