The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 03Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 03
Dryden, John
English drama -- 17th century
_Mill._ Rose, go, and fetch me down two Indian gowns and
vizard-masks----you and I will disguise too, and be as good a mummery to
them, as they to us.
[_Exit_ ROSE.
_Mood._ That will be most rare.
_Enter Sir_ MARTIN MAR-ALL, WARNER, _Landlord, disguised like a Tony_.
_Mood._ O here they come! Gentlemen maskers, you are welcome--[WARNER
_signs to the music for a dance_.] He signs for a dance, I believe; you
are welcome. Mr Music, strike up; I'll make one, as old as I am.
_Sir John._ And I'll not be out.
[_Dance._
_Lord._ Gentlemen maskers, you have had your frolic, the next turn is
mine; bring two flute-glasses and some stools, ho! we'll have the
ladies' healths.
_Sir John._ But why stools, my lord?
_Lord._ That you shall see: the humour is, that two men at a time are
hoisted up: when they are above, they name their ladies, and the rest of
the company dance about them while they drink: This they call the frolic
of the altitudes.
_Mood._ Some highlander's invention, I'll warrant it.
_Lord._ Gentlemen-maskers, you shall begin.
[_They hoist Sir_ MART. _and_ WARN.
_Sir John._ They point to Mrs Millisent and Mrs Christian, _A Lou's
touche! touche!_
[_While they drink, the company dances and sings: They are taken down._
_Mood._ A rare toping health this: Come, Sir John, now you and I will be
in our altitudes.
_Sir John._ What new device is this, trow?
_Mood._ I know not what to make on't.
[_When they are up, the company dances about them: They dance off. Tony
dances a jigg._
_Sir John._ Pray, Mr Fool, where's the rest of your company? I would
fain see 'em again.
[_To Tony._
_Land._ Come down, and tell them so, Cudden.
_Sir John._ I'll be hanged if there be not some plot in it, and this
fool is set here to spin out the time.
_Mood._ Like enough! undone! undone! my daughter's gone! let me down,
sirrah.
_Land._ Yes, Cudden.
_Sir John._ My mistress is gone, let me down first.
_Land._ This is the quickest way, Cudden.
[_He offers to pull down the stools._
_Sir John._ Hold! hold! or thou wilt break my neck.
_Land._ An you will not come down, you may stay there, Cudden.
[_Exit Landlord, dancing._
_Mood._ O scanderbag villains!
_Sir John._ Is there no getting down?
_Mood._ All this was long of you, Sir Jack.
_Sir John._ 'Twas long of yourself, to invite them hither.
_Mood._ O you young coxcomb, to be drawn in thus!
_Sir John._ You old Scot you, to be caught so sillily!
_Mood._ Come but an inch nearer, and I'll so claw thee.
_Sir John._ I hope I shall reach to thee.
_Mood._ An 'twere not for thy wooden breast-work there----
_Sir John._ I hope to push thee down from Babylon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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