Volume Ix Part 86 (1/2)
APP. It smells well. I would fain begin to them.
MEN. Nay, stay no longer, lest they have supped before thou come.
APP. Mendacio, how shall I requite thy infinite courtesy?
MEN. Nay, pray thee leave, go catch occasion by the foretop. But hear'st thou? As soon as it is presented, round[301] my Lady Lingua in the ear, and tell her of it.
APP. I will, I will: adieu, adieu, adieu.
[_Exit_ APPEt.i.tUS.
SCAENA TERTIA.
MENDACIO _solus_.
MEN. Why. this is better than I could have wish'd it; Fortune, I think, is fallen in love with me, Answering so right my expectation.
By this time Appet.i.te is at the table, And with a lowly cringe presents the wine To his old master Gustus; now he takes it, And drinks, perchance, to Lingua; she craftily Kisses the cup, but lets not down a drop, And gives it to the rest: 'tis sweet, they'll swallow it: But when 'tis once descended to the stomach, And sends up noisome vapours to the brain, 'Twill make them swagger gallantly; they'll rage Most strangely, or Acrasia's art deceives her; When if my lady stir her nimble tongue, And closely sow contentious words amongst them, O, what a stabbing there will be! what bleeding!
SCAENA QUARTA.
LINGUA, MENDACIO.
LIN. What, art thou there, Mendacio? pretty rascal!
Come let me kiss thee for thy good deserts.
MEN. Madam, does't take? Have they all tasted it?
LIN. All, all, and all are well-nigh mad already.
O, how they stare and swear, and fume, and brawl!
Wrath gives them weapons; pots and candlesticks, Joint stools and trenchers, fly about the room, Like to the b.l.o.o.d.y banquet of the centaurs.
But all the sport's to see what several thoughts The potion works in their imaginations.
For Visus thinks himself a ----, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
SCAENA QUINTA.
APPEt.i.tUS, MENDACIO, LINGUA.
APP. So ho, Mendacio! so ho, so ho!
MEN. Madam, I doubt they come; yonder is Appet.i.tus. You had best be gone, lest in their outrage they should injure you. [_Exit_ LINGUA.]
How now, Hunger? How dost thou, my fine maypole, ha?