Volume Iv Part 3 (2/2)

Sir _Cred._ Why, let's hear her way.

_Lod._ She must be surpriz'd with strange Extravagancies wholly out of the Road and Method of common Courts.h.i.+p.

Sir _Cred._ Shaw, is that all? Zoz, I'm the best in Christendom at your out-of-the-way bus'nesses.--Now do I find the Reason of all my ill Success; for I us'd one and the same method to all I courted, whatever their Humors were; hark ye, prithee give me a hint or two, and let me alone to manage Matters.

_Lod._ I have just now thought of a way that cannot but take--

Sir _Cred._ Zoz, out with it, Man.

_Lod._ Why, what if you should represent a dumb Amba.s.sador from the Blind G.o.d of Love.

Sir _Cred._ How, a dumb Amba.s.sador? Zoz, Man, how shall I deliver my Emba.s.sy then, and tell her how much I love her?--besides, I had a pure Speech or two ready by heart, and that will be quite lost.

[Aside.

_Lod._ Fy, fy! how dull you are! why, you shall do it by Signs, and I'll be your Interpreter.

Sir _Cred._ Why, faith, this will be pure; I understand you now, Zoz, I am old excellent at Signs;--I vow this will be rare.

_Lod._ It will not fail to do your business, if well manag'd--but stay, here's my Sister, on your life not a syllable.

Enter _Lean._ _Lucr._ and _Isab._

Sir _Cred._ I'll be rackt first, Mum budget,--prithee present me, I long to be at it, sure.

[He falls back, making Faces and Grimaces.

_Lod._ Sister, I here present you with a worthy Knight, struck dumb with Admiration of your Beauty; but that's all one, he is employ'd Envoy Extraordinary from the blind G.o.d of Love: and since, like his young Master, he must be defective in one of his Senses, he chose rather to be dumb than blind.

_Lucr._ I hope the small Deity is in good Health, Sir?

_Isab._ And his Mistress _Psyche_, Sir?

[He smiles and bows, and makes Signs.

_Lod._ He says that _Psyche_ has been sick of late, but somewhat recovered, and has sent you for a Token a pair of Jet Bracelets, and a Cambrick Handkerchief of her own spinning, with a Sentence wrought in't, _Heart in hand, at thy command._ [Looking every word upon Sir _Credulous_ as he makes signs.

Sir _Cred._ Zoz, _Lodwick_, what do you mean? I'm the Son of an _Egyptian_ if I understand thee.

[Pulls him, he signs to him to hold his peace.

_Lod._ Come, Sir, the Tokens, produce, produce-- [He falls back making d.a.m.nable signs.

How! Faith, I'm sorry for that with all my heart,--he says, being somewhat put to't on his Journey, he was forced to p.a.w.n the Bracelets for half a Crown, and the Handkerchief he gave his Landlady on the Road for a Kindness received,--this 'tis when People will be fooling--

Sir _Cred._ Why, the Devil's in this _Lodwick_, for mistaking my Signs thus: hang me if ever I thought of Bracelets or a Handkerchief, or ever received a Civility from any Woman Breathing,--is he bewitcht trow?

[Aside.

_Lean._ _Lodwick_, you are mistaken in the Knight's meaning all this while. Look on him, Sir,--do not you guess from that Look, and wrying of his Mouth, that you mistook the Bracelets for Diamond Rings, which he humbly begs, Madam, you would grace with your fair Hand?

_Lod._ Ah, now I perceive it plain.

<script>