KING USHER. Resplendent Pallas, we in thee do find The fiercest beauty and a fiercer mind: KING PHYSICIAN. Well, since alive Lardella's found, Let, in full bowls, her health go round. 245 [The two Usurpers take each of them a bowl in their hands] KING USHER. But where's the wine? Lo, from this conquering lance, [Fills the bowls out of her lance] BAYES. Yes, but this is nothing: you shall see him, in the last act, win above a dozen battles, one after another, I gad, as fast as they can possibly be represented. 284 JOHNSON. That will be a fight worth seeing, indeed. SMITH. But pray, Mr. Bayes, why do you make the kings let him use 'em so scurvily? BAYES. Phoo! that is to raise the character of Drawcansir. 290 SMITH. And pray, sir, what is your design in this scene? BAYES. Why, sir, my design is Roman clothes, gilded truncheons, forced conceit, smooth verse, and a rant; in fine, if this scene does not take, I gad, I'll write no more. Come, come in, Mr.-a-nay, come in as many as you can. Gentlemen, I must desire you to remove a little, for I must fill the stage. SMITH. Why fill the stage? 305 BAYES. Oh, sir, because your heroic verse never sounds well but when the stage is full. SCENE II Enter PRINCE PRETTY-MAN and PRINCE VOLSCIUS BAYES. Nay, hold, hold! pray, by your leave a little.-Look you, sir, the drift of this scene is somewhat more than ordinary, for I make 'em both fall out because they are not in love with the same woman. 5 SMITH. Not in love? you mean, I suppose, because they are in love, Mr. Bayes? BAYES. No, sir; I say not in love. There's a new conceit for you. Now, speak. PRETTY-MAN. Since fate, Prince Volscius, has found out the way For our so longed-for meeting here this day, Lend thy attention to my grand concern. ΙΟ VOLSCIUS. I gladly would that story of thee learn; But thou to love dost, Pretty-man, incline: Yet love in thy breast is not love in mine. 15 BAYES. Antithesis!-thine and mine. PRETTY-MAN. Since love itself's the same, why should it be Diff'ring in you from what it is in me? BAYES. Reasoning; I gad, I love reasoning in verse. 20 All other loves as above all is love. 55 My better choice; for fair Parthenope Gods would, themselves, un-god themselves to see. BAYES. Now the rant's a-coming. PRETTY-MAN. Durst any of the gods be so uncivil, 64 Ild make that god subscribe himself a devil. He could not fear to want a heav'nly state. PRETTY-MAN. Cloris does heav'n itself so far excel, 70 She can transcend the joys of heav'n in hell. BAYES. There's a bold flight for you now! -'Sdeath, I have lost my peruke!-Well, gentlemen, this is that I never yet saw anyone could write but myself. Here's true spirit and flame all through, I gad. So, so! pray, clear the stage. [He puts 'em off the stage] JOHNSON. But, Mr. Bayes, pray why is this scene all in verse? 79 |