_Bayes._ I think so, sir; and therefore would choose this to be the prologue. For, if I could engage 'em to clap, before they see the play, you know it would be so much the better; because then they were engag'd; for let a man write ever so well, there are, now-a-days, a sort of persons they call critics, that, egad, have no more wit in them than so many hobby-horses; but they'll laugh at you, sir, and find fault, and censure things that, egad, I'm sure, they are not able to do themselves. A sort of envious persons that emulate the glories of persons of parts, and think to build their fame by calumniating of persons[5] that, egad, to my knowledge, of all persons in the world, are, in nature, the persons that do as much despise all that as--a-- In fine, I'll say no more of 'em. _Johns._ Nay, you have said enough of 'em, in all conscience; I'm sure more than they'll e'er be able to answer. _Bayes._ Why, I'll tell you, sir, sincerely and _bonâ fide_, were it not for the sake of some ingenious persons and choice female spirits, that have a value for me, I would see 'em all hang'd, egad, before I would e'er more set pen to paper, but let 'em live in ignorance like ingrates. _Johns._ Ay, marry! that were a way to be reveng'd of 'em indeed; and, if I were in your place, now, I would do so. _Bayes._ No, sir; there are certain ties upon me that I cannot be disengag'd from;[6] otherwise, I would. But pray, sir, how do you like my hangman? _Smith._ By my troth, sir, I should like him very well. _Bayes._ By how do you like it, sir? (for, I see, you can judge) would you have it for a prologue, or the epilogue? _Johns._ Faith, sir, 'tis so good, let it e'en serve for both. _Bayes._ No, no; that won't do. Besides, I have made another. _Johns._ What other, sir? _Bayes._ Why, sir, my other is Thunder and Lightning. _Johns._ That's greater; I'd rather stick to that. _Bayes._ Do you think so? I'll tell you then; tho' there have been many witty prologues written of late, yet, I think, you'll say this is a _non pareillo_: I'm sure nobody has hit upon it yet. For here, sir, I make my prologue to be a dialogue; and as, in my first, you see, I strive to oblige the auditors by civility, by good nature, good language, and all that; so, in this, by the other way, _in terrorem_, I choose for the persons Thunder and Lightning. Do you apprehend the conceit? _Johns._ Phoo, phoo! then you have it cock-sure. They'll be hang'd before they'll dare affront an author that has 'em at that lock. _Bayes._ I have made, too, one of the most delicate dainty similes in the whole world, egad, if I knew but how to apply it. _Smith._ Let's hear it, I pray you.