SCENE IV.

_Enter again the Ladies with their Platonic Confidants._

1ST BOY. What! so soon returned? upon my life, there's some amorous design on foot, either in displaying of the weakness of those rams'-heads whom they have deserted, or some pasquil of light mirth to ingratiate their late-entertained servants.

2D BOY. No drollery, for love sake: "Facetious fancies are the least profane."

1ST BOY. That's a precious strain of modesty, Nick: make much on't: let's fasten our attentions. They are moving.

[BOYS _retire again_.

FLO. Dear Madam Fricase, present those scenes, Those love-attractive scenes, your noble self With these long-injur'd ladies tend'red To your prudential senate.

FRI. Sure, Florello, You much mistake them; can you call them scenes Which just complaints exhibit? True, they might,-- They might have prov'd to us, and to our honours That lay at stake, and by spectators thought Highly engag'd, nay, desperately expos'd To a judicial sentence--a decree Of fatal consequence.

CAR. But pregnant wits, Stor'd with maturest judgment, polite tongues, Calm'd an approaching storm.

PAL. Nay, made you gracious Before those rigid consuls.

SAL. For my part, I never knew a good face spoil a cause, Though th' bench were ne'er so gravely ancient: Nor ripe in years.

MOR. Beauty's a taking bait, Which each fish nibbles at: this Appius felt, A reverend sage, whom furrowed brow, loose lip, Strait line of life, a rough distemper'd cough, Aged catarrhs, a shiver'd shell turn'd earth, Where nought appear'd that might partake of man, Save a weak breathing motion: yet could he Send forth light wand'ring eyes, and court Virginia With a dull admiration: so the bard Describes his daring-doting appetite, Which he pursu'd, yet thought none durst discover: "Appius had silent tongue, but speaking eyes; Yet who says Appius loves Virginia, lies."

TIL. Not I, I vow; let age attire itself, And in that garish habit fool his soul With fruitless wishes. What's all this to me? Pygmalion may with his incessant vows, Sweet'ned with fancy's incense, seek t'enliven Motionless marble; but such statues render Icy content. Imagination may Make th' image seem a Leda, yet the swan Retains her feature and her nature too. Let's leave these apprehensions; they suit better With shady than essential favourites. Good madams, second our desires; let's hear, How you were dealt withal.

FLO. Our instancy Begs so much favour.

CAR. It will cheer our spirits In the relation of your fair proceedings.

MOR. Where th' issue crown'd your suit with that success, No fates seem'd more propitious.

PAL. We must leave't; You know what longing means.

SAL. Come, who begins?

LADIES. Stay, gallants, wing not your too speedy course With such Pegasian quickness; our consent Should go along: our interests are concern'd To perfect your desires.

FLO. And we presume Your acquiescence will accomplish it. Our mutual loves close in that harmony That, though the airs of music still admit Their closure in divisions, our joint strings, So sweetly tun'd, may run their diapason Without a discord.

FRI. By which sense we gather, That we must prove your fiddlers?

FLO. You mistake me. We hold you instruments; your fancies, strings, To actuate our motion with that fulness Arion ne'er attain'd to.

LADIES. We must yield, Or they will storm us.

FRI. Yet let our conditions Bring them within our lists. Well, our surprise Must make you parties i' th' discovery.

ALL. For love's sake, how?

FRI. As thus: we stand at bar T' express our grievances: and you must set Grave censors or examinates to discuss The weight of our complaints.

ALL. Content; we'll do't.

LADIES. But do't exactly, or you spoil the plot.

CAR. 'Slid, doubt not, ladies, we have wit enough To frame intergotaries, so you make answer, And with your quickness do not puzzle us.

ALL. Advance, advance; let's mount, and play the consuls.

[_The Confidants ascend the higher seats, erected after the form of the Roman exedras, the Ladies, with petitions in their hands, standing at the bar._

1ST BOY. How will these dainty dottrels act their parts?

2D BOY. Rarely, no doubt; their audience makes them confident.