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Downright
Matthew is described as a “town gull”—that is, he is a foolish young urbanite. He is a poetaster—someone who writes inferior poetry—and is particularly given to passing off other people’s verse as his own. He admires the (false) bravado of Captain Bobadil and follows him around. Bobadil shows him how to swordfight, but, when confronted by Downright, Matthew’s first reaction is to run away. In the play’s closing scenes, Justice Clement is deeply unimpressed with Matthew’s plagiarism and refuses him an invite to the celebratory wedding feast that evening.
Master Matthew Quotes in Every Man in His Humour
The Every Man in His Humour quotes below are all either spoken by Master Matthew or refer to Master Matthew. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 1, Scene 4
Quotes
He useth every day to a merchant's house (where I serve water), one master Kitely's, i’ the Old Jewry; and here's the jest, he is in love with my master's sister, Mrs. Bridget, and calls her mistress; and there he will sit you a whole afternoon sometimes, reading o’ these same abominable, vile (a pox on 'em, I cannot abide them), rascally verses, poyetry, poyetry, and speaking of interludes; 'twill make a man burst to hear him. And the wenches, they do so jeer, and tee-hee at him.
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Act 3, Scene 1
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STEPHEN: Ay, truly, sir, I am mightily given to melancholy.
MATTHEW: Oh, it's your only fine humour, sir: your true melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit, sir. I am melancholy myself, divers times, sir, and then do I no more but take pen and paper presently, and overflow you half a score, or a dozen of sonnets at a sitting.
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Act 5, Scene 5
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EDWARD: We are the more bound to your humanity, sir.
JUSTICE CLEMENT: Only these two have so little of man in ‘em, they are no part of my care.
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They are not born every year, as an alderman. There goes more to the making of a good poet, than a sheriff.
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Master Matthew Quotes in Every Man in His Humour
The Every Man in His Humour quotes below are all either spoken by Master Matthew or refer to Master Matthew. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 4
Quotes
He useth every day to a merchant's house (where I serve water), one master Kitely's, i’ the Old Jewry; and here's the jest, he is in love with my master's sister, Mrs. Bridget, and calls her mistress; and there he will sit you a whole afternoon sometimes, reading o’ these same abominable, vile (a pox on 'em, I cannot abide them), rascally verses, poyetry, poyetry, and speaking of interludes; 'twill make a man burst to hear him. And the wenches, they do so jeer, and tee-hee at him.
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Act 3, Scene 1
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STEPHEN: Ay, truly, sir, I am mightily given to melancholy.
MATTHEW: Oh, it's your only fine humour, sir: your true melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit, sir. I am melancholy myself, divers times, sir, and then do I no more but take pen and paper presently, and overflow you half a score, or a dozen of sonnets at a sitting.
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Act 5, Scene 5
Quotes
EDWARD: We are the more bound to your humanity, sir.
JUSTICE CLEMENT: Only these two have so little of man in ‘em, they are no part of my care.
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They are not born every year, as an alderman. There goes more to the making of a good poet, than a sheriff.
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