ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

BAYES. Wherefore, sir, to avoid both those indecorums, I sum up my whole battle in the representation of two persons onlyno more-and yet so lively that, I vow to gad, you would swear ten thousand men were at it, really engaged. Do you mark me? 207 SMITH. Yes, sir; but I think I should hardly swear, though, for all that.

BAYES. By my troth, sir, but you would, though, when you see it; for I make 'em both come out in armor, cap-a-pie, with their swords drawn and hung with a scarlet ribbon at their wrists (which, you know, represents fighting enough), each of 'em holding a lute in his hand.

216

SMITH. HOW, sir—instead of a buckler? BAYES. O Lord, O Lord!-Instead of a buckler? Pray, sir, do you ask no more questions. I make 'em, sir, play the battle. in recitativo. And here's the conceit; just at the very same instant that one sings, the other, sir, recovers you his sword and puts himself in a warlike posture, so that you have at once your ear entertained with music and good language, and your eye satisfied with the garb and accoutrements of war. Is not that well?

228

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Enter at several doors the General and Lieutenant-General, armed cap-a-pie, with each of them a lute in his hand, and his sword drawn and hung with a scarlet ribbon at his wrist

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. Villain, thou liest ! GENERAL. Arm, arm, Gonsalvo, arm! What ho!

The lie no flesh can brook, I trow. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. Advance, from Acton, with the musketeers.

GENERAL. Draw down the Chelsea cuirassiers. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. The Band you boast

[blocks in formation]

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. Give fire, give fireat once give fire

And let those recreant troops perceive mine ire. GENERAL. Pursue, pursue! They fly

That first.did give the lie. 264 [Exeunt]

BAYES. This, now, is not improper, I think, because the spectators know all these towns, and may easily conceive them to be within the dominions of the two kings of Brentford. 269 JOHNSON. Most exceeding well designed! BAYES. How do you think I have contrived to give a stop to this battle?

1 A street near Moorfields (N.).

[blocks in formation]

JOHNSON. No doubt on't, Mr. Bayes. BAYES. But, sir, you have heard, I suppose, that your eclipse of the moon is nothing else but an interposition of the earth between the sun and moon; as likewise your eclipse of the sun is caused by an interlocation of the moon betwixt the earth and sun? SMITH. I have heard so, indeed. BAYES. Well, sir, what do me I but make the earth, sun, and moon come out upon the stage and dance the hey-hum? And of

315

necessity by the very nature of this dance, the earth must be sometimes between the sun and the moon, and the moon between the earth and sun; and there you have both your eclipses. That is new, I gad-ha? 323 JOHNSON. That must needs be very fine, truly.

BAYES. Yes, there is some fancy in't. And then, sir, that there may be something in it of a joke, I make the moon sell the earth a bargain.-Come! come out eclipse, to the tune of Tom Tyler.

Enter Moon

MOON. [Singing] Orbis, O Orbis! Come to me, thou little rogue Orbis.

Enter the Earth

EARTH. What calls Terra firma, pray? MOON. Luna that ne'er shines by day. EARTH. What means Luna in a veil ? MOON. Luna means to show her tail.

Enter Sun

330

335

[blocks in formation]

DRAWCANSIR. Others may boast a single man to kill,

But I the blood of thousands daily spill. 355 Let petty kings the names of parties know; Where'er I come, I slay both friend and foe. The swiftest horsemen my swift rage controls, And from their bodies drives their trembling souls. 359

If they had wings and to the gods could fly,
I would pursue, and beat 'em, through the sky;
And make proud Jove, with all his thunder, see
This single arm more dreadful is than he.

[Exit]

BAYES. There's a brave fellow for you now, sirs. I have read of your Hector, your Achilles, and a hundred more; but I defy all your histories, and your romances too, I gad, to show me one such conqueror as this Drawcansir. 369 JOHNSON. I swear, I think you may. SMITH. But, Mr. Bayes, how shall all these dead men go off? for I see none alive to help 'em.

373

BAYES. Go off! why, as they came onupon their legs. How should they go off? Why, do you think the people do not know they are not dead? He is mighty ignorant, poor man; your friend here is very silly, Mr. Johnson, I gad, he is. Come, sir, I'll show you "go off."-Rise, sirs, and go about your business. There's "go off" for you.- Hark you, Mr. Ivory.-Gentlemen, I'll be with you presently. [Exit] 383

JOHNSON. Will you so? then we'll be

[blocks in formation]

but just as they are going to church, Prince Pretty-man meeting, by chance, with old Joan the chandler's widow, and rememb'ring it was she that brought him acquainted with Cloris, out of a high point of honor breaks1 off his match with Cloris and marries old Joan. Upon which, Cloris in despair drowns herself, and Prince Pretty-man discontentedly walks by the river side.

IST PLAYER. Pox on't, this will never do; 'tis just like the rest. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt]

[blocks in formation]

PLAYER. Sir, they are gone to dinner. BAYES. Yes, I know the gentlemen are gone, but I ask for the players.

PLAYER. Why, an't please your worship, sir, the players are gone to dinner too.

419

BAYES. HOW! are the players gone to dinner? 'Tis impossible: the players gone to dinner! I gad, if they are, I'll make 'em know what it is to injure a person that does 'em the honor to write for 'em, and all that. A company of proud, conceited, humorous, cross-grained persons, and all that. I gad, I'll make 'em the most contemptible, despicable, inconsiderable persons, and all that, in the whole world, for this trick. I gad, I'll be revenged on 'em; I'll sell this play to the other house.

431

PLAYER. Nay, good sir, don't take away the book; you'll disappoint the town, that comes to see it acted here this afternoon.

BAYES. That's all one. I must reserve this comfort to myself. My book and I will go together; we will not part, indeed, sir. The town! why, what care I for the town? I gad, the town has used me as

1Q1 break.

[blocks in formation]

THE MAN OF MODE;

OR, SIR FOPLING FLUTTER

BY GEORGE ETHEREGE

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

MR. DORIMANT

MR. MEDLEY

OLD BELLAIR

YOUNG BELLAIR

GENTLEMEN

[blocks in formation]

will excuse my presumption. "Tis the first thing I have produced in your service, and my duty obliges me to what my choice durst not else have aspired.

[ocr errors]

I am very sensible, madam, how much it is beholding to your indulgence for the success it had in the acting, and your protection will be no less fortunate to it in the printing; for all are so ambitious of making their court to you, that none can be severe to what you are pleased to favor. 18

This universal submission and respect is due to the greatness of your rank and birth, but you have many other illustrious qualities which are much more engaging. Those would but dazzle did not these really charm the eyes and understandings of all who have the happiness to approach you. 25

Authors on these occasions are never wanting to publish a particular of their patron's virtues and perfections; but your Royal Highness's are so eminently known that, did I follow their examples, I should but paint those wonders here of which everyone already has the idea in his mind. Besides, I do not think it proper to aim at that in prose which is so glorious a subject for verse; in which hereafter if I show more zeal than skill, it will grieve me much, since I less passionately desire to be esteemed a poet than to be thought, Madam,

37

Your Royal Highness's most humble, most obedient, and most faithful servant,

George Etherege

PROLOGUE

BY SIR CAR SCROOPE, BARONET

Like dancers on the ropes poor poets fare, Most perish young, the rest in danger are; This, one would think, should make our authors wary,

But, gamester like, the giddy fools miscarry.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »