Volume Iii Part 74 (1/2)

Sir _Cau_. I say the Devil; Heaven bless every wise Man from the Devil.

_Bea_. The Devil, sha! there's no such Animal in Nature; I rather think he pads.

_Noi_. Oh, Sir, he has not Courage for that--but he's an admirable Fellow at your Lock.

Sir _Cau_. Lock! My Study-Lock was pickt--I begin to suspect him--

_Bea_. I saw him once open a Lock with the Bone of a Breast of Mutton, and break an Iron Bar asunder with the Eye of a Needle.

Sir _Cau_. Prodigious!--well, I say the Devil still.

_Enter Sir_ Feeble.

Sir _Feeb_. Who's this talks of the Devil?--a Pox of the Devil, I say, this last night's Devil has so haunted me--

Sir _Cau_. Why, have you seen it since, Brother?

Sir _Feeb_. In Imagination, Sir.

_Bel_. How, Sir, a Devil?

Sir _Feeb_. Ay, or a Ghost.

_Bel_. Where, good Sir?

_Bea_. Ay, where? I'd travel a hundred Mile to see a Ghost--

_Bel_. Sure, Sir, 'twas Fancy.

Sir _Feeb_. If 'twere a Fancy, 'twas a strong one; and Ghosts and Fancy are all one if they can deceive. I tell you--if ever I thought in my Life--I thought I saw a Ghost--Ay, and a d.a.m.nable impudent Ghost too; he said he was a--a Fellow here--they call _Bellmour_.

_Bel_. How, Sir!

_Bea_. Well, I wou'd give the world to see the Devil, provided he were a civil affable Devil, such an one as _Wasteall's_ Acquaintance is--

Sir _Cau_. He can show him too soon, it may be. I'm sure as civil as he is, he helps him to steal my Gold, I doubt--and to be sure--Gentlemen, you say he's a Gamester--I desire when he comes anon, that you wou'd propose to sport a Dye, or so--and we'll fall to play for a Teaster, or the like--and if he sets any money, I shall go near to know my own Gold, by some remarkable Pieces amongst it; and if he have it, I'll hang him, and then all his six hundred a Year will be my own, which I have in Mortgage.

_Bea_. Let the Captain and I alone to top upon him--mean time, Sir, I have brought my Musick, to entertain my Mistress with a Song.

Sir _Feeb_. Take your own methods, Sir--they are at leisure--while we go drink their Healths within. Adod, I long for night, we are not half in kelter, this d.a.m.n'd Ghost will not out of my Head yet.

[_Exeunt all but_ Bellmour.

_Bel_. Hah--a Ghost! what can he mean? A Ghost, and _Bellmour's_!

--Sure my good Angel, or my Genius, In pity of my Love, and of _Leticia_-- But see _Leticia_ comes, but still attended--

_Enter_ Leticia, _Lady_ Fulbank, Diana.

--Remember--oh, remember to be true?

[Aside to her, pa.s.sing by goes out.