Oliv. Well, the Ball does not begin these three Hours, and we’ll divert our selves at my Aunt’s Basset-Table, which you see is preparing; her natural Propensity to oblige both Sexes makes her keep a Bank on purpose to bring ’em together. There we shall see the old and the young, the ugly and the handsome, Fools that have Money, and Wits that have none; and if the Table affords nothing to please the Appetite, we’ll abroad for Forage.

Enter Sir Merlin pulling in George, follow’d by Sir Morgan, Page and Footmen to George.

Sir Mer. Nay, Sir, I am resolv’d you shall honour my Aunt’s Basset-Table—

Geo. My Aunt’s Basset-Table? There may be Money stirring among these Fools, and Fortune may befriend me. Aside.

Sir Mer. Sir Morgan, pray know this worthy Gentleman, I have the honour to lodge in the House with him. They salute one another.

Sir, this is Sir Morgan Blunder, a Person of Quality in Wales, I assure you.

Geo. I question it not, Sir, and am proud of the Honour of kissing your Hands.

Ter. Yonder’s a handsom Gentleman.

Oliv. My Brother George, as I live, ’tis as I cou’d wish. Aside.

Enter Welborn.

Wel. Lejere!

Geo. Welborn! Welcome from Paris, I heard of your arrival from Prince Frederick.

Wel. Yes, I am come to my Destruction, Friend.

Geo. Ay, thou’rt to be marry’d, I hear, to a Welch Fortune.

Wel. Though Matrimony be a sufficient Curse, yet that’s not the worst—I am fall’n most damnably in love, since I arriv’d, with a young Creature I saw in the Mall t’other Night; of Quality she was, I dare swear, by all that was about her; but such a Shape! a Face! a Wit! a Mind, as in a moment quite subdu’d my Heart: she had another Lady with her, whom (dogging her Coach) I found to be a Neighbour of mine, and Grand-Daughter to the Lady Youthly; but who my Conqueror was I never since could learn.

Oliv. ’Slife, Teresia, yonder’s the handsom Fellow that entertain’d us with so much Wit, on Thursday last in the Mall.

Ter. What, when you chang’d your Breeches for Petticoats at my Lodgings.

Oliv. That Night, and ever since, I have felt a sort of a Tendre for him.

Ter. As I do for his Friend—Pray Heav’n he be not marry’d! I fear he has laid an Imbargo on my Heart, before it puts out of the Port.

Geo. Are you not for the Basset?

Wel. No, I’ve business at the Ball to night; besides, my Lady Blunder has a Quarrel to me for last Night’s Debauch; I’ll wait on you in the Morning. Exit Welborn.

Geo. Well, you to your Business, and I to mine. Speaks as the rest go out.

Let the dull trading Fool by Business live, Statesmen by Plots; the Courtier cringe to thrive; The Fop of Noise and Wealth be cullied on, And purchase no one Joy by being undone, Whilst I by nobler careless ways advance, Since Love and Fortune are acquir’d by Chance.

Exeunt Omnes.

The End of the Second Act.

A Song, sung by Sir Rowland in the second Act. To TERESIA.

Though the Young prize Cupid’s Fire,

’Tis more valu’d by the Old;

The Sun’s Warmth we now admire,

More than when the Season’s cold.

Dialogues in the Masque, at the beginning of the third Act.

He. Time and Place you see conspire, With tender Wishes, fierce Desire; See the willing Victim stands To be offer’d by your Hands: Ah! Let me on Love’s Altars lying, Clasp my Goddess whilst I’m dying. She. Oh Lord! what hard words, and strange things d’ye say; Your Eyes too seem closing, and just dying away: Ah! pray what d’ye want? Explain but your mind, Which did I but know, perhaps I’d be kind. He. My pretty soft Maid, full of innocent Charms, I languish to sigh out my Soul in thy Arms; Oh! then, if I’m lov’d, deny not the Bliss, But tell me I’m happy, with a ravishing Kiss. She. Oh! Fy, Sir, I vow I cannot endure you; Be civil, or else I’ll cry out I assure you; I will not be kiss’d so, nor tumbled, not I, I’ll tell all your tricks, that I will, if I die. He. Nay, never dissemble, nor smother that Fire; Your Blushes, and Eyes betray your Desire. The Practis’d, not Innocent, dally with Bliss, Then prithee be kind, and taste what it is. She. Let me die now, you’re grown a strange sort of a Man, To force a young Maid, let her do what she can; I fear now I blush to think what we’re doing, And is this the end of all you Men’s wooing? He. At this Pleasure all aim, both Godly and Sinners, And none of ’em blush for’t but poor young Beginners. In Pleasure both Sexes, all Ages agree, And those that take most, most happy will be. Chorus. In Pleasure both Sexes, &c.