Nurse. He's a trim youth to be tender of, Lady. Peace, peace! thou'rt foolish. [deal; You had better marry her to her grave a great Must she become a nurse, now in her tender- Lady. And an old fool, to be vex'd thus! 'Tis late; she must to bed. Go knave; be merry; Drink for a boy: away to all your charges! [Exeunt. Enter Wildbrain and Heartlove. Wildb. Do as thou wo't; but, if thou dost Thou art the stupid'st_ass--There's no long Heartl. I'm hot with wine, And apt now to believe; but if thou dost this Wildb. Does she not love thee? [with thee? What opportunity can I have to meet her? Heartl. I will go presently; now, now, I Wildb. Such a dainty doe to be taken Nor cannot relish braggat from ambrosia? 6 Nurse. And dances like a town-top.] The putting this line in the Nurse's mouth is against all sense and reason, and confounds the discourse: I suspect these words belong to Toby, whose speech at sighs and tipples being interrupted by the Lady and the Nurse, is here resumed and finished. Sympson. 7 Frank. I will go, &c.] Sympson supposes we should both alter and divide this speech, making Wildbruin say, Now, now, I say. 8 Nor cannot relish braggat from ambrosia.] Braggat, i, e. mead and ale sweetened with honey. Our authors in this place have receded from the common acceptation of ambrosia, making that the liquor here, which the general run of the classics call the meat of the gods. But they are not destitute of good authority for so doing. Thus in Athenæus, b. ii. c. 2. Anaxandrides introduces one saying, that he eats nectar and drinks ambrosia, &c. And Sappho too to the same purpose, a little lower, says in one of her poems, A bowl ambrosial was mixed. Apuleius, b. vi. among the Latins, takes the same liberty, when Psyche is to be made immortal, Mercury holds out a cup of ambrosia to her, and bids her drink of it, &c. After I had wrote this, I found the same observation had been made by Le Clerc, in his notes upon Hesiod's Theogony, verse 640. Neither are our authors the only English poets who make ambrosia the gods' drink: Taylor, the Water-poet, has done the same in his Pennyless Pilgrimage, And I intreat you take these words for no-lies; I had good aqua-vita, rosa so-lies, With sweet ambrosia (the gods' own drink) But how this person came by the knowledge of such a thing, I have neither will nor leisure to examine at present. Sympson. Ꮶ ? Heartl Heartl. Yes, yes; now I feel it. Wildb. A meritorious thing? Heartl. Good father Wildgoose, I do confess it, Wildb. Come then, follow me, [privately, Wildb. No wringings in your mind now, Enter Lady, Maria, Algripe, Gentlewomen, Lady. 'Tis time you were a-bed. I believe that will prove your 2 Gentlew. Come, old sticks take fire. 1 Gentlew. But the plague is, he'll burn out Give him another cup. [instantly. 2 Gentlew. Those are but flashes; A ton of sack won't set him high enough,—— Will you to bed? Maria. I must. 1 Gentlew. Come, have a good heart, And win him like a bowl to lie close to you?; Make your best use! Wildb. Do, do, and dream of dottrels !— And lets ha' no inore stir; come, no crying! For the rest, you must make your own play, Your garters and your gloves; go modestly, Heartl. My name is Heartlove. Fy, noble sir! Maria. Fy, fy, worthy friend! Heartl. I must talk further with you: You know my fair affection Maria. So preserve it; [civiler! You know I'm married now. For shame, be And if you ever lov'd me Maria. Take heed, Frank, [prithee. How you divert that love to hate: go home, Maria. Nay, pray unhand me. Heartl. He that never felt what love was? Stand further off! Heartl. I'm tame; but let me walk w' you; Maria. So your talk be honest, Heartl. Give me your hand then. [Exeunt. Enter Wildbrain, Algripe, Lady, Nurse, 9 And win him like a borol.] A single letter seems wanting here, And wind him like a bowl. Bewailing others maiden heads.] Corrected in 1750. Sympson Wildb. And I'll tell you what I dream'dAlg. Give me a torch! 