What think you, if he were convey'd to bed, And brave attendants near him, when he wakes; 1 Hun. Believe me, Lord, I think he cannot 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him, when he wak'd. Lord. Even as a flatt'ring dream, or worthless fancy. And hang it round with all my wanton pictures; Say, what is it your Honour will command? Full of rofe-water, and beftrew'd with flowers; And fay, wilt please your lordship cool your hands? And ask him what apparel he will wear; If it be husbanded with modefty. 1 Hun. My Lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part, As he fhail think, by our true diligence, He is no less than what we say he is. Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him; And each one to his office, when he wakes. [Some bear out Sly. Sound Trumpets. Sirrah, Sirrah, go fee what trumpet 'tis that founds. Re-Enter Servant. How now? who is it? Ser. An't please your Honour, Players That offer fervice to your lordship. Lord. Bid them come near : Enter Players. Now, fellows, you are welcome. Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to night? 'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman fo well: Sim. I think, 'twas Soto that your Honour means. (4) If Play. Fear not, my lord, we can contain our felves (4) I think, 'twas Soto.] I take our Author here to be paying a Compliment to Beaumont and Fletcher's Women pleas'd, in which Comedy there is the Character of Soto, who is a Farmer's Son, and a very facetious Serving-man. Mr. Rowe and Mr. Pope prefix the Name of Sim to the Line here spoken; but the first folio has it Sincklo which, no doubt, was the Name of one of the Players here introduc'd, and who had play'd the Part of Soto with Applause. T 2 Were Were he the verieft antick in the world. 2 Player. [to the other] Go get a difhclout to make clean your shoes, and I'll fpeak for the properties. [Exit Player. My lord, we must have a fhoulder of mutton for a property; and a little vinegar to make our devil roar. Lord. Go firrah, take them to the buttery. And give them friendly Wellcome, ev'ry one: Let them want nothing that the house affords. [Exit one with the Players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholmew my page, That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber, Tell him from me, (as he will win my love) To see her noble lord reftor'd to health, (5) Who for these seven years bath efteem'd himself No better than a poor and loathfom Reggar.] I have ventur'd to alter a Word here, against the Authority of the printed Copies; and hope, I fhall be justified in it by two fubfequent Paffages. That the Poet defign'd, the Tinker's fuppos'd Lunacy fhould be of 14 years standing at least, seems to me evident upon these Testi monies. Thefe fifteen Years you have been in a Dream, Or, when you wak'd, so wak'd as if you flept. And, again, Sly afterwards fays to the Page, whom he takes to be his Madam Wife, they fay, that I have dream'd and flept above fome fifteen Years and more. No No better than a poor and loathfome beggar: I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband; Which otherwise would go into extreams. [Exit Lord. SCENE changes to a Bedchamber in the Lord's Houfe. Enter Sly with attendants, fome with apparel, bafon and ewer, and other appurtenances. Reenter Lord. Sly. 'OR God's fake, a pot of small ale. FOR 1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of fack? 2 Serv. Will't please your Honour taste of these Conferves? 3 Serv. What raiment will your Honour wear to day? Sly. I am Chriftophero Sly, call not me Honour, nor lordship: I ne'er drank fack in my life: and if you give me any Conferves, give me Conferves of beef: ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear, for I have no more doublets than backs, no more ftockings than legs, nor no more fhoes than feet; nay, fometimes, more feet than fhoes; or fuch fhoes as my toes look through the over-leather. Lord. Heav'n cease this idle humour in your Ho nour! Oh, that a mighty man of fuch Defcent, Sly. What, would you make me mad? am not I Chriftophero Sly, old Sly's Son of Burton-heath, by birth a pedler, by education a card-maker, by tranfmutation a bearherd, and now by prefent profeffion a tinker? ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if the know me not; if the fay, I am not fourteen pence on the score for fheer ale, fcore me up for the lying'ft knave in Christendom. What, I am not beftraught: here's 1 Man. Oh, this it is, that makes your lady mourn. 2 Man. Oh, this it is, that makes your fervants droop, Lord. Hence comes it, that your kindred fhun your house, As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. Oh, noble Lord, bethink thee of thy birth, Look, how thy fervants do attend on thee; Each in his office ready at thy beck. Wilt thou have mufick? hark, Apollo plays; [Mufick. Or wilt thou fleep? we'll have thee to a Couch, On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis. Say, thou wilt walk, we will beftrow the ground: I Man. Say, thou wilt course, thy greyhounds are as fwift As breathed ftags; ay, fleeter than the roe. 2 Man. Doft thou love pictures? we will fetch thee ftrait Adonis, painted by a running brook; And |