_Town._ These blank licences are wonderful commodious.----The clergy have a noble command, in being rangers of the park of matrimony; produce but a warrant, and they deliver a lady into your possession: but I have no quarrel with them, since they have put me into so good hands. _Foss._ I now proclaim a solemn suspension of arms between medicine and diseases. Let distempers suspend their malignant influence, and powders, pills, and potions their operations. Be this day sacred to my love. I had rather hold this hand of thine, than a dutchess by the pulse. _Town._ And I this, than a hand of matadores. _Foss._ Who knows but your relations may dispute my title to your person? come, my dear, the seal of the matrimonial bond is consummation. _Town._ Alas! what will become of me! _Foss._ Why are thy eyes fix'd on the ground? why so slow? and why this trembling? _Town._ Ah! heedless creature that I was, to quit all my relations, and trust myself alone in the hands of a strange man. _Foss._ Courage, thou best of my curiosities. Know that in husband, is comprehended all relations; in me thou seest a fond father. _Town._ Old enough o' my conscience. [_Aside._ _Foss._ You may, you must trust yourself with me. _Town._ Do with me as you please: Yet sure you cannot so soon forget the office of the church. Marriage is not to be undertaken wantonly, like brute beasts. If you will transgress, the sin be upon your own head. _Foss._ Great indeed is thy virtue, and laudable is thy modesty. Thou art a virgin, and I a philosopher; but learn, that no animal action, _quatenus animal_, is unbecoming of either of us. But hold! where am I going? Prithee, my dear, of what age art thou? _Town._ Almost three and twenty. _Foss._ And I almost at my grand climacterick. What occasion have I for a double-night at these years? She may be an Alcmena, but alas! I am no thunderer. [_Aside_ _Town._ You seem somewhat disturb'd; I hope you are well, Mr. Fossile. _Foss._ What business have I in the bed-chamber, when the symptoms of age are upon me? Yet hold, this is the famous corroborative of Crollius; in this vial are included sons and daughters. Oh, for a draught of the _aqua magnanimitatis_ for a vehicle! fifty drops of _liquid laudanum_ for her dose would but just put us upon a _par_. _Laudanum_ would settle the present ataxy of her animal spirits, and prevent her being too watchful. [_aside_ Enter a Servant. _Serv._ Sir, your pistachoe-porridge is ready. [_Exit._ _Foss._ Now I think of it, my dear; Venus, which is in the first degree of Capricorn, does not culminate till ten; an hour if astrology is not fallible, successful in generation. _Town._ I am all obedience, Sir.