EXPEC.
Or a thred-bare Doctor of Physicke, a poore Quackesaluer.
CENSVRE.
Or a Sea-captaine, halfe steru'd.
MIRTH.
I, these were tolerable Beggers, Beggers of fashion! you shall see some such anon!
TATLE.
I would faine see the Foole, gossip, the Foole is the finest man t'the company, they say, and has all the wit: Hee is the very Iustice o' Peace o'the Play, and can cemmit whom hee will, and what hee will, errour, absurdity, as the toy takes him, and no man say, blacke is his eye, but laugh at him.
MIRTH.
But they ha' no Foole i' this Play, I am afraid, gossip.
TATLE.
It's a wise Play, then.
EXPECTATION.
They are all fooles, the rather, in that.
TATLE.
My husband, (Timothy Tatle, God rest his poore soule) was wont to say, there was no Play without a Foole, and a Diuell in't; he was for the Diuell still God blesse him. The Diuell for his money, would hee say, I would faine see the Diuell. And why would you so faine see the Diuell? would I say. Because hee has hornes, wife, and may be a cuckold, as well as a Diuell, hee would answer: You are e'en such another, husband, quoth I. Was the Diuell euer married? where doe you read, the Di••••ll was euer so honorable to commit Matrimony; The Play will tell vs, that, sayes hee, wee'll goe see't to morrow, the Diuell is an Asse. Hee is an errant learn'd man, that made it, and can write, they say, and I am fouly deceiu'd, but hee can read too.
MIRTH.
I remember it gossip, I went with you, by the same token, Mrs. Trouble Truth diswaded vs, and told vs, hee was a prophane Poet, and all his Playes had Diuels in them. That he kept schole vpo' the Stage, could coniure there, aboue the Schole of Westminster, and Doctor Lamb too: not a Play he made, but had a Diuell in it. And that he would learne vs all to make our husbands Cuckolds at Playes: by another token, that a young married wife i'the company, said, shee could finde in her heart to steale thither, and see a little o'the vanity through her masque, and come practice at home.
TATLE.
O, it was, Mistresse—
MIRTH.
Nay, Gossip, I name no body. It may be 'twas my selfe.
EXPECTATION.
But was the Diuell a proper man, Gossip?
MIRTH.
As fine a gentleman▪ of his inches, as euer I saw trusted to the Stage▪ or any where else: and lou'd the common wealth, as well as ere a Pa∣triot of 'hem all: hee would carry away the Vice on his backe, quicke to Hell, in euery Play where he came, and reforme abuses.
EXPECTATION.
There was the Diuell of Edmonton, no such man, I warrant you.
CENSVRE.
The Coniurer coosen'd him with a candles end, hee was an Asse.
MIRTH.
But there was one Smug, a Smith, would haue made a horse laugh, and broke his halter, as they say.
TATLE.
O, but the poore man had got a shrewd mischance, one day.