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Show 176 The M I S T A K E. Solus. I'll try if I can difcover, by his Tutor, what 'tig that f-ems fo much to work his Brain of late ; for forne*- thing more than common there plainly does appear* yet nothing fure that can difturb his Soul, like what I have to torture mine upon his account. Sure nothing in this World is worth a troubled Mind : What Racks tas Avarice ftretch'd m e on ! I wanted nothing kind Heav'n had given m e a plenteous Lot, and feated me in '53 done at laft. Enter Metaph raft us. Metaph. Mandatum tuum euro diligenter. Alv. Mafter, I had a mind to ask vou. - ' 4 Metaph. The Title*, Mafter, comes hom'Magis and Ter, which is as much as to fay, Thrice worthy. Alv. I never heard fo much before, but it may be true for ought 1 know : But, M a f t e r - - • Metaph. G o on. Alv. Why fo 1 will if you'll let me, but don't interrupt m e then. Metaph. Enough, proceed. Alv. W h y then, Mafter, for a third time, my Son Camillo gives m e much uneafinefs of late; you know I love htm, and have many careful Thoughts about him, Metaph. 'Tis true. Eilio non poteft pr&ferri, nifi Films. AiV. Mafter, when one has Bufinefs to talk on, thefe Scholaftick Expreflions are not of ufe ; 1 believe you a great Latinift ; pofTibly you may underftand Greek', thofe w h o recommended you to me, faid fo, and I am willing it fhould be true: But the thing I want to difcourfe you about at prefent, does not properly give you an Occafion to difplay your Learning. Befides, to tell you Truth, 'twill at all times be loft upon m e ; my Father was a wife Man, but he taught m e nothing beyond common Scnfe.; I know but one Tongue in the World, The MISTAKE. 177 which luckily being underftood* by you as well as me, I fa/icy whatever Thoughts we have to communicate to 'one another, may reafonably be convey'd in that, without having recourfe to the Language of Julius C&far. Metaph. You are wrong, but may proceed. Alv. 1 thank* Y O U : What is the matter, I do not know ; but tho it is of the utmoft confequence to m e to marry m y Son, what Match'foever I propofe to him, he ftill finds fome Pretence or other to decline ir. Metaph. He is, perhaps, of the humour of a Brother of Marcus Tullius, who • Alv. Dear Mafter, leave the Greeks^ sod the TAtUiT, and the Scotch. Snd the Welfh, and let m e go on in rrrj Bufinefs ; what have thofe People to do with my Son's Marriage ? Metaph. Again you are wrong; but go on. Alv. I fay then, that I have ftrong Apprehenfior.s from his refilling all m y Propofals, that he may have fome fecret Inclination of his o w n ; and to confirm m e in this Fear, 1 yefterday obferv'd him (without lis knowing it) in a Corner of the Grove, where no body coi-nes----- Metaph. A Place out of the way, vou would fay ; a Place of Retreat. Alv. Why, the Corner of the Grove, where nobody-comes, is a place of Retreat, is it not ? Metaph. I a Latin, Seceffus. Alv. H a! Metaph. As Virgil has it, Eft in Seceffa LOCHS. Alv. H o w could Virgil have it, when I tell you no Soul was there but he and I ? Metaph. Virgil is a famous Author, I quote his Saying as a Phrafe more proper to the Occafion than that you ufe, and not as one who was in the W o o d with you. Alv. And I tell you, I hope to be as famous as any Virgil of 'em all, when 1 have been dead as long, and have no need of a better Phrafe than m y own to tell you m y Meaning. H 5 'Metaf). |
