Thus Jove within the serpents scaly folds, Twin'd round the Macedonian queen, _Town._ Ah! [_shrieks._ _Plot._ Fear not, madam. This is my evil genius Underplot that still haunts me. How the devil got you here? _Underp._ Why should not the play-house lend me a crocodile as well as you a mummy? _Town._ How unlucky is this! [_Aside._] Nay, I don't know but I may have twenty lovers in this collection. You snakes, sharks, monkeys, and mantygers, speak, and put in your claim before it is too late. _Underp._ Mr. Mummy, your humble servant; the lady is pre-engag'd. _Plot._ Pray, Mr. Crocodile, let the lady make her own choice. _Underp._ Crocodile as I am, I must be treated with common humanity. You can't, madam, disown the message you sent me. _Town._ Well! ye pair of Egyptian lovers, agree this matter between you, and I will acquit myself like a person of honour to you both. _Plot._ Madam! If I don't love you above all your sex, may I be banish'd the studies of virtuoso's; and smoak'd like dutch beef in a chimney---- _Underp._ If I don't love you more than that stale mummy, may I never more be proclaim'd at a show of monsters, by the sound of a glass-trumpet. _Plot._ May I be sent to 'Pothecary's-hall, and beat up into venice treacle for the fleet and the army, if this heart---- _Underp._ May I be stuff'd with straw, and given to a mountebank, if this soul---- _Plot._ Madam I am a human creature. Taste my balsamick kiss. _Underp._ A lover in swadling-clouts! What is his kiss, to my embrace? _Plot._ Look upon me, madam. See how I am embroider'd with hieroglyphicks. _Underp._ Consider my beautiful row of teeth. _Plot._ My balmy breath. _Underp._ The strong joints of my back. _Plot._ My erect stature. _Underp._ My long tail. _Town._ Such a contest of beauty! How shall I decide it? _Plot._ Take me out of my shell, madam, and I'll make you a present of the kernel. _Underp._ Then I must be upon a level with him, and be uncrocodil'd. _Town._ Keep both of you your shapes, and we are in no fear of a surprize from the doctor: If you uncase, his presence would undo us. Sure never was any thing so unlucky--I hear his foot-steps; quick to your posts. [_Mummy and Crocodile run to their places._ Enter FOSSILE, Dr. _Nautilus_, and Dr. _Possum_. _Naut._ Much joy to the learned Dr. Fossile. To have a mummy, an alligator, and a wife, all in one day, is too great happiness for mortal man! _Poss._ This an alligator! Alack a day, brother Nautilus, this is a mere lizard, an eft, a shrimp to mine. _Naut._ How improving would it be to the female understanding, if the closets of the ladies were furnish'd, or, as I may say, ornamented and embellish'd with preserv'd butterflies, and beautiful shells, instead of China jars, and absurd Indian pictures. _Town._ Now for a stratagem to bring off my unsuccessful pair of gallants. [_Aside._ [_Exit Townley._