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But if you Act them ill, I sleep or laugh:
Your looks must needs alter, as your Subject does
From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe,
For Nature forms, and softens us within,
And writes our fortunes changes in our face.
Pleasure enchants, impetuous Rage transports,
And grief dejects, and wrings the tortur'd Soul,
And these are all interpreted by Speech;
But he whose words and fortunes disagree,
Absurd, unpitied, growes a publick Jest.
Observe the Characters of those that speak,
Whether an honest Servant, or a Cheat,
Or one whose blood boils in his youthful, veins,
Or a grave Matron, or a busie Nurse,
Extorting Merchants, carefull Husbandmen,
Argives, or Thebans, Asians or Greeks.
Follow Report, or feign coherent things,
Your looks must needs alter, as your Subject does
From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe,
For Nature forms, and softens us within,
And writes our fortunes changes in our face.
Pleasure enchants, impetuous Rage transports,
And grief dejects, and wrings the tortur'd Soul,
And these are all interpreted by Speech;
But he whose words and fortunes disagree,
Absurd, unpitied, growes a publick Jest.
Observe the Characters of those that speak,
Whether an honest Servant, or a Cheat,
Or one whose blood boils in his youthful, veins,
Or a grave Matron, or a busie Nurse,
Extorting Merchants, carefull Husbandmen,
Argives, or Thebans, Asians or Greeks.
Follow Report, or feign coherent things,
