[Transcriber's Note: The scenes within each Act are not numbered. Their descriptions are listed here for convenience: ACT I [scene i] The Park ACT II [scene i] [Sir Francis Gripe's house] [scene ii] Sir Jealous Traffick's House [scene iii] Charles's Lodging ACT III [scene i] [outside Sir Jealous Traffick's house] [scene ii] the Street [scene iii] Sir Francis Gripe's House [scene iv] a Tavern ACT IV [scene i] the Out-side of Sir Jealous Traffick's House [scene ii] Isabinda's Chamber [scene iii] a Garden Gate open [scene iv] the House [of Sir Jealous Traffick] ACT V [scene i] [Sir Francis Gripe's house] [scene ii] the Street before Sir _Jealous_'s Door [scene iii] Inside the House [of Sir Jealous Traffick] ] THE BUSIE BODY. ACT I. SCENE _The Park_. Sir _George Airy_ meeting _Charles_. _Cha._ Ha! Sir _George Airy!_ A Birding thus early, what forbidden Game rouz'd you so soon? For no lawful Occasion cou'd invite a Person of your Figure abroad at such unfashionable Hours. Sir _Geo._ There are some Men, _Charles_, whom Fortune has left free from Inquietudes, who are diligently Studious to find out Ways and Means to make themselves uneasie. _Cha._ Is it possible that any thing in Nature can ruffle the Temper of a Man, whom the four Seasons of the Year compliment with as many Thousand Pounds, nay! and a Father at Rest with his Ancestors. Sir _Geo._ Why there 'tis now! a Man that wants Money thinks none can be unhappy that has it; but my Affairs are in such a whimsical Posture, that it will require a Calculation of my Nativity to find if my Gold will relieve me or not. _Cha._ Ha, ha, ha, never consult the Stars about that; Gold has a Power beyond them; Gold unlocks the Midnight Councils; Gold out-does the Wind, becalms the Ship, or fills her Sails; Gold is omnipotent below; it makes whole Armies fight, or fly; It buys even Souls, and bribes the Wretches to betray their Country: Then what can thy Business be, that Gold won't serve thee in? Sir _Geo._ Why, I'm in Love. _Cha._ In Love--Ha, ha, ha, ha; In Love, Ha, ha, ha, with what, prithee, a _Cherubin!_ Sir _Geo._ No, with a Woman. _Cha._ A Woman, Good, Ha, ha, ha, and Gold not help thee? Sir _Geo._ But suppose I'm in Love with two-- _Cha._ Ay, if thou'rt in Love with two hundred, Gold will fetch 'em, I warrant thee, Boy. But who are they? who are they? come. Sir _Geo._ One is a Lady, whose Face I never saw, but Witty as an Angel; the other Beautiful as _Venus_-- _Cha._ And a Fool-- Sir _Geo._ For ought I know, for I never spoke to her, but you can inform me; I am charm'd by the Wit of One, and dye for the Beauty of the Other? _Cha._ And pray, which are you in Quest of now? Sir _Geo._ I prefer the Sensual Pleasure, I'm for her I've seen, who is thy Father's Ward _Miranda_.