The Players Scourge, To the reader – Poem
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
THREE things there are, beloved Readers, in this my HISTRIO-MASTIX, for which I am necessitated to make some Apologie, to prevent all causelesse cavills.
The first, is its tedious prolixitie; which as it far exceeds its primitive intended Brevity, so it may somewhat derogate from its welcome acceptation, as being too large for so slight a subject: But as it was no disparagement to Phaebus his pallace; that aMateriam superabat opus; Ouid. Metamorph. l. 2.the workmanship of it did exceede the matter; so I hope it will be no prejudice to this Treatise, if bHierom Com. in Matth. c. 21, Tom. 6, p. 45, C.Malo nodo malus cuneus, may be allowed for a Plea. Hee who intends to encounter a potent enemie, cLuke 14.31, 32. & Ioanni… Sarisberiensis, de Nugis Curialium, lib. 1, c. 1… 2, 3, 4, 5.had neede provide a puissant armie: Hee who will cure a large spreading gangrene, must proportion his plaister to the maladie; he who would discover or refute an inveterate generally received Error, must come strongly armed with convincing reasons and authorities, else he is like to do more harme than good. Players and Stageplaies, with which I am now to combate in a publike Theatre in the view of sundry partiall Spectators, are growne of late so powerfull, so prevalent in the affections, the opinions of many both in Citie, Court and Country; so universally diffused like an infectious leprosie, so deepely rivited into the seduced prepossessed hearts and judgements of voluptuous carnall persons, who swarme so thicke in every Play-house, that they leave no empty place, and almost crowd one another to death for multitude; as they did in *Sunt enim multi non digne viventes baptismo quod perceperunt. Quam multi enim baptizati hodie Circum imple…e quam istam basilicam maluerunt. Si mimus est, curritur ad Amphitheatr… ̄; quantis turbis impletur? stipantur parietes, pressuris se urgent, prope se suffocant multitudine: isti super numerum sunt. In Psal. 39, Enar. Tom. 8, …ars 1, p. 418; & in Psal. 80, pars 2, p. 5.Augustines time, chusing rather to fill the Theatre than the Church; that had not this my HISTRIO-MASTIX overgrowne its first intended pigmies stature, it had dMagnis enim telis, magna portenta feriuntur. Seneca Epist. 82.never beene able to foyle those many Giantlike Enemies with which it is now to grapple; neither could it have borne any geometricall proportion with those festring ulcers, those many practicall applauded Errors, whose cure and refutation it indeavours. *Ben-Iohnsons, Shackspeers, and others.Some Play-books since I first undertooke this subject, are growne from Quarto into Folio; which yet beare so good a price and sale, that I cannot but with griefe relate it, they are now eShackspeers Plaies are printed in the best Crowne paper, far better than most Bibles.new-printed in farre better paper than most Octavo or Quarto Bibles, which hardly finde such vent as they: And can then one Quarto Tractate against Stage-playes be thought too large, when as it must assault such ample Play-house Volumes? Besides, our Quarto-Play-bookes since the first sheetes of this my Treatise came unto the Presse, have come forth in such eAbove forty thousand Play-bookes have beene printed and vented within these two yeares.abundance, and found so many customers, that they almost exceede all number, one studie being scarce able to holde them, and two yeares time too little to peruse them all: And this made this Treatise swell the greater, because these Play-bookes are so multiplied. Againe, I considered with my selfe, that our Players, our Play-haunters are now more in number, more various in judgements, in humours, in apprehensions, than they have beene in former ages; whereupon I thought good to produce *Nam quoniam variant animi variavimus artes: Mille mali species, mille salutis …unt. Ouid. De Remedio Amoris, l. 2. p. 225.more store of different Play-refelling Arguments and Authorities than else I should have done; that so I might satisfie every Reader to my power, and meete with all evasions. All which being l…id together, will easily excuse my overmuch p…ines; which if it seeme irkesome to any Reader, I am sure it …as farre more troublesome to me the Author, who if I am peccant in this kinde, it is onelyonly out of too much lo…e to doe the Readers greater good: who if they complaine for want of time, may soone peruse it without any losse, by devoting their Play-house houres to it, till they have read it over.
