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Show <T i'o " .Marriage A-la-Mode. BTd with her, like tw^ Cccks in a"^*^ like aE Cuff/ • my Kits all night in m y own Defence, and hold her down like a ^ U.tt, , nav, and give her the Rifing-blow every time the faepos to ipeak. ° Enter Rhodophil. (ball not laugh at m y misfortune. Yn]1vr fePn vour Mi- P/,*. Weil, P * W e , How go the a&irs of Love ? Youvc jeenvour Miftrifs? Pal. Rh ^v. And how, and how? Has the old Cupid, your Father, chofen well for you ? Is he a good Woodman ? . , i T n. < T i Pala. She's much handfomer than I could have iraagind : In fhort, I love her, and will Marry her. |r/l; . j: Rho. Then you are quite off from your other Miltrils ? Pa/*. You are Miftaken, I intend to love em both, as a reafonable M a n ought to do. For, fince all W o m e n have their Faults, and Imperfections, tis fit that one of'em fhould help out 'tother. Rho. This were a Bleffed Doftrine, indeed, if our Wives would heat it; but, they're their own Enemies : Ifthey would fuffer us but now and then to make Excurfions, the benefit of our variety would be theirs; infteadof one continu'd, lazy, tir'd Love, they would, in their turns, have twenty vigorous, frefh, and active Loves. Pala. And I would ask any of 'em, Whether a poor narrow Brook, half dry the beft part of the Year, and running ever one way, be to be compar'd to a lufty Stream, that has Ebbs and Flows? Rho. A y ; or is half fo profitable for Navigation. Enter Doralice, walking by, and Reading. Pala. Ods m y life, Rhodophil, will you keep m y Counfel ? Rho. Yes: Where s the Secret? Pala. There 'tis. [ Showing Doralice. I may tell you, as m y Friend, fub ftgillo, &c. This is that very numerical Lady with whom 1 am in Love. Rho. By all that's Virtuous, m y Wife! [Afide. Pala. You look ftrangely: H o w do you like her? Isfhenot very Handfome? Rho. Sure he abufes me. [ Afide. W h y the Devil do you ask m y Judgment ? {To him. Pala. You are fo dogged now, you think no Man's Miftrifs handfome, but your own. Come, you fhall hear her Talk too ; fhe has Wit, I affure you. Rho. This is too much, Palamede. {Going back. Pala. Prithee do not hang back fo: Of an old try'd Lover, thou art the moft bafhful Fellow ! {Pulling him forward. Dor. Were you fo near, and would not fpeak, dear Husband. {Looking up. Pala. Husband,quoth-a ! I have cut out a fine pieceof W o r k for m y felf. {Afide. Rho. Pray, Spoufe, H o w long have you been acquainted with this Gentleman ? Dor. W h o , I acquainted with this Stranger ? To m y beft knowledge, I never faw him before. Enter Melantha, at the other end. Pala. Thanks, Fortune, thou haft help'd me. {Afide. Rho. Palamede, this muft not pafs fo: I muft know your Miftrifs a little better. Pala. It (hall be your own fault elfe. Come, I'll introduce you. Rho. Introduce me! where? wb 2 5 ? ^ ^/ry ^i,ftrifs' $ Pointing t0 Mcla"tha, whofwiftly Rho. Who?'Melantha] \ paffes over th Stage. O Heavens, I did not fee her. * Pala. But I did: I am an |pvei I have feen her this half Hour. «£'£$$ fcoufd love 1^' & °* f° ^ » b" '" ^d to Ui^ffil m°y Miftri" ^ ^ '': ^ '">' ^ h' M : l find h« Pala. Marriage A-la-?> with her ' } d n0t' * lm'C thc Honour to k v e feme fmall acquaintance wfffthatlifuft i°ffi^ ? ?!?ckhcad ** I not to find it out I My younger Brother, which I m fure I ftia 11 be f I F(5 ^-inherited for a in wifh Rhodophil, becaufe H o v e his Wife '^ ' and yet l muft k s cP {To Rhodo.-] I muft defire you to make m y excufe to your I adv if I hav, be^n^X/0 ""* ** ^ ^ ^ » be^^Honou^ m O that's but Reafon. Hark you, Spoufe, Pray look upon this Gentleman befliwTo n£ 1C' Mi'' B?^0*hft Commands Qiail ever Enter Melantha again, haftUy, and runs to embrace Doralice. ,• 1- i?Y \l W3S ?uft S°inS to P ^ niy Devo'^ to you ; I had not time this Morning, for making m y Court V t h e King, andour'new Pri™ ^ I- A 1% rm°n T S,hafffc a**a" t h^ fi» Young Prince; and he's the kindeft Perfon ,n the World to me, let me die, if he is not. Dor. He has been bred up far from Court, and therefore Mel. That imports not: Though he has not fqenthe G W m o n d , and all that, let me die but he has the Ayr ofthe Court, moft abfolutely Pah. But yet, Madam, he Mel. O, Servant, you can teftifie that Iam in his good Graces. Well I cannot ftay long with you, becaufe I have promis'd him this Afternoon'to p r^.^' rH ?" y°U I Sefl'Ct- i mi&" t0 Malice. Rho. The Devil s in me, that I muft love this W o m a n . f Afide Pala. The Devil's in me that I muft Marry this W o m a n . \ Afide' Mel. { Raifing her voice. ] So the Prince and I But you muft make a Secret of this, m y Dear, for I would not for the World your Husband fhould hear it, or m y Tyrant there, that muft be. Pala. Well, Fairlmpertinenr; yourWhifper is not loft, we hear you. [Afide Dor. I underftand then, that • Mel. I'll tell you, m y Dear, the Prince took me by the Hand, and prelVd \t al a derobb'ee, becaufe the King was near, made the doux yeux to mc,and, inftitte faid a thoufand Gallantries, or let m e die, m y Dear. Dor. Then Iam fure you Mel. You are miftaken, m y Dear. Dor. What, before I fpeak ? Mel. But I know your meaning; you think, myDe2r,thatIafTum*d fomething of fierte into m y Countenance, to rebate him; but, quite contrary, I regarded him, I know not how to exprefs it in our dull Sicilian Language, Ann ayr en-jouuS; and faid nothing but ad autre, ad autre, and that it was alt Grimace, and would not pafs upon me. Enter Artemis: Melantha fees her, and runs away from Doralice. {To Artemis.'] M y Dear, I muft beg your Pardon, I was juft making a loofe from Doralicc, to pay m y Refpeas to you : Let me die, if I ever pafs time fo agreeably as in your company, and if I would leave it for any Lady's in Sicily. Arte. The Princefs Amaltha is coming this way. Enter AmaltUea'.: Melantha runs to her. Mel. O dear Madam'! I have been at your Lodgings, in m y new Galech. fo often, to tell you of anew Amour, betw'ixt two Perfons, w h o m you would little fufpeft for it; that, let me die, if one of m y Coach-Horfes be not Dead, and another quite tyr'd, and funk under the Fatigue, Amal. O. Melantha, I can tell you news, the Prince is coming this wa Mel. The Prince, O fweet Prince' He and I are to and I forgot it. Your Pardon, fweet Madam, for m y Abruptnefs. Adieu, m y Dears. Servant, Rodophil-^ Servant, Servant; Servant AIL {Exit running. Amal. Rodophil, a word with you. {Whifpers. [Dor. to Pala.] W h y do you not follow your Miftrifs, Sir? Pala. Follow her ? W h y , at this rate flie'll be at the Indies within this half Hour. Dor. However, ifyou can't hope ? follow her all Qd.a yq, qy ou'll meet her at nigPhatl aI. |