ABSTRACT
JusticeOverdo'szealforpublicreform,placedbyhisfool-disguise,blendsseveral classicalandcontemporaryallusions.JonsonundercutsOverdo'sposeastheCiceronianguardianofpublicwelfarewithreferences(11.4-6)toHorace'sridiculeofthose whoclaimtojudgeothersaccurately,butareblindtotheirownfaults.Similarly,the fool-disguise,likeJuniusBrutus's(see40n.),maskstherigidseverityofhisopinions. JonsonalsosatirisesthecivicpamphletsofGeorgeWhetstoneandRichardJohnson, andthepoliticalactivityofMayorThomasMiddleton,aswellasthedisguised-ruler comediesofMarston,Middleton,andShakespeare.SeeW.D.Kay(1976)and D.McPherson(1976)forfullerdiscussion.