The second, is some passages, termes and phrases, which may give offence to such, who consider not the grounds and reasons of them: and these are of different natures. Some of them may seeme to be over sharpe and virulent against Players, Playes, and Play-haunters: Others of them may be constr…ed to be over malepart and censonious: Others, too immodest, too amorous, and obscene: Others, heterogeneall, and impertinent to the intended theame.
To the two first of which I answer: First, that I have used no more tartnesse against Players, Playes, or Play-haunters, nor passed no other… Censures upon them… than the Fathers themselves, with sundry appro…ed Writers have done before me, whose phrases and invectives I have onelyonly revived: You must therefore lay the blame on them, not me, who onelyonly speake in their language. *Ioan. Saresberiensis Prologus in lib. De Nugis Curialium, Bibl. Patr. Tom. 15. p. 341. G.Novi enim quod et praesens aetas corrigitur, dum praeterita suis meritis objurgatur. Secondly, inveterate fVt valeant alii ferrum patiantur et ignes. Fert aliis tristem succus amarus opem. Corpora vix ferro quaedam sanantur acu…o. Auxilium aliis succus et herba fuit. Ovid. Epist. 19, p. 83. De Remedio Amoris l. 2, p. 225.gangrend ulcers, as Playes and Players are, neede sharpe emplaisters, bi…ing corrosives, else they will not be cured; because gentle lenitives cannot cleanse them. Thirdly, the greatest virulency is onelyonly against Players and Play-haunters vices, not their persons; gTertul. Apol. Advers. Gentes.Hostes plane sumus, non generis humani tamen, sed erroris: Yea I have therefore censured their errours, their vices so severely, because I love their persons, whose happinesse, salvation and amendment I here onelyonly seeke, by withdrawing them from Playes and Play-houses, the very greatest corruptions of their mindes and manners. *Leo de I…iun. Pent. Ser. 1. c. 2. fol. 158.Hoc enim interiora maximè corrumpit, quod exteriora delectat. What therefore St. Augustine writes to Macedonius in this very case; gEpist. 54. Tom. 2. p. 271.Facile est atque proclive malos odisse, quia mali sunt, rarum autem et pium eosdem ipsos diligere quia homines sunt, ut in uno simul et cu… pam improbes, et naturam approbes; ac propterea culpam justius oderis, quod ea faedatur natura quam diligis. Non est igi…ur iniquitatis, sed potius humanitatis societate devinctus, qui propterea sit criminis persecutor ut sit hominis liberator: the same shall be my Apologie now. And if any Play-A…tors or Spectators thinke themselves injured by any censure I have here past upon them, I must returne them an answer in St. Bernards words: *Bernard. Ep. 78. f. 196.Cum carpuntur vitia, et inde scandalum oritur, ipse sibi scandali causa est, qui fecit quod argui debeat, non ille qui arguit: or at leastwise in hEpist. 2. ad Nepotianum, cap. 20. Tom. 1. p. 7.St. Hieroms language: Aut enim nihil scribendum fuit, ne hominum judicium subiremus, aut scribentes nosse, cunctorum adversum nos maledicorum …ela esse torquenda. Quos obsecro, ut quiescant, et definant maledicere. Non enim ut adversariis, sed ut amicis scripsimus; nec invecti sumus in eos qui peccant, sed ne peccent, monuimus. Nullum laesi, nullius nomen mea scriptura designatum est. Neminem specialiter meus sermo pulsavir. Generalis de vitijs disputatio e…t. Qui mihi irasci voluerit, prius ipse de se, quod talis sit, confitebitur. Wherefore, since all I aime at in this Treatise is mens eternall good; *Bernard. Epist. 42.Sustinete hanc virgam corripientem, ne sentiatis malleum conterentem: remembring that good lesson of Salomon: iProv. 12.1. c. 15.10, 32.He that hateth reproofe, is brutish; yea, he despiseth his owne soule, and he shall surely die. To the third of these, I answer; that hee who stirres a noysome kennell, must needes raise some stench; he who would lively portraiture … Divell, or a deformed monster, must needes draw some gastly lines, and use some sordid colours: so he who will delineate to the life, the notorious lewdnesse of Playes, of Play-haunters, is necessarily enforced to such immodest phras…s as may present it in its native v…lenesse; else he shall but conceale or masque their horrid wickednesse that none may behold it, not rip it open that all may abhorre it. This is the onelyonly reason of those more uncivill or seemingly immodest passages and phrases that are here and there scattered in this Discourse; which as they are for the most part the Fathers, or some other Authors, not mine owne, and so the more excusable; so necessity onelyonly hath enforced mee to them; the impurity and lewdnesse of Stage-playes being such, that a man can hardly remember, much lesse reprove them without sinne or shame. kDe Gubern. Dei l. 6. p. 185, 186.Talia autem sunt (writes Salvian) quae in theatri… fiunt, ut ea non solum dicere, sed etiam recordari aliquis sine pollutione non possit. Quae quidem omnia tam flagitiosa sunt, ut etiam explicare ea quispiam atque eloqui salvo pudore non va…eat. Quis enim integro verecundiae statu dicere queat illas rerum turpium imitationes, illas