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flood! an inundation! I fhall be overwhelmed with noise. It beats already at my fhores. I feel an earthquake in myself, for't.

Daw. Give you joy, fair lady! Give you joy, Mr. Morofe! I have brought fome ladies here to fee and know you. My lady Haughty, this my lady Centaure, mistress Dol Mavis, mistress Trufty, my lady Haughty's woman.

you to

Tru. Nay, Sir, you must kifs the ladies, you muft not go away, now; they come toward feek you out. Hau. I'faith, mafter Morofe, would you steal a marriage thus, in the midft of fo many friends, and not acquaint us? Well, I'll kiss you, notwithftanding the juftice of my quarrel: You fhall give me leave, mistress, to use a becoming familiarity with your husband.

Cent. Is this the Silent Woman?

Tru. A gentlewoman of very abfolute behaviour, and of a good race.

Hau. We'll make her a collegiate.

Cent. Yes, faith, madam; and Mavis and fhe will fet up afide.

Tru. Believe it, madam and miftrefs Mavis, fhe will fuftain her part.

Mav. I'll tell you that, when I have talk'd with her, and tried her.

Hau.

2

Hau. Ufe her very civilly, Mavis.

Mav. So I will, madam.

Mor. Bleffed minute! That they would whisper thus ever!

Tru. In the mean time, madam, would but your ladyship help to vex him a little! You know his disease; talk to him about the wedding ceremonies, or call for your gloves, or

Hau. Let me alone. Centaure, help me. Master bridegroom, where are you?

Mar. Oh, it was too miraculously good to laft. Hau. We fee no enfigns of a wedding here; no character of a bride-ale; where be our scarves and our gloves? I pray you, give 'em us. Let's know your bride's colours, and yours at least.

Cent. Alas, madam, he has provided none.
Mor. Had I known your ladyfhip's painter, I

would.

Hau. He has given it you, Centaure, i'faith. But do you hear, Mr. Morofe, a jeft will not abfolve you in this manner. You that have fuck'd the milk of the court, been a courtier from the biggen to the night-cap (as we may fay) and you to offend in such a high point of ceremony as this, and let your nuptials want all marks of folemnity! How much plate have you loft to-day (if you had

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but regarded your profit) what gifts, what friends, thro' your mere rufticity?

Mor. Madam

Hau. Pardon me, Sir, I muft infinuate your errors to you. No gloves? no garters? no fcarves? no epithalamium? no masque?

Daw. Yes, madam, I'll make an epithalamium; I promised my mistress; I have begun it already; Will your ladyship hear it?

Hau. Ay, good Jack Daw.

Mor. Will it please your ladyfhip command a chamber, and be private with your friend? My whole houfe is yours.

Tru. Come, you are a rude bridegroom, to entertain ladies of honour in this fashion.

Cent. He is a rude groom indeed.

Tru. By that light you deferve to be grafted, and have your horns reach from one fide of the island to the other. Do not mistake me, Sir, I but fpeak this to give the ladies fome heart again, not for any malice to you.

Mor. Is this your bravo, ladies?

Tru. If you utter fuch another word, I'll take mistress Bride in, and begin to you in a very fad

cup, do you fee? Go to, know your friends, and fuch as love you.

Enter

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Enter Clerimont.

you.

Cler. By your leave, ladies. Do you want any mufick? I have brought you variety of noises. Play, Sirs, all of [Mufick of all forts. Mor. Oh, a plot, a plot, a plot, a plot, upon me! This day I fhall be their anvil to work on, they will grate me afunder. 'Tis worse than the noife of a faw.

Cler. No, they are hair, rofin, and cat-guts. I can give you the receipt.

Tru. Peace, boys.

Cler. Play, I fay.

Tru. Peace, rafcals. You fee who's your now, Sir.

friend

Enter La-Foole, Mrs. Otter, and fervants, with

dishes.

Look you here, Sir, what honour is done you unexpected, by your nephew; a wedding-dinner come, and a knight-fewer before it, for the more reputation and fine Mrs. Otter, your neighbour, in the tail of it!

:

Mor. Is that Gorgon, that Medusa come? Hide me, hide me.

Tru. I warrant you, Sir, fhe will not transform you. Look upon her with a good courage. Pray

VOL. III.

T

you

you entertain her, and conduct your guests in.
No? Madam Haughty, will you entreat in the
ladies? The bridegroom is so shame-fac'd here.
Hau. Will it please your ladyship, madam?
Cen. With the benefit of your company, mistress.
Mrs. Otter. 'Tis my place.

Mavis. You fhall pardon me, Mistress Otter.
Tru. Captain Otter, what news?

Enter Otter.

Otter. I have brought my bull, bear, and horfe, in private, and yonder are the trumpeters without, and the drum, gentlemen.

Mor. Oh, oh, oh!

[The drum and trumpets found.

Otter. And we will have a roufe in each of them

anon, for bold Britons i'faith.

Mor. Oh, oh, oh!

All. Follow, follow, follow.

[Exeunt

Manent Morofe and Epicone.

Mor. Oh, torment and mifery! my house is the tower of Babel! But I will take courage, put on a martyr's refolution, and mock down all their attemptings with patience. "Tis but a day, and I will fuffer heroically. Shall an afs exceed me in fortitude?

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