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Show 46 The R E H E A R S A L . Draw. You fhall not know how long I here will fby; But you fhall know I'll take your Bowls away. [Snatches the Bowls out of the Kings hands, and drinks 'em off. Smith. But, M r . Bayes, is that, too, modeft and gent ? Bayes. N o , I'gad, Sir, but 'tis great. K.Up. Tho', Brother, this grum Stranger be a Clown, He'll leave us fure a little to gulp down. Dranv. Whoe'er to gulp one drop of this dare think, I'll flare away his very Power to drink. [The two Kings Jheak off the Stage with their Attendants. I drink, I huff, I ftrut, look big and flare; And all this I can do, becaufe I dare. [Exit. Smith. 1 fuppofe, M r . Bayes, this is the fierce Hero you fpoke of? Bayes. Yes ; but this is nothing : you fhall fee him in the laft Aet win above a dozen Battles, one after another, I'gad, as faft as they can poffibly come upon the Stage. Johnf. That will be a Sight worth the feeing, indeed. Smith. But pray, Mr. Bayes, why do you make the Kings let him ufe 'em fo fcurvily ? Bayes. Phoo! that's to raife the Character of Drawcanfir. Johnf. O ' m y word, that was well thought on. Bayes. N o w , Sirs, I'll fhew you a Scene indeed; or rather indeed the Scene of Scenes. 'Tis an Heroick Scene. Smith. And pray, Sir, what's your Defign in this Scene ? Bayes. W h y , Sir, m y Defign is gilded Truncheons, forc'd Conceit, fmooth Verfe and a Rant: in fine, if this Scene don't take, I'gad I'll write no more. Come, come in, M r . a - - nay, come in as many as you can. Gentlemen, I muft defire you to remove a little, for I muft fill the Stage. Smith. W h y fill the Stage ? Bayes. O , Sir, becaufe your Heroick Verfe never founds well; but when the Stage is full. SCENE II. Enter Prince Pretty m a n and Prince Volfcius. A Y , hold, hold ; pray by your leave a little. Look you, Sir, the Drift of this Scene is fomewhat more than N ^ R E H E A R S A L , 4? than ordinary ; for I make'em both fall out, becaufe they are not m love with the fame W o m a n . y Smith. Not in love ? you mean, I fuppofe, becaufr they are in love, M r . Bayes ? oecauie Bayes. N o , Sir ; I fay not in love ; there's a new Conceit for you. N o w fpeak. Pret. Since Fate, Prince Volfcius, now has found the way For our fo long'd-for meeting here this day, Lend thy Attention to m y grand Concern. Volf I gladly would that ftory from thee learn ; But thou to Love, doft, Pretty man, incline ; Yet Love in thy Breaft is not Love in mine. Bayes. Antithefis! thine and mine. Pret. Since Love itfelFs the fame, w h y fhould it be Diff'ring in you from what it is in m e ? Bayes. Reafoning ! I'gad, I love reafoning in Verfe. Volf. Love takes, Camelion like, a various Dye From every Plant on which itfelf does lie. Bayes. Simile ! Pret. Let not thy Love the Courfe of Nature friVht • Nature does moft in Harmony delight. Volf. H o w weak a Deity would Nature prove, Contending with the pow'rful G o d of Love,! Bayes. There's a great Verfe ! Volf. If Incenfe thou wilt offer at the Shrine Of mighty Love, burn it to none but mine. Her rofy Lips eternal Sweets exhale ; And her bright Flames make all Flames elfe look paTe, Bayes. I gad that is right. Pret. Perhaps dull Incenfe m a y thy Love fuffice ? But mine muft be ador'd with Sacrifice All Hearts turn Afhes, which her Eyes controul: I he Body they confume, as well as Soul. Volf M y Love has yet a Power more divine ; Victims her Altars burn not, but refine ; Amidft the Flames they ne'er give up the Ghoft But with her Looks, revive ftill as they roaft In fpite of Pain and Death, they're kept alive : Her fiery Eyes make 'em in fire furvive Bayes That is as well, I'gad, as I can do. rolj. Let m y Parthenope at length prevail. Bayes. Civil, I'gad. Pret. |