vocum ac verborum obscaenitates, illas motuum turpitudines, illas gestuum faeditates? quae quanti sunt criminis, vel hinc intelligi potest, quod et relationem sui interdicunt. Nonnulla quippe m…xima scelera incolumi honestate referentis et nominari et argui possunt, ut homicidium, latrocinium, sacrilegium, ca…teraque hujusmodi. Solae theatrorum impuritates sunt, quae honest… non possunt vel accusari: ita nova in coarguenda harum turpitudinum probrositate res evenit arguenti, ut cum absque dubio honestus sit qui accusare ea velit, honestate tamen integra ea loqui et accusare non possit. It was this Fathers Preface to his Play-condemning Treatise, and it shall be my Apologie. To the fourth of these, I answer; that there are severall passages in this Discourse, which prima facie may seeme heterogeneous to the present subject, as *See Act. 5… throughout. Act. 7. Scene 3. & 8. Scene 3, 7.those concerning Dancing, Musicke, Apparell, Effeminacy, Lascivious Songs, Laughter, Adultery, obscene Pictures, Bonefires, New-yeares gifts, Grand Christmasses, Health-drinking, Long haire, Lords-dayes, Dicing, with sundry Pagan customes here refelled: but if you consider them as they are here applied, you shall finde them all materially pertinent to the theame in question… they being either the concomitants of Stage-playes, or having such neare affinity with them, that the unlawfulnesse of the one are necessary mediums to evince the sinfulnesse of the other. Besides, though they differ in Specie, yet they are homogeniall in their genericall nature, one of them serving to illustrate the quality, the condition of the other: It is no impertinentie therefore for me to discourse at large of all or any of these, the better to display the odiousnesse of Stage-playes, with which they have great analogie, to which they have more or lesse relation, as the passages themselves sufficiently manifest. But admit that some of them are heterogeniall, yet it is no absurdity by way of digression, to touch on such parti…ulars, as *See Claudius Espencaeus, Digre…sionum in Epist. 1. ad Timotheum lib. Dr. Iohn Whi…es Way to the True Church; Dr. Field of the Church, Edit. ult. Dr. Crakenthorps Vigilius Dormitans… & Dr… Twists Answer to Armi…ius his Examen: accordingly.other Writers oft times doe, yea and the Fathers too, who have their digressions as well as others, in their Commentaries, Homilies, and morall Treatises; where they oft times lash out into collaterall Discourses against Stage-playes, Dancing, Drunkennesse, effeminacy, lascivious songs, fantastique costly apparell, Pagan Customes, and those other particulars which I have now discoursed against, as their passages here… recited plentifully manifest. Their practise therefore may be my excuse. And so much the rather, because the particulars I have thus lightly glanced upon in the by, are universall overspreading still-increasing evills, which neede some present opposition, especially out of those pregnant venerable Authorities of Councels, Fathers and ancient Writers that are almost forgotten in the world, (whose memory I have here in part revived a… farre as opportunity would permit:) which manifest to all mens judgements, mSee Act. 5. throughout, & Act. 7. Scene 3. Act. 8. Scene 3, 4.that effeminate mixt Dancing, Dicing, Stage-playes, lascivious Pictures, wanton Fashions, Face-painting, Health-drinking, nOf which Mr. Purchas in his Pilgrim. c. 51. pag. 490. writes thus. Long haire is an ornament to the female sex, a token of subiection, an ensigne of modesty: but modesty growes short in men as their haire growes long, and a neate perfumed, frizled, pouldred Bush, hangs but as a token Vini n…n vendibilis, of much wine, little wit, of men weary of manhood, of civility, of Christianity, which would faine turne (at the least doe imitate) American Salvages, Infidels, Barbarians, or women at the least and best.Long haire, *See my Vnlovelinesse of Lovelockes, & here Act. 5. Scene 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Act. 7. Scene 3. & Act. 8. Scene 3.Love-lockes, Periwigs, womens curling, pouldring and cutting of their haire, Bone-fires, New-yeares-gifts, May-games, amorous Pastoralls, lascivious effeminate Musicke, excessive laughter, luxuriovs disorderly Christmas-keeping, Mummeries, with sundry such like vanities which the world now dotes on, as la… dable, good, and Christian, are meere sinfull, wicked, unchristian pastimes, vanities, cultures and disguises, which the primitive Church and Christians, together with the very best of Pagans quite abandoned, condemned; however we admire, applaud them now to Gods dishonour and religions shame: My short Digressions therefore against these new-revived old-condemned spreading evills, which most men countenance, few can or dare oppose, may well be pardoned in this my HISTRIO-MASTIX, most of them being either concomitants or fruites of Stage-playes: by the present censures of which, the Reader shall be sure to reape, either fuller satisfaction, or greater variety of knowledge than else hee should have met with in this Treatise.
