Silenus. Ha! Harlequin! Scaramouch. Is that Bacchus? Harlequin. Yes. Scaramouch. Capital!--How d'ye do? how d'ye do? Silenus. What irrepressible person is this? Harlequin. Scaramouch. Silenus. I do not know the name. Scaramouch. Lamps and limpets, no! It is not in Lemprière, but it is a good name. Silenus. It is well you think so. What are you? Scaramouch. I am the gentleman Harlequin told you of--he who has the honour to be your majesty's most obedient servant and impresario. Silenus. The showman! Well, I suppose there must be showmen. Scaramouch. Shawms and psalteries, I should think so! I can demonstrate to you that there is nothing pays but showmanship. Glaucus [aside]. This is a wise fellow. Silenus. You shall demonstrate nothing to me; but get us all on board your vessel as soon as possible. Scaramouch. As practical as a man! I thought all you gods were a kind of moon-struck, plaster-of-Paris, posturing, and, to say the truth, frequently indecent parcel of patriarchs. It shall appear in your advertisement, sir, 'As practical as a man.' May I be dipped in wax if it don't. The terms, sir: do you accept the offer Harlequin made? Silenus. You must be the son of a puppet. Scaramouch. Puppies and patchwork, why? Silenus. From your habit of unexpected, disjointed, and inept gesticulation, which has its exact counterpart in your pattering speeches and preposterous preludes. Scaramouch. What am I to do? The world is old; it has been satiated with originality, and in its dotage cries bitterly for entertainment. A public man must therefore be extravagant in order to distinguish himself. My felicitous alliteration and prompt non-blasphemous oaths constitute my note, which is the literary term for trade-mark--a species of catch-word, in fact. Sweetness and light! do you understand me? Silenus. Showman and sharper, you speak shrewdly, and I accept your terms. Come, where are your boats? Scaramouch. Oakum and orchids, there is only one! Silenus. One! you need a fleet. Scaramouch. Break me and splice me, if I understand! Silenus. How else will you ship the company before morning? Scaramouch. Company!--Harlequin, explain. Harlequin. It is true I only bargained for Bacchus, but he seems to think I meant the whole crowd. Silenus. All, or none. Scaramouch. Never! there was a bargain. Business!--O sacred word! Now you attack me on my weak point, which is also my strong one. [Blows a whistle. Enter two Sailors. With reverential firmness remove our Bacchanalian friend. [Silenus mesmerises the Sailors as they advance. Mesmers and mystogogues! none of that! Secure the god; although he nod he cannot shake the spheres. Sailors. Ay, ay, sir. 1st Sailor. Our timbers are rooted. 2nd Sailor. Our flippers are frozen to our sides. Scaramouch. Good, my men. I shall find you an engagement as supers