_Promp_. Yes, sir, they are all ready; come, draw up the curtain. [FIREBRAND, LAW, _and_ PHYSICK _discovered_. _Sneer_. Pray, Mr Fustian, who are these personages? _Fust_. That in the middle, sir, is Firebrand, priest of the Sun; he on the right represents Law, and he on the left Physick. _Fireb_. Avert these omens, ye auspicious stars! _Fust_. What omens? where the devil is the thunder and lightning! _Promp_. Why don't you let go the thunder there, and flash your rosin? [_Thunder and lightning_. _Fust_. Now, sir, begin if you please. I desire, sir, you will get a larger thunderbowl and two pennyworth more of lightning against the representation. Now, sir, if you please. _Fireb_. Avert these omens, ye auspicious stars! O Law! O Physick! As last, even late, I offer'd sacred incense in the temple, The temple shook--strange prodigies appeared; A cat in boots did dance a rigadoon, While a huge dog play'd on the violin; And whilst I trembling at the altar stood, Voices were heard i' th' air, and seem'd to say, "Awake, my drowsy sons, and sleep no more." They must mean something!-- _Law_. Certainly they must. We have our omens too! The other day A mighty deluge swam into our hall, As if it meant to wash away the law: Lawyers were forced to ride on porters' shoulders: One, O prodigious omen! tumbled down, And he and all his briefs were sous'd together. Now, if I durst my sentiments declare, I think it is not hard to guess the meaning. _Fireb_. Speak boldly; by the powers I serve, I swear You speak in safety, even though you speak Against the gods, provided that you speak Not against priests. _Law_. What then can the powers Mean by these omens, but to rouse us up From the lethargick sway of Common Sense? And well they urge, for while that drowsy queen Maintains her empire, what becomes of us? _Phys_. My lord of Law, you speak my sentiments; For though I wear the mask of loyalty, And outward shew a reverence to the queen, Yet in my heart I hate her: yes, by heaven, She stops my proud ambition! keeps me down When I would soar upon an eagle's wing, And thence look down, and dose the world below. _Law_. Thou know'st, my lord of Physick, I had long Been privileged by custom immemorial, In tongues unknown, or rather none at all, My edicts to deliver through the land; When this proud queen, this Common Sense abridged My power, and made me understood by all. _Phys_. My lord, there goes a rumour through the court That you descended from a family Related to the queen; Reason is said T' have been the mighty founder of your house. _Law_. Perhaps so; but we have raised ourselves so high, And shook this founder from us off so far, We hardly deign to own from whence we came.