Johnf. Faith, Sir, 'tis fo good, let it e'en serve for both. Bayes. No, no; that won't do. Befides, I have made another. Johnf. What other, Sir? Bayes. Why, Sir, my other is thunder and lightning. For Johnf. That's greater, I'd rather stick to that. Bayes. Do you think so? I'll tell you then; tho' there have been many witty prologues written of late, yet, I think, you'll fay this is a non pareillo: I'm fure no body has hit upon it yet. here, Sir, I make my prologue to be a dialogue; and as in my first, you fee I ftrive to oblige the auditors by civility, by good nature, good language, and all that; fo, in this, by the other way, in terrorem, I chufe for the perfons, Thunder and Lightning. Do you apprehend the conceit ? Johnf. Phoo, pox! then you have it cock-fure. They'll be hang'd before they'll dare affront an author, that has 'em at that lock. Bayes. I have made, too, one of the most delicate, dainty fimiles in the whole world, I'gad, if I knew how to apply it. Smi. Let's hear it, I pray you. Bayes Bayes. 'Tis an Allufion of love. * So boar and fow, when any storm is nigh, How do you like it now, ha? Johnf. Faith, 'tis extraordinary fine; and very applicable to thunder and lightning, methinks, because it speaks of a storm. Bayes. I'gad, and fo it does, now I think on't; Mr. Johnson, I thank you; and I put it in profecto. Come out Thunder and Lightning. * So boar and fow, &c.] These verses are in ridicule of the following lines in the conqueft of Granada, part II, page 48. "So two kind turtles, when a storm is nigh, “Leaving in murmurs their unfinish'd loves; Enter Enter Thunder and Lightning. Thun. I am the bold thunder. Bayes. Mr. Cartwright, pr'ythee speak that a little louder, and with a hoarfe voice. I am the bold thunder! Pfhaw! Speak it in a voice that thunders out indeed: I am the bold Thunder. Thun. I am the bold thunder.* Light. The brifk lightning I. Bayes. Nay, but you must be quick and nimble. The britk lightning I. That's my meaning. Thun. I am the bravest Hector of the sky. Light. And I fair Helen, that made Hector die. Thun. I ftrike men down. Light. I fire the town. Thun. Let criticks take heed how they grumble, For then I begin for to rumble. Light. Let the ladies allow us their graces,† Or I'll blast all the paint on their faces, And dry up their petre to foot. *I am the bold thunder.] In ridicule of this paffage, "I am the evening dark as night. Thun. Let the criticks look to't. Gallants I'll finge your feather. Thun. I'll thunder you together. Both. Look to't, look to't, we'll do't, we'll do't: Look to't, we'll do't. [Twice or thrice repeated. Bayes. There's no more. 'Tis but a flash of a prologue. A droll. [Exeunt ambo. Smi. Yes, 'tis fhort indeed; but very terrible. Bayes. Ay, when the fimile's in it will do to a miracle, l'gad. Come, come, begin the play. Enter ft Player. 1 Play. Sir, * Mr. Ivory is not come yet; but he'll be here presently, he's but two doors off. * Mr. Abraham Ivory, &c.] Mr. Abraham Ivory had formerly been a confiderable actor of women's parts; but afterwards ftupify'd himself so far, with drinking ftrong waters, that, before the first acting of this farce, he was fit for nothing, but to go of errands; for which, and meer charity, the company allow'd him a weekly falary. Bayes. Bayes. Come then, gentlemen, let's go out and take a pipe of tobacco. END OF THE FIRST ACT. [Exeunt. Bayes, Johnson, and Smith. Bayes. Now, Sir, because I'll do nothing here that ever was done before, instead of beginning with a scene that discovers fomething of the plot, I begin this play with a whisper.* Smi. Umph! very new, indeed. Bayes. Come, take your feats. Begin, Sirs. Phyf. Sir, by your habit, I guess you to be the * I begin this play with a whisper.] See the amorous prince, page 20, 22, 39, 69, where you will find, all the chief commands and directions are given in whispers. "Drake Sen. Draw up our men ; "and in low whispers give our orders out. Play-boufe to be lett, p. 100. Uh. |