_Li._ Appease "em! Ay, so they do, as the South Wind does the Sea. They fancy themselves to be G.o.ds, and that the World was made for their Sakes.
_Ge._ Nay, rather a Prince was made for the Good of the Commonwealth, and not the Commonwealth for the Sake of the Prince.
_Li._ Nay, there are Clergymen too, who blow up the Coals, and sound an Alarm to these Tumults.
_Ge._ I"d have them set in the Front of the Battel.
_Li._ Ay, ay, but they take Care to keep out of Harm"s Way.
_Ge._ But let us leave these publick Affairs to Providence. How go your own Matters?
_Li._ Very well, happily, indifferently well, tolerably.
_Ge._ How goes it with your own Business? As you would have it?
_Li._ Nay, better than I could have wish"d for, better than I deserve, beyond what I could have hop"d for.
_Ge._ Are all Things according to your Mind? Is all well? Has every Thing succeeded?
_Li._ It can"t be worse. It is impossible it should be worse than it is.
_Ge._ What then, han"t you got what you sought for? Han"t you caught the Game you hunted?
_Li._ Hunt! Ay, I did hunt indeed, but with very ill Success.
_Ge._ But is there no Hope then?
_Li._ Hope enough, but nothing else.
_Ge._ Did the Bishop give you no Hopes?
_Li._ Yes, whole Cart Loads, and whole Ship Loads of Hope; but nothing else.
_Ge._ Has he sent you nothing yet?
_Li._ He promis"d me largely, but he has never sent me a Farthing.
_Ge._ Then you must live in Hopes.
_Li._ Ay, but that won"t fill the Belly; they that feed upon Hope may be said to hang, but not to live.
_Ge._ But however then, you were the lighter for travelling, not having your Pockets loaded.
_Li._ I confess that, nay, and safer too; for an empty Pocket is the best Defence in the World against Thieves; but for all that, I had rather have the Burthen and the Danger too.
_Ge._ You was not robb"d of any Thing by the Way, I hope?
_Li._ Robb"d! What can you rob a Man of that has nothing? There was more Reason for other Folks to be afraid of me, than I of them, having never a Penny in my Pocket. I might sing and be starved all the Way I went.
Have you anything more to say?
_Ge._ Where are you going now?
_Li._ Strait Home, to see how all do there, whom I han"t seen this long Time.
_Ge._ I wish you may find all well at Home.
_Li._ I pray G.o.d I may. Has any Thing new happen"d at our House since I went away?
_Ge._ Nothing but only you"ll find your Family bigger than it was; for your _Catulla_ has brought you a little _Catulus_ since you have been gone. Your Hen has laid you an Egg.
_Li._ That"s good News, I like your News, and I"ll promise to give you a Gospel for it.
_Ge._ What Gospel? The Gospel according to St. _Matthew_?
_Li._ No, but according to _Homer_. Here take it.
_Ge._ Keep your Gospel to yourself, I have Stones enough at Home.
_Li._ Don"t slight my Present, it is the Eagle"s Stone; It is good for Women with Child; it is good to bring on their Labour.
_Ge._ Say you so? Then it is a very acceptable Present to me, and I"ll endeavour to make you Amends.
_Li._ The Amends is made already by your kind Acceptance.
_Ge._ Nay, nothing in the World could come more seasonably, for my Wife"s Belly is up to her Mouth almost.
_Li._ Then I"ll make this Bargain with you; that if she has a Boy, you will let me be the G.o.dfather.
_Ge._ Well I"ll promise you that, and that you shall name it too.
_Li._ I wish it may be for both our Good.
_Ge._ Nay, for all our Good.
_MAURICE, CYPRIAN._
_Ma._ You are come back fatter than you used to be: You are returned taller.
_Cy._ But in Truth I had rather it had been wiser, or more learned.
_Ma._ You had no Beard when you went away; but you have brought a little one back with you. You are grown somewhat oldish since you went away.
What makes you look so pale, so lean, so wrinkled?
_Cy._ As is my Fortune, so is the Habit of my Body.
_Ma._ Has it been but bad then?