fame, by calumniating of perfons that, I gad, to my knowledge, of all perfons in the world are, in nature, the perfons that do as much despise all that, asa- -In fine, I'l say no more of 'em.

JOHNS. I, I, you have faid enough of 'em in conscience: I'm sure more than they'l ever be able to anfwer.

BAYES. Why, I'l tell you, Sir, fincerely, and bona fide; were it not for the fake of fome ingenious perfons, and choice female spirits, that have a value for me, I would fee 'em all hang'd before I would e'er more fet pen to papyr; but let 'em live in ignorance like ingrates.

JOHNS. I marry! that were a way to be reveng'd of 'em indeed: and, if I were in your place, now, I would do it.

BAYES. No, Sir; there are certain tyes upon me,' that I cannot be difingag'd from; otherwife, I would. But pray, Sir, how do you like my hang-man?

SMI. By my troth, Sir, I fhould like him very well.

BAYES. I, but how do you like it? (for I see you can judge) Would you have it for the Prologue, or the Epilogue?

JOHNS. Faith, Sir, it's fo good, let it e'en ferve for both.

BAYES. No, no; that won't do. Besides, I have made another.

JOHNS. What other, Sir?

BAYES. Why, Sir, my other is Thunder and Lightning.

JOHNS. That's greater: I'd rather stick to that.

BAYES. Do you think fo? I'l tell you then; though there have been many wittie Prologues written of late, yet I think you'l say this is a non pareillo: I'm fure no body has hit upon it yet. For here, Sir, I make my Prologue to be Dialogue: and as, in my firft, you fee I strive to oblige the Auditors by civility, by good nature, and all that; fo, in this, by the other way, in

'Almah. So, two kind Turtles, when a ftorm is nigh
Look up, and fee it gath'ring in the Skie.
Each calls his Mate to shelter in the Groves,
Leaving, in murmures, their unfinish'd Loves.
Perch'd on fome dropping Branch they fit alone,
And Cooe, and hearken to each others moan.
J. DRYDEN. The Conqueft of Granada. Part II., Act i. Sc.
ii., p. 82. Ed. 1672.

"Song in Dialogue.

Evening. I am an Evening dark as Night,

Jack-with-the-Lantern bring a Light.

Jack. Whither, whither, whither?

Evening. Hither, hither, hither.

[Within.

Jack. Thou art fome pratling Eccho, of my making. Evening. Thou art a Foolish Fire, by thy miflaking I am the Evening that creates thee.

Enter Fack in a black Suit border'd with Glow-worms, a Coronet of Shaded Beams on his head, over it a Paper Lantern with a Candle in't.

Terrorem, I chuse for the perfons Thunder and Lightning. Do you apprehend the conceipt?

JOHNS. Phoo, pox! then you have it cock-fure. They'l be hang'd, before they'l dare affront an Author, that has 'em at that lock.

BAYES. I have made, too, one of the most delicate, daintie Simile's in the whole world, I gad, if I knew but how to applie it.

SMI. Let's hear it, I pray you.

BAYES. 'Tis an allufion to love.

1 So Boar and Sow, when any storm is nigh,
Snuff up, and smell it gath'ring in the Skie :
Boar beckons Sow to trot in Chefnunt Groves,
And there confummate their unfinish'd Loves.
Penfive in mud they wallow all alone,

And fnort, and gruntle to each others moan.

How do you like it now, ha?

JOHNS. Faith, 'tis extraordinary fine and very applicable to Thunder and Lightning, methinks, because it speaks of a Storm.

BAYES. I gad, and so it does, now I think on't. Mr. Fohnfon, I thank you : and I'l put it in profecto. Come out, Thunder and Lightning.

2 Enter Thunder and Lightning.

Thun. I am the bold Thunder.

BAYES. Mr. Cartwright, pr'ythee fpeak a little louder, and with a hoarfer voice. I am the bold Thunder Pfhaw! speak it me in a voice that thunders it out indeed: I am the bold Thunder.

Thun. I am the bold Thunder.

Light. The brisk Lightning, I.

BAYES. Nay you must be quick and nimble.
The brisk Lightning, I. That's my meaning.
Thun. I am the braveft Hector of the Skie.
Light. And I, fair Helen, that made Hector die.

Jack. My Lantern and my Candle waits thee.
Evening. Thofe Flajolets that we heard play,

Are Reapers who have loft their way;
They Play, they Sing, they Dance a-Round,
Lead them up, here's Faery-ground.

Chorus.

Let the Men ware the Ditches;
Maids, look to your Breeches,

we'l fcratch them with Briars and Thifiles:
when the Flajolets cry,

we are a-dry;

Pond-water hall wet their whifles.

[Exeunt Evening, Winds, & Jack

SIR R. STAPYLTON. The Slighted Maid. Act iii., pp. 48, 49.

Ed. 1663.

Abraham Ivory had formerly been a confiderable Actor of Womens Parts; but afterwards stupify'd himself so far, with drinking ftrong Waters, that, before the firft Acting of this Farce, he was fit for nothing, but to go of Errands; for which, and meer Charity, the Company allow'd him a Weekly Sallary. Key 1704.

Thun. I ftrike men down.

Light. I fire the Town.

Thun. Let the Critiques take heed how they grumble,
For then begin I for to rumble.
Light. Let the Ladies allow us their graces,
Or I'l blast all the paint on their faces,
And dry up their Peter to foot.

Thun. Let the Critiques look to't.
Light. Let the Ladies look to't.
Thun. For Thunder will do't.
Light. For Lightning will shoot.
Thun. I'l give you dash for dash.
Light. I'l give you flash for flash.

Gallants, I'l finge your Feather.

Thun. I'l Thunder you together.

Both. Look to't, look to't; we'l do't, we'l do't: look to't, we'l do't. [Twice or thrice repeated. [Exeunt ambo. BAYES. That's all. 'Tis but a flash of a Prologue: a Droll.

SMI. 'Tis fhort, indeed; but very terrible.

BAYES. Ay, when the fimile is in, it will do to a Miracle, I gad. Come, come; begin the Play.

Enter firft Player.

1 Play. Sir, Mr. Ivory is not come yet; but he'l be here presently, he's but two doors off.

BAYES. Come then, Gentlemen, let's go out and take a pipe of Tobacco.

Finis Actus primi.

[Exeunt.