_Mr._ Awdwell _meeting her_.
Mr. _Awd._ How!
_Mar._ And how too! why, look ye, Mr. _Awdwell_, my Lord is come to pay his Respects to me; and I will pay my Respects again to my Lord, in spight of your Tyrannical Pretensions. And so, your humble Servant.
(_Exit_
Mr. Awd. _Who wou"d a kind and certain Mistress choose, Let him, like me, take one that loves a Muse._
(Exit.
_The End of the Second_ ACT.
ACT III.
_Enter my Lord_ Whiffle, Marsilia, _Mr._ Awdwell, _Mr._ Praisall, _Mrs._ Wellfed _and_ Calista.
Mrs. _Well._ For my part I am quite tir"d, and have a great mind to steal home to Dinner; will you please to go with me, Madam?
_Cal._ With all my Heart: _Marsilia_"s so taken up with my Lord, they"ll never miss us.
Mrs. _Well._ Come then. (_Exeunt._
[Marsilia _and my Lord_ Whiffle _talk, both looking in a great Gla.s.s_.
_Mar._ Thus I have told your Lordship the First part, which is past.
L. _Whif._ I conceive you, Madam, I have the whole Story in a Corner of my head intire, where no other Thought shall presume to interpose.
Confound me, if my d.a.m.n"d Barber has not made me look like a Mountebank: This Wigg I shall never endure, that"s certain.
_Mar._ Now I must beg your Lordship to suppose _Fastin_ having seen his Mother-in-Law, is wholly captivated with her Charms, and _Betty_ and she have both foresworn the Consummation of her Marriage with _Fastin"s_ Father; so he takes her to an adjacent Castle of his; she having cast the old Philosopher in a deep sleep. I"m forc"t to tell your Lordship this, because the Play does not mention it.
Mr. _Awd._ I am afraid your Ladyship will be wanted, like the _Chorus_ of Old, to enlighten the understanding of the Audience.
_Mar._ Meer Malice, Spight, and burning Malice, by the G.o.ds!
L. _Whiff._ Very good, my Coat is as full of wrinkles as an Old Woman"s Face, by _Jove_.
Mr. _Prais._ Madam, han"t they took _Betty_ with "em to his Castle?
_Mar._ Yes, yes; But, Mr. _Praisall_, you must keep your Distance a little now, and not interrupt me, when I am talking to my Lord.
Mr. _Prais._ I am dumb as a fish.
_Mar._ Now, if your Lordship pleases to sit down, you will see my _Opera_ begin; for tho" some of the Play is over, there has been no Scene Operaish yet.
Mr. _Awd._ Operaish! Thats" a word of your own, I suppose, Madam.
Mr. _Prais._ Ne"re the worse for that, I hope, Sir; why mayn"t the Ladies make a word as well as the Men?
L. _Whiff._ The Lady shall make what words she pleases; and I will justifie her in"t.
Mr. _Awd._ And I will laugh at her for it.
_Mar._ Well, Mr. _Awdwell_, these Affronts, are not so soon forgot as given.
Mr. _Awd._ Use your Pleasure, Madam, the Fool"s almost weary.
_Mar._ He nettles me; but I think I have him in my power: Is your Lordship ready to observe?
L. _Whiff._ Madam, I am all Attention.
_Mar._ Come, the Night Scene there, a Dark Grove made Glorious by a Thousand burning Lights: By Heav"ns my words run of themselves into Heroick! Now Let em" enter.
_Enter_ Fastin, _Lady_ Loveall.
_Fast._ Cou"d Age expect to hold thee! Oh thou Heav"nly Charmer! was there such an Impudence in Impotence; if the old Dotard has liv"d past his Reason, he must be taught it; yes, it shall dazle in his Eyes.
Mr. _Awd._ A very Dutiful Son, this.
_Mar._ Sir, I desire your Absence, if you won"t let the Players go on: His Father has done a very foolish thing; and must be call"d to an account for it.
L. _Whif._ Right Madam; all old Men do foolish things when they marry young Wives, and ought to meet with exemplary Punishments.
_Mar._ Aye, your Lordship understands the Justice of the thing----Mrs.
_Knight_, if you please.
La. _Lov._ Whilst my Ears devour your protested Love, my Heart dances to the Musick of your Vows. But is there no Falshood in a Form so lovely!
if there is, these Eyes that let the Object in, must weep for ever!
_Fast._ By Honour and by Glory, I love thee more than Mortal can express or bear.
_Mar._ Now, Mr. _Powel_, my Rhime with a Boon Grace.
Fast. _My scorching Raptures make a Boy of Jove; That ramping G.o.d shall learn of me to love._
_Mar._ How does your Lordship like these Lines_?_
L. _Whiff._ Madam, they exceed any of our modern Flights, as far as a Description of _Homer_"s does Mr. _Settle_"s, Poet in Ordinary for my Lord Mayor"s Show.
Mr. _Prais._ After what my Lord has said, I dare not speak, but I am all Admiration,
_Mar._ to Mrs. _Knight_.) Madam I beg your pardon for this Interruption; my Friends here will treat me with Flattery.