The Alchemist

“But I give thee this warning, that there is a great difference between those, that (to gain the opinion of copy) utter all they can, however unfitly; and those that use election and a mean. For it is only the disease of the unskillful, to think rude things greater than polished; or scattered more numerous than composed.”

Jonson is talking about plays, here, but he is also talking about the idea of fast wealth, which is a theme in the text. He warns that writers of many low-quality plays are not as skilled as those who produce less material of higher quality. Within the play, characters are often greedily trying to turn what little they have into more through magic—they are just as self-deluded as the mass-producing playwrights Jonson disparages.

“Much company they draw, and much abuse,

In casting figures, telling fortunes, new,

Selling of flies, flat bawdry with the stone,

Till it, and they, and all in fume are gone.”

Jonson’s argument is a description of the plot of the play, which includes “abuse,” “telling fortunetelling,” and lewd sex jokes. The key phrase here is “in fume”—the play’s performance is ephemeral, and will disappear in smoke as soon as the run time is done. The image also foreshadows the ending. Within the world of the play, all the wealth supposedly gained over the course of the play will disappear into Lovewit’s pockets, Face will disappear into the persona of Jeremy, and Dol and Subtle will disappear to another town to set up a new con.

“Though this pen

Did never aim to grieve, but better men;

Howe’er the age he lives in doth endure

The vices that she breeds above their cure.

But when the wholesome remedies are sweet,

And in their working gain and profit meet,

He hopes to find no spirit so much diseased,

But will with such fair correctives be pleased:

For here he doth not fear who can apply.”

Jonson wants his play to improve the morals of the audience by enticing them with humorous and relatable characters—a standard