The third, is the repetition of some quotations, some passages of Fathers and others which are twice or thrice recited in severall places of this Discourse, where the same things are oft debated. To which I answer: First, that though the same things in effect are oft times touched upon (especially *See p. 9. to 26.523, 524, 731, 732.the idolatrous originall of Stage-playes, and oSee p. 42. to 61.522, to 525.561, to 567.that they are the very pompes of the Divell which Christians have renounced in their baptisme) yet it is either to different purposes, or where they are amplified and confirmed by new-recited A…thorities; which as I could not couple all together, so I was unwilling to omit, for feare of doing prejudice to the cause. Secondly, though the same Authorities and qu…tations are oft reiterat…d, yet it is onelyonly in these two cases, where the words and ends for which I cite them are divers, or where one sentence, one discourse tending to severall purposes, is so intire, that it could not be sundered into fractions without perverting the sense, or blunting the life, the edge and vigour of it. Thirdly, what ever is oft repeated, is something or other worth remembring: if therefore Seneca speakes truth, pEpistola 27.Nunquam nimis dicitur quod nunquam satis discitur; this fault may easily bee excused. The Scripture it selfe (wee know) qDeut. 4.2. c. 12.32. Iosh. 1.7 Prov. 9.30 6. Rev. 22.18, 19.where there is no superfluity nor defect; hath oft times rIsay 28.9, to 14. 2 Pet. 1.12, 13. Phil. 3.1.precept upon precept, line upon line, yea frequent repetions of the selfesame things, (especially in the Bookes of Moses, the Bookes of the Kings and Chronicles, the Psalmes of David… the Proverbs, the Prophets, the foure Evangelists, and St. Pauls Epistles) in such cases where men are either dull to learne, apt to forget, …ow to beleeve, or when as the things repeat…d are very observable. The like repetitions with little variation, we shall finde in divers Authors: and in most of those who write of the selfesame subject, (but principally in Commentators a…d the Schoolemen) wee finde the selfesame matter clothed in a different method or dresse of words; sEccles. 1.9, 10there being no new thing u…der the Sunne, Et nihil dictum quod non dictum prius: all being but reiterations of what hath beene written or spoken in former ages. This therefore may excuse my short rei…erations of the selfesame passages against Stage-playes, with which men are so farre inamoured, that they neede many oft repeated arguments to divorce their affections from them.