1 Gentlew. Be not too hasty, sir. Wildb. Nay, let him go; For if my dream be true he must be speedy; He will be trickt, and blaz'd else11. Nurse. As I am a woman, I cannot blame her if she take her liberty! A notorious cuckold, for tormenting her! Nurse. I'll bless her then! she does justice: Is this old stinking dogs-flesh for her diet? Wildb. Prithee, honest Nurse, do not fret too much; For fear I dream you'll hang yourself too. Alg. The cloister? [Wildb. whispers Alg. Wildb. Such was my fancy; I don't say 'tis true, Upon my own heart will I execute, Alg. [within] Down with the door! Rather than you shall suffer, I'll— [Frank! [eyes! Alg. Now enter, Enter, sweet gentlemen. Mine eyes, mine Oh, how my head aches! 1 Gentlew. Is it possible? nest. 2 Gentlew. Hold her; she sinks. Maria. A plot upon my honour! To poison my fair name, a studied villainy! Farewell! As I have hope of peace, I'm ho[brains, they bud sure. Alg. My brains, my brains, my monstrous Nurse. She's gone, she's gone! Alg. A handsome riddance of her. 'Would I could as easily lose her memory! Nurse. Is this the sweet of marriage? have For this reward? [I bred thee 1 Gentlew. Hold, hold! He's desperate too. Alg. Be sure you hold him fast! we'll bind him over [him. To the next sessions, and, if I can, I'll hang Heartl. Nay then, I'll live to be a terror to thee.[beauty, Sweet virgin rose, farewell! Heav'n has thy That's only fit for Heav'n. I'll live a little, To find the villain out that wrought this injury, [thee. And then, most blessed soul, I'll climb up to Farewell! I feel myself another creature. [Exit. Lady. Oh, misery of miseries! Nurse. I told you, madam. [portion? Lady. Carry her in. You will pay back her Alg. No, not a penny: pay me back my And I'll condition wi' ye. Lady. A sad wedding! [credit, Her grave must be her bridal-bed. Oh, Mall, 'Would I had wed thee to thy own content! Then I had had thee still. Alg. I'm mad! Farewell! Another wanton wife will prove a hell. [Exeunt. "Trickt, and blaz'd.] Tricking is drawing any person's arms, with pen and ink; blazon ing them is to set them forth in their proper colours. Sympson. ACT Enter Lurcher and Alathe. Lure. WHAT hast thou done? lodgings: ACT II. Alathe. I've walk'd thro' all the A silence, as if death dwelt there, inhabits. Lurc. What hast thou seen? Alathe. Nought but a sad confusion; Every thing left in such a loose disorder, That, were there twenty thieves, they would be laden. ['tis strange Lurc. 'Tis very well; I like thy care: but Is fallen suddenly upon some friend, Lurc. Are they all a-bed? cause; [it be Alathe. I think so, and sound asleep, unless Some women that keep watch in a low parlour, And drink, and weep, I know not to what end. Lurc. Where's all the plate? Alathe. Why, lock'd up in that room: I saw th' old lady, ere she went to bed, Put up her plate, and some of the rich hangings, [are there too: In a small long chest; her chains and rings It stands close by the table, on a form. Lurc. 'Twas a good notice; didst thou see the men? [their leaves; Alathe. I saw them sad too, and all take But what they said I was too far to hear, sir. Lurc. Tis daintily discover'd; we shall certainly Have a most prosp'rous night. Which way? Alathe. A close one, A back-door, that the women have left open, Lurc. I love thy diligence: Wert thou not fearful? Alathe. Fearful? I'll be hang'd first. T' have cried downright too, and have kept 'em company, As one that had an interest in their sadness; Or made an errand to I know not whom, sir. Lurc. My dainty boy! Let us discharge; that plate Makes a perpetual motion in my fingers 'Till I have fast hold of it. [ben't greedy; Alathe. Pray be wise, sir; do't handsomely, Let's handle it with such an excellence As if we would bring thieving into honour: We must disguise, to fright these reverend Lurc. Still my blest boy! [watchesAlathe. And clear the room of drunken jealousies. [make The chest is of some weight, and we may Alathe. Give me the turbant [this way! And the false beard. I hear some coming Stoop, stoop, and let me sit upon your shoulders, And now as I direct-Stay, let them enter, And when I touch move forward; make no noise! Enter Nurse and Toby. Nurse. Oh, 'tis a sad time! All the burnt wine's drunk, Nick. Toby. We may thank your