_Lear._ Gentlemen and Friends, y'are all welcome. I have sent to as many of you as our short Time wou'd give me Leave, to desire you wou'd be Witnesses of the Honour the great _Esop_ designs ourself and Family. Hey; who attends there? Go let my Daughter know I wait for her. [_Exit Servant._] 'Tis a vast Honour that is done me, Gentlemen! _2 Gent._ It is, indeed, my Lord. _Lear._ [_Aside._] Look you there; if they don't call me my Lord already----I shall be a great Man! _Enter ~Euphronia~ weeping, and leaning upon ~Doris~, both in deep Mourning._ _Lear._ How now! What's here! All in deep Mourning! Here's a provoking Baggage for you! [_The Trumpets sound a melancholy Air till ~Esop~ appears; and then the Violins and Hautboys strike up a ~Lancashire~ Hornpipe._ _Enter ~Esop~ in a gay foppish Dress, Long Peruke, &c. a gaudy Equipage of Pages and Footmen, all enter in an airy brisk Manner._ _Esop._ _in an affected Tone to ~Euphronia~._] Gad take my Soul, Ma'am, I hope I shall please you now----Gentlemen all, I'm your humble Servant. I'm going to be a very happy Man, you see. [_To ~Euph~._] When the Heat of the Ceremony's over, if your Ladyship pleases, Ma'am, I'll wait upon you to take the Air in the Park. Hey, Page; let there be a Coach and six Horses ready instantly. [_Observing her Dress._]----I vow to Gad, Ma'am, I was so taken up with my good Fortune, I did not observe the extreme Fancy of your Ladyship's Wedding-Clothes----Infinitely pretty! as I hope to be sav'd; a World of Variety, and not at all gaudy.----[_To ~Lear~._] My dear Father-in-Law, embrace me. _Lear._ Your Lordship does me too much Honour. [_Aside._]----I shall be a great Man! _Esop._ Come, Gentlemen, are all things ready? Where's the Priest? _Priest._ Here, my noble Lord. _Esop._ Most Reverend----will you please to say Grace that I may fall to, for I am very hungry, and here's very good Meat. But where's my Rival all this while? The least we can do, is to invite him to the Wedding. _Lear._ My Lord, he's in Prison. _Esop._ In Prison! How so? _Lear._ He wou'd have murder'd me. _Esop._ A bloody Fellow! But let's see him, however. Send for him quickly. Ha! Governor----that handsome Daughter of yours, I will so mumble her---- _Lear._ I shall be a great Man! _Enter ~Oronces~ pinion'd and guarded._ _Esop._ O ho, here's my Rival! Then we have all we want. Advance, Sir, if you please. I desire you'll do me the Favour to be a Witness to my Marriage, lest one of these Days you shou'd take a fancy to dispute my Wife with me. _Oron._ Do you then send for me to insult me? 'Tis base in you. _Esop._ I have no Time now to throw away upon Points of Generosity; I have hotter Work upon my Hands. Come, Priest, advance. _Lear._ Pray, hold him fast there; he has the Devil and all of Mischief in's Eye.