Stay, you presumptuous Paradox! I have viewed thy antics and thy Puppet, which have kindled in me the fire of Emulation. Look; am I not in habit as fantastic as thyself? Dost thou hope for grace with Ladies, by thy novel doctrine? I am a man of art: witness this, my Charming Rod, wherewith I work Miracles; and whereas thou like a fabulous Greek, hast made monsters of thy Disciples, lo! I will oppose squadron against squadron, and plain truth against painted fiction. Now for [thy] moving Ale-sign: but for frighting the Devil out of it, I could encounter thee with Tottenham High Cross, or Cheap Cross (though it be new guilt), but I scorn odds, and therefore will I affront thee pole to pole. Go, Disciples: usher in our lofty enchanted motion; and, Paradox, now betake you to your tackling, for you deal with men that have got air and fire in them. PARADOX. Assist me, thou active nymph, and you, my glorious associates. Victory! Victory for Athens! [_Dance._ MOUNTEBANK. Accomplished Greek! now, as we are true Mountebanks, this was bravely performed on both parts, and nothing now remains but to make these two Maypoles better acquainted. But we must give place: the Knights appear. OBSCURITY _Enter_. Enough of these night-sports! part fairly, Knights, And leave an edge on pleasure, lest these lights I suddenly dim all; and pray, how then Will these gay Ladies shift among you men, In such confusion? Some their homes may miss: Obscurity knows tricks as mad as this. But make your parting innocent for me; I will no author now of Error be. Myself shall pass with you, a friend of light, Giving to all this round a kind good night. LAST SONG.[631] We must away: yet our slack pace may show 'Tis by constraint we this fair Orb forego. Our longer stay may forfeit what but now Love hath obtained for us: to him we bow, And to this gentler Power, who so contriv'd That we from sullen shades are now depriv'd, And hither brought, where Favour, Love, and Light, So gloriously shine, they banish Night. More would we say, but Fate forbids us more.-- Our Cue is out--Good night is gone before.[632] [623] "Fever-lurdens"--a jocular term for slothfulness. [624] "Pin and the web" was the name of a disorder of the eye. [625] The words "_et fiet_" are omitted in Add. MS.--Nichols gives "at first."--It may be remarked that Nichols' transcript is made throughout in a slovenly manner. [626] "But" is omitted by Collier, but found in Add. MS. and Nichols. [627] So Add. MS. and Nichols.--Collier gives "strued." [628] In Add. MS. and Nichols are some additional "paradoxes." [629] "Epicæne" in the MS. is struck out and "Newter" written as a correction. [630] Concert.