dry chaps for't. The canary's gone too; [upon; No substance for a sorrowful mind to work I cannot mourn in beer: if she should walk now, As discontented spirits are wont to do- What heart can we defy the devil with? Nurse. The March beer's open. [well; Toby. A fortification of March beer will do I must confess 'tis a most mighty armour, For I presume I cannot pray. Nurse. Why, Nicholas? Toby. We coachmen have such tumbling faiths, no prayers Can go an even pace. Nurse. Hold up your candle. Toby. Verily, Nurse, I have cried so much Nurse. Drink to a sad heart's needful. Nurse. Methinks the light burns blue; I There's a thief in't, I think. Toby. There may be one near it. Nurse. What's that that moves there, i'th' name of--Nicholas? That thing that walks? Toby. 'Would I had a ladder to behold it! Mercy Mercy upon me, the ghost of one of the guard sure; [brimstone; Tis the devil by his claws, he smells of Sure he farts fire, what an earthquake I have in me! Out with thy prayer-book, Nurse! [eat it. Nurse. It fell i'th' frying-pan, and the cats Toby. I have no power to pray! It grows still longer, [Nurse. 'Tis steeple-high now; and it sails away, Let's call the butler up, for he speaks Latin 12, And that will daunt the devil. I am blasted; My belly's grown to nothing. Nurse. Fly, fly, Toby! [Exit with Toby. Alathe. So, let them go! And whilst they are astonish'd, Let's presently upon the rest now, suddenly. Lurc. Off, off, and up again when we're near the parlour! Art sure thou know'st the chest? Alathe. Tho' it were i'th' dark, sir, I can go to it. Lure. On then, and be happy. [Exeunt. Toby. How my haunches quake! Is the thing here still? [own trade; Now can I out-do any button-maker at his I have fifteen fits of an ague. Nurse! 'tis gone, I hope: [Nurse! The hard-hearted woman has left me alone. And she knows too I ha' but a lean conscience to keep me company. [Noise within. The devil's among 'em in the parlour sure, The ghost three storics high, he has the Nurse sure, [she whistles! He's boiling of her bones now; hark, how There's gentlewomen within too; how will they do? I'll to the cook, for he was drunk last night, And now he's valiant; he's a-kin to th' devil And fears no fire. [too, Wildb. What thousand noises pass thro all the rooms! [drunk, What cries and hurries! Sure the devil's And tumbles thro' the house. My villainies, That never made me apprehend before Danger or fear, a little now molest me: My cousin's death sits heavy o' my conscience; [mer'd it! 'Would I'd been half-hang'd when I hamI aim'd at a living divorce, not a burial, That Frank might have had some hope. Hark! still In every room confusion; they're all mad, Most certain all stark-mad within the house; A punishment inflicted for my lewdness, That I might have the more sense of my mischief, [hang'd sure, And run the more mad too. My aunt is Sure hang'd herself, or else the fiend has fetch'd her. I heard a hundred cries, 'the devil, the devil!' Then roaring, and then tumbling; all the chambers Are a mere Babel, or another Bedlam. What should I think? I shake myself too: can the Devil find no time, but when we are merry? Here's something comes. Newl. Are you a man? Pray Heav'n you Wildb. I am. Newl. Alas, I have met, sir, The strangest things to-night. Wildb. Why do you stare? [candle out; Newl. Pray comfort me, and put your For if I see the spirit again I die for't. And hold me fast, for I shall shake to pieces else. Wildb. I'll warrant you, I'll hold you, Hold you as tenderly I've put the light out; Retire into my chamber, there I'll watch wi'ye, I'll keep you from all frights. Newl. And will you keep me? Wildb. Keep you as secure, ladyNewl. You must not wrong me; then the devil will have us. [will fear us; Wildb. No, no, I'll love you; then the devil 12 He speaks Latin.] The wonderful effect of speaking Latin to ghosts, and other supernatural beings, hath at all times uniformly been the prevailing notion of the common people. In like manner, the honest Butier, in Mr. Addison's Drummer, recommends that the steward shall speak Latin to the ghost in that play. R. For |