_Har._ But why shouldst thou be afraid of being in a play, who expose yourself every day in the play-houses, and at public places? _Horn._ 'Tis but being on the stage, instead of standing on a bench in the pit. _Dor._ Don't you give money to painters to draw you like? and are you afraid of your pictures at length in a playhouse, where all your mistresses may see you? _Spark._ A pox! painters don't draw the small-pox or pimples in one's face. Come, damn all your silly authors whatever, all books and booksellers, by the world; and all readers, courteous or uncourteous! _Har._ But who comes here, Sparkish? _Enter_ PINCHWIFE _and_ Mrs. PINCHWIFE _in man's clothes_, ALITHEA _and_ LUCY. _Spark._ Oh, hide me! There's my mistress too. [SPARKISH _hides himself behind_ HARCOURT. _Har._ She sees you. _Spark._ But I will not see her. 'Tis time to go to Whitehall, and I must not fail the drawing-room. _Har._ Pray, first carry me, and reconcile me to her. _Spark._ Another time. Faith, the king will have supped. _Har._ Not with the worse stomach for thy absence. Thou art one of those fools that think their attendance at the king's meals as necessary as his physicians, when you are more troublesome to him than his doctors or his dogs. _Spark._ Pshaw! I know my interest, sir. Prithee hide me. _Horn._ Your servant, Pinchwife.--What, he knows us not! _Pinch._ Come along. [_To his_ Wife _aside_. _Mrs. Pinch._ Pray, have you any ballads? give me sixpenny worth. _Bookseller._ We have no ballads. _Mrs. Pinch._ Then give me "Covent Garden Drollery," and a play or two--Oh, here's "Tarugo's Wiles," and "The Slighted Maiden";[75] I'll have them. _Pinch._ No; plays are not for your reading. Come along; will you discover yourself? [_Apart to her._ _Horn._ Who is that pretty youth with him, Sparkish? _Spark._ I believe his wife's brother, because he's something like her: but I never saw her but once. _Horn._ Extremely handsome; I have seen a face like it too. Let us follow 'em. [_Exeunt_ PINCHWIFE, Mrs. PINCHWIFE, ALITHEA, _and_ LUCY; HORNER _and_ DORILANT _following them._ _Har._ Come, Sparkish, your mistress saw you, and will be angry you go not to her. Besides, I would fain be reconciled to her, which none but you can do, dear friend. _Spark._ Well, that's a better reason, dear friend. I would not go near her now for her's or my own sake; but I can deny you nothing: for though I have known thee a great while, never go, if I do not love thee as well as a new acquaintance. _Mar._ I am obliged to you indeed, dear friend. I would be well with her, only to be well with thee still; for these ties to wives usually dissolve all ties to friends. I would be contented she should enjoy you a-nights, but I would have you to myself a-days as I have had, dear friend. _Spark._ And thou shalt enjoy me a-days, dear, dear friend, never stir: and I'll be divorced from her, sooner than from thee. Come along.