Having thus farre apologized for this Treatise, I shall here by way of advertisement for thy better satisfaction informe thee, Christian Reader, something concerning the Authorities quoted in it. As first, that I have cited the very Words of the Fathers themselves, for the most part, in the margent, which I have faithfully englished in the Discourse it selfe, and sometimes alledged them in the margent at large, when as I have but touched them in the page: whence I shall advise thee to reade the margent and the page together. Secondly, that I have oft times onelyonly quoted the names, the Workes of Fathers and other Authors for brevity sake, omitting their words, which the studious Reader may doe well to tNam a vitii… redimitur animus, et suavi et mira quadam, etiam in adversis …cunditate re…icitur, cum ad legendum… vel scribendum …tilia, menti… intendit acumen… I…annis Saresberiensis Prologus in lib. De Nugis Curialium.peruse at leisure in their workes; whose severall passages had I transcribed, I should have oft repeated the selfesame things, and augmented this Quarto Treatise into many Folio Volumes. Thirdly, I have faithfully recorded the Books, the Chapters, Columes and pages of those Authors here alledged, together with the Impressions which I follow; all which you shall finde expressed, Part. 1. Act. 7. Scen. 3, 4, 5, & 6. Which Editions if any Reader want, let him then onelyonly examine the number of the Bookes, the Chapters, Homilies or Sermons here quoted, in those Editions which he hath, omitting the pages, and he shall finde every quotation true, save onelyonly where the Editions varie. And if any shall here quarrell with me for the multitude of Authors and quotations: let him know, that I produced them uQuicquid enim omnes vel plures, uno eodem que sensu, manife…te, frequenter, perseveranter, velut quodam sibi consentiento Magistroru… Concilio, accipiendo, tenendo, tradendo firmaverint, id pro indubitato, certo, ratoque habeatur. Vincentius Le…en…is con…r. Haer…ses, cap. 39. Illud reprobū fuisse non ambiges quod omnium doctorum turba condem…at. Io…nnis Sarisb. de Nug…s Curi…liū l. ….….4.onelyonly for the Readers better satisfaction, to evidence the damnable odiousnesse of Stage…playes in all ages, not out of any vaine-glorious ostentation, which I much abhorre.
Which advertisements being thus premised, I shall now beseech thee, courteous Reader, in the feare of God, to peruse this HISTRIO-MASTIX with an impartiall eye, and even seriously to consider with an unprejudicated affection, what all the primitive Christians, what all the Councels, Fathers, Emperours, Magistrates, and Authors here enumered have constantly thought of Stage-playes, and other particulars here recited: And then I doubt not but what a noble Earle of this Kingdome in his late dangerous sicknesse, professed publikely (even with detestation) of his effeminate fantastique Love-locke; that he sensibly perceived it to be but a cord of vanity, by which he had given the Divell holdfast to leade him captive at his pleasure; who would never let goe his holdfast of him as long as hee nourished this unlovely Bush: whereupon hee comanded his Barber to cut it off: (a speech, a president well worthy those xQ…i virilem sexum muliebri mollitie dehonestant. Ioan. Saresbericusis de Nugis Curialium, l. 1. c. 5.womanish Ruffians consideration, who yet are peccant in this kinde:) the same wilt thou affirme of these lascivious Enterludes; ySee here Act. 6. Scene 4, 5, 12, 18, 19, 20, accordingly.that they are the very Divels pompes and *Retia sunt quaecunque vides, hominemque ligatum, Ad miseram mortē per mala quaeque trahunt. Ioan. Saresberien…is Ad opus suum. B…hl. Patr. Tom. 15. p. 339, G.snares, by which he captivates and inthralls mens soules; who can never enfranchise themselves from his infernall vassalage, till they have cordially renounced these his sugered gins, which detaine them captive in his service, and binde them over to damnation: as the here recited Councels, Fathers and other Authours witnesse: whose workes if Play-haunters would but study, at those vacant times which they sinfully waste on Playes, on Play-bookes, and such like unprofitable pleasures of sinne, zRev. 18.7. Eccles. 