Chapter 82

Bellemante _and_ Mopsophil _in Night-Gowns_.

_Mop_. You have your Lessons, stand to it bravely, and the Town’s our own, Madam.

[_They put themselves in Postures of Sleeping, leaning on the Table_, Mopsophil _lying at their Feet. Enter_ Doctor _softly_.

_Doct_. Ha, not in Bed! this gives me mortal Fears.

_Bell_. Ah, Prince-- [_She speaks as in her Sleep_.

_Doct_. Ha, Prince! [_Goes nearer, and listens_.

_Bell_. How little Faith I give to all your Courtship, who leaves our Orb so soon. [_In a feign’d Voice_.

_Doct_. Ha, said she Orb? [_Goes nearer_.

_Bell_. But since you are of a celestial Race, And easily can penetrate Into the utmost limits of the Thought, Why shou’d I fear to tell you of your Conquest? --And thus implore your Aid.

[_Rises and runs to the_ Doctor; _kneels, and holds him fast. He shews signs of Joy_.

_Doct_. I am ravish’d!

_Bell_. Ah, Prince Divine, take pity on a Mortal.

_Doct_. I am rapt!

_Bell_. And take me with you to the World above!

_Doct_. The Moon, the Moon she means; I am transported, over-joy’d, and ecstasyd! [_Leaping and jumping from her Hands, she seems to wake_.

_Bell_. Ha, my Uncle come again to interrupt us!

_Doct_. Hide nothing from me, my dear _Bellemante_, since all already is discover’d to me--and more.

_Ela_. Oh, why have you wak’d me from the softest Dream that ever Maid was blest with?

_Doct_. What--what, my best _Elaria_? [_With over-joy_.

_Ela_. Methought I entertain’d a Demi-God, one of the gay Inhabitants of the Moon.

_Bell_. I’m sure mine was no Dream--I wak’d, I heard, I saw, I spoke--and danc’d to the Musick of the Spheres; and methought my glorious Lover ty’d a Diamond Chain about my Arm--and see ‘tis all substantial. [_Shows her Arm_.

_Ela_. And mine a Ring, of more than mortal Lustre.

_Doct_. Heaven keep me moderate! lest excess of Joy shou’d make my Virtue less. [_Stifling his Joy_. --There is a wondrous Mystery in this, A mighty Blessing does attend your Fates. Go in and pray to the chaste Powers above To give you Virtue for such Rewards. [_They go in_. --How this agrees with what the learned Cabalist inform’d me of last Night! He said, that great _Iredonozor_, the Emperor of the Moon, was enamour’d on a fair Mortal. It must be so--and either he descended to court my Daughter personally, which for the rareness of the Novelty, she takes to be a Dream; or else, what they and I beheld, was visionary, by way of a sublime Intelligence:--And possibly--’tis only thus: the People of that World converse with Mortals.--I must be satisfy’d in this main Point of deep Philosophy.

I’ll to my Study,--for I cannot rest, Till I this weighty Mystery have discuss’d.

[_Ex. very gravely_.