Volume Iv Part 27 (1/2)

L. _Fan._ This was lucky; Oh Madam, wou'd you have my Dear venture out, when a malignant Star reigns! not for the World.

Sir _Pat._ No, I'll not stir; had it been any Star but a malignant Star, I had waited on your Ladys.h.i.+p: but these malignant Stars are very pernicious Stars. Nephew, take my Lady _Knowell_, Mr. _Fainlove_ my Daughter; and _Bartholomew_ do you conduct my Lady, the Parson stays for you, and the Coaches are at the Door.

[Exeunt L. _Kno._ _Lean._ _Wit._ and _Isab._ L. _Fancy_ and _Bartholomew_.

Enter _Boy_.

_Boy._ Sir, my Lady has sent for you. [Exit.

_Lod._ Sir, I'll be with you presently; Sir _Credulous_, be sure you lug him by the Ears with any sort of Stuff till my return. I'll send you a Friend to keep you in countenance.

Sir _Pat._ Please you to sit, Gentlemen? [Exit _Lod._

_Amst._ Please you, Sir. [To Sir _Cred._ who bows and runs back.

Sir _Cred._ Oh Lord, sweet Sir, I hope you do not take me--Nay, I beseech you, n.o.ble Sir--Reverend Sir.

[Turning from one to t'other.

_Leyd._ By no means, Sir, a Stranger.

Sir _Cred._ I beseech you--_Scavantissimi Doctores_,--incomparable Sir,--and you--or you.

_Fat_ D. In troth, Sir, these Compliments are needless, I am something corpulent, and love my ease.

[Sits.

Sir _Cred._ Generous Sir, you say well; therefore _Conlicentia_, as the _Grecians_ have it.

[Sits.

_Amst._ --Brother.--

_Leyd._ Nay, good Brother,--Sir _Patient_--

Sir _Pat._ Ingenuously, not before you, Mr. Doctor.

_Leyd._ Excuse me, Sir, an Alderman, and a Knight.--

Sir _Pat._ Both below the least of the learned Society.

_Leyd._ Since you will have it so.

[All sit and cry hum,--and look gravely.

Sir _Cred._ Hum--hum, most Worthy, and most Renowned--_Medicinae Professores, qui hic a.s.semblati estis, & vos altri Messiores_; I am now going to make a Motion for the publick Good of us all, but will do nothing without your Doctors.h.i.+ps Approbation.

Sir _Pat._ Judiciously concluded.

Sir _Cred._ The question then is, _Reverentissimi Doctores_, whether--for mark me, I come to the matter in hand, hating long Circ.u.mstances of Words; there being no necessity, as our learned Brother _Rabelais_ observes in that most notorious Treatise of his call'd _Garagantua_; there is, says he, no necessity of going over the Hedge when the Path lies fair before ye: therefore, as I said before, I now say again, coming to my Question; for as that admirable _Welch_ Divine says, in that so famous Sermon of his, upon her Creat Cranfather _Hadam_ and her Creat Cranmother _Heeve_ concerning the Happell,--and her will, warrant her, her will keep her to her Text still,--so I stick close to my question, which is, _Ill.u.s.trissimi Doctores_, whether it be not necessary to the Affair in hand--to take--a Bottle; and if your Doctors.h.i.+ps are of my opinion--hold up your Thumbs.

[All hold up their Thumbs.