_Bayes._ Ah! egad, that strikes me. _Pret._ To blame my Cloris, gods would not pretend-- _Bayes._ Now mark-- _Vols._ Were all gods join'd, they could not hope to mend My better choice: for fair Parthenope Gods would themselves un-god themselves to see.[46] _Bayes._ Now the rant's a-coming. _Pret._ Durst any of the gods be so uncivil, I'd make that god subscribe himself a devil.[47] _Bayes._ Ay, gadzookers, that's well writ! [_Scratching his head, his peruke falls off._ _Vols._ Could'st thou that god from heaven to earth translate, He could not fear to want a heav'nly state; Parthenope, on earth, can heav'n create. _Pret._ Cloris does heav'n itself so far excel, She can transcend the joys of heav'n in hell. _Bayes._ There's a bold flight for you now! 'sdeath, I have lost my peruke. Well, gentlemen, this is what I never yet saw any one could write, but myself. Here's true spirit and flame all through, egad. So, so, pray clear the stage. [_He puts 'em off the stage._ _Johns._ I wonder how the coxcomb has got the knack of writing smooth verse thus. _Smith._ Why, there's no need of brain for this: 'tis but scanning the labours on the finger; but where's the sense of it? _Johns._ Oh! for that he desires to be excus'd: he is too proud a man to creep servilely after sense, I assure you.[48] But pray, Mr. Bayes, why is this scene all in verse? _Bayes._ Oh, sir, the subject is too great for prose. _Smith._ Well said, i'faith; I'll give thee a pot of ale for that answer; 'tis well worth it. _Bayes._ Come, with all my heart. I'll make that god subscribe himself a devil; That single line, egad, is worth all that my brother poets ever writ. Let down the curtain. [_Exeunt._ * * * * * ACT. V.--SCENE I. BAYES, _and the two Gentlemen_. _Bayes._ Now, gentlemen, I will be bold to say, I'll show you the greatest scene that ever England saw: I mean not for words, for those I don't value; but for state, show and magnificence. In fine, I'll justify it to be as grand to the eye every whit, egad, as that great scene in "Harry the Eighth," and grander too, egad; for instead of two bishops, I bring in here four cardinals. [_The curtain is drawn up_, _the two usurping Kings appear in state with the four Cardinals,_ PRINCE PRETTYMAN, PRINCE VOLSCIUS, AMARYLLIS, CLORIS, PARTHENOPE. _&c._, _before them_, _Heralds and Sergeants-at-arms_, _with maces_. _Smith._ Mr. Bayes, pray what is the reason that two of the cardinals are in hats, and the other in caps? _Bayes._ Why, sir, because---- By gad I won't tell you. Your country friend, sir, grows so troublesome-- _K. Ush._ Now, sir, to the business of the day. _K. Phys._ Speak, Volscius.