Volume Iii Part 62 (1/2)

_Gay_. Ay, the Devil, Sir, if you mean to thrive.

[_Exit_ Rag.

Who can this be--but see he comes to inform me--withdraw.

_Enter_ Bredwel _drest like a Devil_.

_Bred_. I come to bring you this-- [_Gives him a Letter_.

Gayman _reads_.

_Receive what Love and Fortune present you with, be grateful and be silent, or 'twill vanish like a dream, and leave you more wretched that it found You_.

Adieu.

--Hah-- [Gives him a bag of Money.

_Bred_. Nay, view it, Sir, 'tis all substantial Gold.

_Gay_. Now dare not I ask one civil question for fear it vanish all-- [_Aside_.

But I may ask, how 'tis I ought to pay for this great Bounty.

_Bred_. Sir, all the Pay is Secrecy--

_Gay_. And is this all that is required, Sir?

_Bred_. No, you're invited to the Shades below.

_Gay_. Hum, Shades below!--I am not prepared for such a Journey, Sir.

_Bred_. If you have Courage, Youth or Love, you'll follow me: When Night's black Curtain's drawn around the World, And mortal Eyes are safely lockt in sleep, [_In feign'd Heroick Tone_.

And no bold Spy dares view when G.o.ds caress, Then I'll conduct thee to the Banks of Bliss.

--Durst thou not trust me?

_Gay_. Yes, sure, on such substantial security. [_Hugs the Bag_.

_Bred_. Just when the Day is vanish'd into Night, And only twinkling Stars inform the World, Near to the Corner of the silent Wall, In Fields of _Lincoln's-Inn_, thy Spirit shall meet thee.

--Farewell.

[_Goes out_.

_Gay_. Hum--I am awake sure, and this is Gold I grasp.

I could not see this Devil's cloven Foot; Nor am I such a c.o.xcomb to believe, But he was as substantial as his Gold.

Spirits, Ghosts, Hobgoblins, Furies, Fiends and Devils, I've often heard old Wives fright Fools and Children with, Which, once arriv'd to common Sense, they laugh at.

--No, I am for things possible and Natural: Some Female Devil, old and d.a.m.n'd to Ugliness, And past all Hopes of Courts.h.i.+p and Address, Full of another Devil called Desire, Has seen this Face--this Shape--this Youth, And thinks it's worth her Hire. It must be so: I must moil on in the d.a.m.n'd dirty Road, And sure such Pay will make the Journey easy:

_And for the Price of the dull drudging Night, All Day I'll purchase new and fresh Delight_.

[_Exit_.

SCENE II. _Sir_ Feeble's _House_.