11.9. Prov. 14.13.which will end in horrour at the last; they would speedily abandon all Enterludes, all Play-houses, as the most execrable pernicious corruptions, which now they so much dote on as their chiefe delights. The Lord therefore open all such blinde Stage-haunters eyes by these my poore endeavours, who are yet so besotted with ignorance and these enchanting Spectacles, that they cannot discerne those infinite mischiefes that attend them, aQuis vero eo indignior, qui sui ipsius contemnit habere noticiam? qui tempus quod parca manu datum est ad mensuram, et solum reparari non potest, usuraria quadam acc…ssione et poenali repetendum in vitae dispendia prodigit, et in contumeliam auctoris effundit? Ioan. Sare…beriensis De Nugis Curialium, l. 1. c. 1.wasting their precious time upon them even from day to day, and quarrelling with all such pious Christians as would reclaime them from them: Of whom I may fitly use St. Augustines memorable passage: bAugust. Enar. in Psal. 39… Tom. 8. pars 1. p. 416.Quem itaque comprehendam istorum insanorum? Quis me audia…? quem eorum nos non miseros dicat, quia cum eis non insanimus? Amisisse nos putant varias et magnas voluptates in quibus ipsi insaniunt, nec vident quia mendaces sunt. Quando illis ovum invito, vel calicem salutarem porrigo saucio: et quomodo reficiam? Hortor ut reficiant, pugnas parant; saevire volunt in medicum. Et si percusserint, diligantur; et si injuriam fecerint non relinquantur; redituri sunt ad mentem, gratias acturi. Oremus itaque pro ipsis fratres charissimi; inde crescit numerus sanctorū, de numero qui erat impiorum. It was this Fathers speech of those Play-haunters whom he indeavoured to reclaime in his time; and it shall be mine of ours now; whose conversion I shall truly pray for, how evill soever they intreat mee or this worke of mine; which if it doe no good to others, or purchase nought but hatred, but contempt unto my selfe, yet Symmachus his speech shall be my comfort: cAmbrose Ep. l. 2. Ep. 2. Tom. 5. p. 97.Saluti publicae dicata industria, crescit meritò cùm caret praemio: or if not his, the Prophet Isaiah's: dIsay 49.4.Then I said, I have laboured in vaine, I have spent my …trength for nought and in vaine: yet surely my judgement is with the Lord, and my reward with my God: to whose onelyonly blessing I shall now commend this Treatise, and thee true Christian Reader; whose spirituall good being the primum mouens, that set my thoughts upon this Subject; I hope it shall finde thy favourable acceptation: eIoannis Saresberiensi… Prologus in lib. de Nugis Curialium. Bibl. Pat. Tom. 15. p, 341. ….Sciens, quia sicut non habet unde placeat ex venustate, sic ex devotione scribentis non pot…rit displicere. And so I rest,
Thine in the LORD, WILLIAM PRYNNE.
Autor ad Opus suum.
*Ex Ioanne Saresberiensi, ad Opus suum de Nugis Curialium. Bibl. Pa…rum Tom. 15. p. 339, 340.SI mihi credideris, linguam cohibebis, et aulae,
Limina non intret pes tuus, esto domi.
Aspectus hominum cautus vitare memento,
Et tibi commissas claude libelle notas.
Omnia sint suspecta tibi, quia publicus hostis
Et maiestatis diceris esse reus.
Ignis edax, gladius que ferox tibi forte parantur,
Aut te polluta subruet hostis aqua.
Cum tamen exieris faciem velabit amictus,
Deforment que tuam pulvis et aura cutem.
Sit gradus et cultus habitus peregrinus eunti,
Non nisi barbariem barbara lingua sonet.
De Pictavorum dices te gente creatum,
Nam licet his lingua liberiori loqui.
Nusquam divertas, ne quis te laedat cuntem,
Nugarum que luat garrula lingua notas.
Omnia si nescis, loca sunt plenissima nugis,
Quarum tota cohors est inimica tibi.
Ecclesia nugae regnant, et principis aula;
In claustro regnant, Pontificis que domo.
In nugis clerus, in nugis militis usus;
In nugis i…venes, tota que turba senum.
Rusticus in nugis; in nugis sexus uterque:
S…rvus et ingenuus, dives, egenus in his.
Accelera gressus, cauto diplomate perges;
Vt valeas, esto sobrius, esto gravis.
Gens penetranda tibi perlarga, bibax que loquax que ,
Et cui ni morem gesseris, hostis eris.
I ci…us atque redi; ne quorum carpere nugas
Aususes, infligant tela, necemque parent.
Hospiti…que fidem quaeres super, omnia, quo sii…
Tutus ab insidiis, quas tibi quisque parat.
Stultos, prudentes nimium, pravosque cave…is,
Et quos insignes garrula lingua facit.
Si quis amat verum, tibi sit gratissimus hospes,
Et quem delectat gloria vana, cave.
Iuie patronatus illum cole, qui velit esse,
Et sciat, et possit tutor ubique, tuus.
Sperne malos, venerare bonos, ignos…e volenti
Laedere; nulla bonis ultio grata magis.
Et nisi festinus fugeres, te plura monerem,
Vix pateris dici pauca, vel ista tene.