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Show 58 The R E H E A R S A L . Johnf. I fwear, I think you may. Smith. -But, M r . Bayes, how fhall all thefe dead Men go off ? for I fee none alive to help 'em. Bayes. G o off ! why, as they came on ; upon their Legs- H o w mould they go oft* I why, do you think the People here" don't know they are net dead ? He's mighty ignoiant, poor M a n ! Your Friend here is very filly, Mr. johnf,:, \\ is. H a , ha, ha ! Come, Sir, I'll fhew you how they (ha off. Rife, rife, Sirs, and go about your bufinefs. * There's go off* for you now. Ha, ha, ha ! Mr. Ivory, a Word. Gentlemen, I'll be with you prefently. [Exit. Johnf Will you fo ? Then we'll be gone. Smith. Ay, prithee let's go that w e may prefer ve our Hearing. O n e Battle more will take mine quite away. [Exeunt. Enter Bayes and Players. Bayes. Where are the Gentlemen ? i Play. They are gone, Sir. Bayes. Gone ! 'Sdeath, this Aft is beft of all! I'll g0 fetch 'em again. [Exit. i Play. What fhall w e do, now he's gone away ? 2 Play. W h y , fo much the better ; then let's go to Dinner. 3 Play. Stay, here's a foul Piece of Paper. Let's fee what 'tis. 3 or 4 Play. Ay, ay, come let's hear it. [Reads. The Argument of the Fifth Ad. 3 Play. Claris at length, being fenfible of Prince Pretty mans Paffion, confents to marry him ; but juft as they arc going to Church, Prince Prettyman meeting, by chance, with old Joan the Chandler's Widow, and remembering it was fhe that firft brought him acquainted with Claris; out of a high Point of Honour, breaks off Ins Match with Claris, and marries old Joan. Upon which Cloris, in defpair, drowns herfelf; and Prince Prettyman, difcontent-edly, walks by the River-fide. This will never do : 'tis juft like the reft. Come, let's be gone. Mofi of the Players. Ay, pox on't, let's go away. [Exeunt. Enter Bayes. Bayes. A Plague on 'em both forme, they have made me fweat to run after 'em. A couple of fenfelefs Rafcals, that had rather go to dinner, than fee this Play out, with a pox to 'em. What Comfort has a M a n to write for fuch dull_Rogues? Come, The R E H E A R S A L . 59 Come, Mr.-a-where are you, sir? come away, quick> quick. Enter Stage keeper. Stage k. Sir, they are gone to Dinner. Bayes. Yes, I know the Gentlemen are gone j but I afk for the Players. Sta^e k. Why, an't pleafe your Worfhip, Sir, the Players are gone to dinner too. Bayes. H o w ! are the Players gone to dinner ? 'tis impoftible : the Players gone to dinner ! I'gad, if they are, I'll make 'em know what it is to injure a Perfon that does them the Honour to write for 'em, and all that. A Company of proud, conceited, humourous, crofs-grain'd Perfons, and all that. I'gad I'll make 'em the moft contemptible, de-fpicable, inconfiderable Perfons, and all that, in the whole World, for this Trick. I'gad I'll be reveng'd on 'em ; I'll fell this Play to the other Houfe. Stage-k. Nay, good Sir, don't take away the Book ; you'll difappoint the Company that comes to fee it acled here this Afternoon. Bayes. That's all one, I muft referve this Comfort to myfelf, m y Play and I fhall go together ; w e will not part indeed, Sir. Stage-k. But what will the T o w n fay, Sir ? Bayes. T h e T o w n ! why, what care I for the T o w n ? I'gad the T o w n us'd m e as fcurvily as the Players have done : but I'll be reveng'd on 'em too ; for I'll lampoon 'em all. And fince they will not admit of m y Plays, they fhall know what a Satirift I am. And fo farewel to tins Stage, I'gad, for ever. [Exit Bayes. Enter Players. 1 Play. C o m e then, let's fet up Bills for another Play. 2 Play. Ay, ay ; .ve fhall lofe nothing by this, I warrant you. 1 % • f a m of your Opinion. But, before w e go, let's fee Haynes and Shirley pracufe the laft Dance : tor that may ferve us another time. 2 Play I'll call 'em in : I think they are but in the Tiring-Room. The dance done. 1 Play. Come, come j let's go away to dinner. Exeunt Omnes, C6 EPI- |