Volume Xiv Part 76 (2/2)

Did you entertain no gallants lately?

VIN. Not any, madam; but gallants are men of their words; they will stand to their tacking upon occasion: will you be pleased, n.o.ble ladies, in their absence to bestow yourselves in a room; or, to procreate yourselves, take a turn in the garden?

MED. 'Slid, does she hold us for Andalusian studs,[163] that can breed by the air, or procreate of ourselves?

FRI. Well, her meaning is good; we will accept her offer, and take a walk or a cheerful repose at our pleasure: and in it let each of us, for want of more real objects, entertain an imaginary apprehension of their absent lover.

[_Knocking within._

DRAW. Anon, anon, sir; quick, quick as Erebus, good Jeremy! Uds so, what a chattering they make? I verily think our old t.i.tyre Tu's and Bugle Blews are come to town, they keep such a d.a.m.nable quarter.

2D DRAW. They knock as they were madmen in the percullis. Quick, quick; more attendants in the _Unicorn_. There goes none to the _Antwerp_. The _Lion_ and the _Roebuck_[164] have not one drawer to attend them. Who goes into the Ladies' Garden?[165]

1ST DRAW. We shall have a brave term, if we stir not our stumps better.

[_Exeunt._

_The Ladies' Garden._--JULLIPPE, &c.

JUL. Th' Elysian groves so richly beautified, Deck'd with the tufted verdure: watered With crystal rills, and cloth'd above conceit In native diap'ry: may emblems be Of this delicious platform, where each sense May sate its quest with sweet satiety.

JOC. And th' edifying sense with melody.

[_Voices of nightingales._

Hark, how that ev'ning quire of nightingales

[Sidenote: _Dum Philomela canit, spinum sub pectore figit: Crimen ut incestus se meminisse dolet._]

Warble with shrillest notes, p.r.i.c.ks at their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, Tereus' incestuous crime; as if't had been A fact inexpiable: wherein we doubt, What we should do, if [we] were put unto't.

This is a garden, sure, of great frequent.

CAV. Lucullus nor the Roman Argentine Had ne'er the like: nor with completer beauties More gracefully embellish'd: it might be Styl'd the Spring Garden for variety Of all delights: b.a.l.l.s, treats, and choice invites, Address'd for amorous parliance; and indeed To make the bargain up--you know my meaning.

FRI. Thou art a dang'rous beagle. What say you, ladies?

In this perpetual spring-like sweet retire, To gratify her court'sy and conduct, Who tender'd these respects: let's have a frolic-- A jovial frolic, till the Platonics come.

Whom we must chide, and with some discontent Tax for their slowness.

ALL. The motion's wondrous good; We all a.s.sent to't.

JOC. But in this a.s.sent Scatter such freedom as it may appear Our fortunes be our own: and that no eye Of jealousy or parsimonious thrift Can bound our humour. Let's call up the drawer.

[_They ring the bell._

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