Posted by Rich (172.130.206.210) on June 28, 2003 at 15:00:45:
In Reply to: Theophrastus characters - the desperado posted by Jan den Breejen (145.53.141.105) on June 28, 2003 at 06:41:56:
> Rich this one seems to be mostly Adventurous Style with Mercurial Style traits?
> JDB
Hello Jan:
Yes, a mixed type of the Adventurous and Mercurial styles seems likely! From this quote, they do seem to enjoy their illegality, and to have a rollicking good time.... The text also seem to indicate that if they had more caution, they could turn to swindling/confidence crimes.... Rich
> citation:
> Of Senselesness, or Desperate boldness
> SENSELESNESS is that, whereby a man dareth both speak and do against the laws and rules of honesty. The man is he, which readily (or rashly) takes an oath; who is careless of his reputation; reckons little, to be railed upon; is of the garb or disposition of a crafty Imposter; a lewd dirty fellow, daring to do any thing but that is fit. He is not ashamed, being sober, in cool bloud, to dance Country dances and Matachines, as a Zany or Pantalon; and when the Juggelers shew their tricks, to go to every spectator and beg his offering: And if any man bring a token and would pay nothing, then to wrangle and brabble extremely; fit to keep an Alehouse, or an Inn: to be a Pandar or a Toll-gatherer, a fellow that wil forbear no foul or base course: He will be a common Crier, a Cook, a Dicer; he denies his mother food. Being convicted of theft, he shall be drawn and haled by head and shoulders; he shal dwell longer in prison, then in his own house. This is one of those, which ever and anon have a throng about them, calling to them al they meet, to whom they speak in a great broken tone, rayling on them.
> And thus they come and go, before they understand what the matter is: whilst he telleth some the beginning; some scantily a word; others he telleth some little part of the whole; affecting to publish and protest his damnable disposition. He is full of suits and actions; both such as hee suggesteth against others; and such as are framed against him. He is a common maker of affidavit for other men's absence. Hee suborneth actions against himself: In his bosom he bears a box, and in his hand a bundle of papers. And such is his impudence, hee gives himselfe out to be Generall of the Petti-foggers and nights of the Post. Hee puts out money to use: and for a groat, takes daily three farthings. He goes oftentimes into the Fish-market, Taverns, Cooks shops, and Shambles: and the money that he gets by his brocage, he commonly hides in his mouth. These men are very hard to be indured: their tongues are traded in detraction: and when they rail, they do it in such a stormy and tempestuous fashion, as all Courts and Taverns are pesterd with their clamors.