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Show 48 % R E H E A R S A L. Pret. I'll fooner have a Pafhon for a Whale; In whofe vail Bulk, tho' ftore of Oil doth lie, W e find more Shape, more Beauty in a Fly. Smith. That's uncivil, I'gad. Bayes. Yes; but as far fetch'd a Fancy, tho', Pgad, as e'er you faw. Volf Soft, Prettyman, let not thy vain Pretence O f perfect Love, defame Love's Excellence : Parthenope is, fure, as far above All other Loves, as above all is Love. Bayes. A h ! I'gad, that ftrikes m e . Pret. T o blame m y Claris, Gods would not pretend: Bayes. N o w mark. Volf. W e r e all Gods join'd, they could not hope to M y better Choice : for fair Parthenope (mend Gods would themfelves un-god themfelves to fee. Bayes. N o w the Rant's a coming. Pret. Durft any of the Gods be fo uncivil, I'd make that G o d fubfcribe himfelf a Devil. Bayes. Ay, gadzookers, that's well writ! [Scratching his Head, his Peruke falls of. Volf. Could'ft thou that G o d from Heaven to Earth tranflate, H e could not fear to want a heav'nly State ; Pan': . on Earth, can Heav'n create. Pret. Chris dees Heav'n itfelf fo far excel, She can tranicend the Joys of Heav'n in Hell. Bayes. There's a bold Flight for you now ! 'Sdeath, I have loft m y Peruke. Well, Gentlemen, this is what I never yet faw any one could write, but myfelf. Here's true Spirit and Flame all through, I'gad. So, fo, pray clear the Stage. [He puts V M of the Stage. Johnf I wonder how the Coxcomb has got the Knack of writing fmooth Verfe thus. Smith. W h y , there's no need of Brain for this : 'tis but fcanninp- the Labours on the Finger; but where's the Senfe of it? Johnf. O ! for that he defires to be excus'd : he is tco proud a M a n , to creep fervilely after Senfe, I affure you, i»ur pray, M r . Bayes, w h y is this Scene all in Verfe ? Busts. O , Sir, "the Subject is too great for Profe. Smith. The R E H E A R S A L . 49 Smith. Well, faid, i'faith ; I'll give thee a Pot of Ale for that Anfwer ; 'tisnvell worth it. Bayes. Come, writh all m y heart. I'll make that G o d fubfcribe himfelf a Devil; That fingle Line, I'gad, is worth all that m y Brother Poets ever writ. Let down the Curtain. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Bayes, and tbe two Gentlemen. Bayes. j ^ M ^ t O W . Gentlemen, I will be bold to fay, I'll fhew you the greateft Scene that ever England faw: I mean not for Words, for thofe I don^value ; but for State, Shew, and Magnificence. In fine, I'll juftify it to be as grand to the Eye every whit, I'gad, as that great Scene in Harry the Eighdi, and grander too, Pgad ; for inftead of two Bifhops, I bring in here four Cardinals. [The Curtain is drawn ut>, the two ufurping Kings appear in State with the four Cardinals, Prince Prettyman, Prince Volfcius, Amaryllis, Cloris, Parthenope, cjf c. before them Heralds, and Serjeants at Arms, with Maces.] Smith. M r . Bayes, pray, what is the reafon that two of the Cardinals are in Hats, and the other in Caps ? Bayes. W h y , Sir, becaufe--By gad I won't tell you. Your Country-Friend, Sir, grows fo troublefome - K. Up. N o w , Sir, to the Bufinefs of the Day. K. Phyf. Speak, Volfcius. Volf. Dread Sovereign Lords, m y Zeal to you muft not invade m y Duty to your Son ; let m e intreat that great Prince Prettyman firft to fpeak : whofe high Pre-eminence in all things that do bear the N a m e of good, may i nitty claim that Privilege. Bayes. Here it begins to unfold; you may perceive, now, that he is his Son. Johnf Yes, Sir, and w e are very much beholden to you for that Difcovery. C Pret. |