tell, and hee himselfe (it seems) leffe cares. For hee will not be intreated by us, to give it a Prologue. He has 125 loft too much that way already, hee fayes. Hee will not woo the gentile ignorance fo much. But carelesse of all vulgar cenfure, as not depending on common approbation, hee is confident it shall super-please judicious Spectators, and to them he leaves it to worke, with the 130 rest by example, or otherwise.

Dam. Hee may be deceived in that, Boy: Few follow examples now, especially, if they be good.

Boy. The Play is ready to begin, Gentlemen, I tell you, left you might defraud the expectation of the 135 people, for whom you are Delegates! Please you take a couple of Seates, and plant your felves, here, as neere my standing as you can: Fly everything (you see) to the marke, and cenfure it; freely. So, you interrupt not the Series, or thred of the Argument, to breake or 140 pucker it, with unnecessary questions. For, I must tell you, (not out of mine own Dictamen, but the Authors) A good Play, is like a skeene of silke: which, if you take by the right end, you may wind off, at pleasure, on the bottome, or card of your discourse, in a tale, or so; how you will: 145 But if you light on the wrong end, you will pull all into a knot, or elfe-lock; which nothing but the sheers, or a candle will undoe, or separate.

Dam. Stay! who be these, I pray you?

Boy. Because it is your first question, and (these 150 be the prime persons) it would in civility require an answer but I have heard the Poët affirme, that to be the most unlucky Scene in a Play, which needs an Interpreter; especially, when the Auditory are awake and such are you, hee prefumes. Ergo.

130-1 and

otherwise] and to them he leaves it to work with the rest, by Example or otherwise. 1692, f

155

THE

MAGNETICK

LADY:

or,

HUMORS

RECONCILED.

C

Act I. Scene I.

Compafle, Ironfide.

Om. Welcome good Captaine Ironfide, and brother;

You shall along with me. I'm lodg'd hard by,

Here at a noble Ladies house i' th' street,

The Lady Loadstones (one will bid us welcome)
Where there are Gentlewomen, and male Guests,
Of severall humors, cariage, constitution,

Profession too: but so diametrall

One to another, and so much oppos'd,

5

As if I can but hold them all together,

And draw 'hem to a fufferance of themselves,

But till the Diffolution of the Dinner;

I shall have just occasion to beleeve
My wit is magisteriall; and our selves
Take infinite delight, i' the successe.

Iro. Troth, brother Compasse, you fhall pardon me; 15 I love not so to multiply acquaintance

At a meales cost, 'twill take off o' my freedome

So much or bind me to the least observance.

Com. Why Iron/ide, you know I am a Scholler,
20 And part a Souldier; I have beene imployed,
By fome the greatest Statel-men o' the kingdome,
These many yeares: and in my time convers'd
With fundry humors, suiting so my selfe
To company, as honest men, and knaves,
25 Good-fellowes, Hypocrites, all forts of people,
Though never so divided in themselves,
Have studied to agree still in the usage,

And handling of me (which hath been faire too).
Iro. Sir I confesse you to be one well read
30 In men, and manners; and that, usually,
The most ungovern'd persons, you being present,
Rather fubject themselves unto your censure,
Then give you least occasion of distaste.
By making you the subject of their mirth :
35 But (to deale plainely with you, as a brother)
When ever I distrust i' my owne valour :
Ile never beare me on anothers wit,

Or offer to bring off, or save my selfe

On the opinion of your Iudgement, gravitie, 40 Discretion, or what else. But (being away)

You' are fure to have leffe-wit-worke, gentle brother,
My humour being as stubborne, as the rest,
And as unmannageable. Com. You doe mistake
My Caract of your friendship, all this while!

45 Or at what rate I reckon your assistance
Knowing by long experience, to such Animals,
Halfe-hearted Creatures, as these are, your Foxe, there,
Vnkenneld with a Cholerick, ghastly aspect,

Or two or three comminatory Termes,

50 Would run their feares to any hole of shelter,
Worth a dayes laughter! I am for the sport :
For nothing else. Iro.
Iro. But, brother, I ha' feene
A Coward, meeting with a man as valiant

As our St. George (not knowing him to be such,
Or having least opinion that hee was so)

Set to him roundly, I, and fwindge him soundly:
And i' the vertue of that errour, having
Once overcome, refolv'd for ever after

To erre; and thinke no person, nor no creature

55

More valiant then himselfe. Com. I thinke that too. 60

But, Brother, (could I over intreat you)

I have some little plot upon the rest

If you would be contented, to endure

A fliding reprehension, at my hands,

To heare your selfe, or your profession glanc'd at

In a few fleighting termes: It would beget
Me fuch a maine Authority, o' the by:

And doe your felfe no dif-repute at all!

Iro. Compalle, I know that univerfall causes
In nature produce nothing; but as meeting
Particular causes, to determine those,
And specifie their acts. This is a piece

Of Oxford Science, Itaies with me ere since
I left that place; and I have often found
The truth thereof, in my private passions:
For I doe never feele my selfe perturb'd
With any generall words 'gainst my profession,
Vnlesse by some smart stroke upon my selfe
They doe awake, and stirre me: Elfe, to wise
And well experienc'd men, words doe but signifie;
They have no power; fave with dull Grammarians,
Whose soules are nought, but a Syntaxis of them.
Com. Here comes our Parfon, Parfon Palate here

A venerable youth! I must salute him,
And a great Clerke! hee's going to the Ladies,
And though you see him thus, without his Cope,

75 my private] my [own] private. G

80 but] not W, f

65

70

80

85