[From A Most Pleasant Comedie of Mucedorus, 1610.]
There were earlier editions of this anonymous play, performed by the King's Men at the Globe in 1598 and 1606. In 1610 new material was added to the dialogue between 'Comedie' and 'Envie' at the end of the play, including the passage below. The writer must be referring to Jonson, who was well known for his 'needie Beard', and to Jonson's early satirical plays.
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From my foule Studie will I hoyst a Wretch,
A leane and hungry Neager Canniball:
Whose jawes swell to his eyes, with chawing Malice:
And him Ile make a Poet.
What's that to'th purpose?
Env.
This scrambling Raven, with his needie Beard,
Will I whet on to write a Comedie,
Wherein shall be compos'd darke sentences,
Pleasing to factious braines.
And every other where, place me a Jest,
Whose high abuse, shall more torment then blowes:
Then I my selfe (quicker then Lightning)
Will flie me to a puisant Magistrate,
And waighting with a Trencher, at his backe,
In midst of jollitie, rehearse those gaules,
(With some additions) so lately ventcd in your Theator:
He upon this, cannot but make complaint,
To your great danger, or at least restraint.
Ha, ha, ha, I laugh to heare thy folly;
This is a trap for Boyes, not Men, nor such,
Especially desertfull in their doinges,
Whose stay'd discretion, rules their purposes.
I and my faction, doe eschew those vices...