How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
TRI. Ay; but stay,
This act of coining, is it lawful?ANA. Lawful!
We know no magistrate: or, if we did,
This is foreign coin.SUB. It is no coining, sir.
It is but casting.TRI. Ha! you distinguish well:
Casting of money may be lawful.ANA. 'Tis, sir.
Looky here— the Anabaptists are acting shady. This is kind of Jonson's M.O., however: this pair of "holy bretheren" are portrayed as gross, shallow, and money-grubbing. They're even willing to take from poor orphans. But since you've read the whole play (right?) here's a question: is Jonson attacking organized religion overall, or just the Puritans?
Quote #2
DOL. For after Alexander's death—
MAM. Good lady—
DOL. That Perdiccas and Antigonus were slain,
The two that stood, Seleuc' and Ptolomy—MAM. Madam—
DOL. Make up the two legs, and the fourth beast,
That was Gog-north and Egypt-south: which after
Was call'd Gog-iron-leg and South-iron-leg—MAM. Lady—
DOL. And then Gog-horned. So was Egypt, too:
Then Egypt-clay-leg, and Gog-clay-leg—MAM. Sweet madam— (4.5.1-13)
In one of the best scenes of the play, we see Doll Common acting the part of a woman who's read so much religious material that she's gone bonkers. But who's being lampooned harder in this scene: religious people, or people that believe that women who study too much go nuts? Also: can you pick out any actual snippets of religious doctrine in Doll's tirades?
Quote #3
DRUG. This, an't please your worship;
I am a young beginner, and am building
Of a new shop, an't like your worship, just
At corner of a street:—Here is the plot on't——
And I would know by art, sir, of your worship,
Which way I should make my door, by necromancy,
And where my shelves; and which should be for boxes,
And which for pots. I would be glad to thrive, sir:
And I was wish'd to your worship by a gentleman,
One Captain Face, that says you know men's planets,
And their good angels, and their bad. (1.3.12-23)
Aww, the Drugger is pretty sweet. He's an idiot, but he's sweet. And his heart seems to be in the right place. He's a small business owner who wants to turn a better profit, and for that he's seeking astrological advice. He's clearly not so tied to religion that he's unwilling to seek the advice of a mystic…but he has enough religious belief in him to try out all sorts of ways of worshipping.