_Bayes._ 'Tis an allusion to love. [7]"So boar and sow, when any storm is nigh, Snuff up, and smell it gath'ring in the sky; Boar beckons sow to trot in chestnut-groves, And there consummate their unfinish'd loves: Pensive in mud they wallow all alone, And snore and gruntle to each other's moan." How do you like it now, ha? _Johns._ Faith, 'tis extraordinary fine; and very applicable to Thunder and Lightning, methinks, because it speaks of a storm. _Bayes._ Egad, and so it does, now I think on't: Mr. Johnson, I thank you; and I'll put it in _profecto_. Come out, Thunder and Lightning. _Enter_ THUNDER _and_ LIGHTNING. _Thun._ I am the bold Thunder. _Bayes._ Mr. Cartwright, prithee speak that a little louder, and with a hoarse voice. I am the bold _Thunder_: pshaw! speak it me in a voice that thunders it out indeed: I am the bold _Thunder_. _Thun._ I am the bold _Thunder_.[8] _Light._ The brisk Lightning, I. _Bayes._ Nay, you must be quick and nimble. The brisk _Lightning_, I. That's my meaning. _Thun._ I am the bravest Hector of the sky. _Light._ And I fair Helen, that made Hector die. _Thun._ I strike men down. _Light._ I fire the town. _Thun._ Let critics take heed how they grumble, For then begin I for to rumble. _Light._ Let the ladies allow us their graces, Or I'll blast all the paint on their faces, And dry up their petre to soot. _Thun._ Let the critics look to't. _Light._ Let the ladies look to't.[9] _Thun._ For Thunder will do't. _Light._ For Lightning will shoot. _Thun._ I'll give you dash for dash. _Light._ I'll give you flash for flash. Gallants, I'll singe your feather. _Thun._ I'll thunder you together. _Both._ Look to't, look to't; we'll do't, we'll do't. Look to't, we'll do't. [_Twice or thrice repeated._ [_Exeunt ambo._ _Bayes._ There's no more. 'Tis but a flash of a prologue: a droll. _Smith._ Yes, 'tis short indeed; but very terrible. _Bayes._ Ay, when the simile's in, it will do to a miracle, egad. Come, come, begin the play. _Enter_ FIRST PLAYER. _1st Play._ Sir, Mr. Ivory is not come yet; but he'll be here presently, he's but two doors off.[10] _Bayes._ Come then, gentlemen, let's go out and take a pipe of tobacco. [_Exeunt._ * * * * * ACT II.--SCENE I. BAYES, JOHNSON, _and_ SMITH. _Bayes._ Now, sir, because I'll do nothing here that ever was done before, instead of beginning with a scene that discovers something of the plot, I begin this play with a whisper.[11] _Smith._ Umph! very new indeed. _Bayes._ Come, take your seats. Begin, sirs. _Enter_ GENTLEMAN-USHER _and_ PHYSICIAN.