_Aria._ Farewel, believing Coxcomb. [Enter _Lucia_.
_Lucia._ Madam, the Clothes are ready in your Chamber.
_Aria._ Let's haste and put 'em on then. [Runs out.
ACT III.
SCENE I. _A House._
Enter _Fetherfool_ and _Blunt_, staring about, after them _Shift_.
_Shift._ Well, Gentlemen, this is the Doctor's House, and your fifty Pistoles has made him intirely yours; the Ladies too are here in safe Custody-- Come, draw Lots who shall have the Dwarf, and who the Giant.
[They draw.
_Feth._ I have the Giant.
_Blunt._ And I the little tiny Gentlewoman.
_Shift._ Well, you shall first see the Ladies, and then prepare for your Uncle _Moses_, the old _Jew_ Guardian, before whom you must be very grave and sententious: You know the old Law was full of Ceremony.
_Feth._ Well, I long to see the Ladies, and to have the first Onset over.
_Shift._ I'll cause 'em to walk forth immediately. [Goes out.
_Feth._ My Heart begins to fail me plaguily-- would I could see 'em a little at a Distance before they come slap dash upon a Man.
[Peeping.
Hah!-- Mercy upon us!-- What's yonder!-- Ah, _Ned_, my Monster is as big as the Whore of _Babylon_-- Oh I'm in a cold Sweat-- [_Blunt_ pulls him to peep, and both do so.
Oh Lord! she's as tall as the St. _Christopher_ in _Notre-dame_ at _Paris_, and the little one looks like the Christo upon his Shoulders-- I shall ne'er be able to stand the first Brunt.
_Blunt._ 'Dsheartlikins, whither art going? [Pulls him back.
_Feth._ Why only-- to-- say my Prayers a little-- I'll be with thee presently.
[Offers to go, he pulls him.
_Blunt._ What a Pox, art thou afraid of a Woman--
_Feth._ Not of a Woman, _Ned_, but of a She _Gargantua_, I am of a _Hercules_ in Petticoats.
_Blunt._ The less Resemblance the better. 'Shartlikins, I'd rather mine were a _Centaur_ than a Woman: No, since my _Naples_ Adventure, I am clearly for your Monster.
_Feth._ Prithee, _Ned_, there's Reason in all things--
_Blunt._ But villainous Woman-- 'Dshartlikins, stand your Ground, or I'll nail you to't: Why, what a Pox are you so quezy stomach'd, a Monster won't down with you, with a hundred thousand Pound to boot.
[Pulling him.
_Feth._ Nay, _Ned_, that mollifies something; and I scorn it should be said of _Nich. Fetherfool_ that he left his Friend in danger, or did an ill thing: therefore, as thou say'st, _Ned_, tho she were a Centaur, I'll not budg an Inch.
_Blunt._ Why God a Mercy.
Enter the _Giant_ and _Dwarf_, with them _Shift_ as an Operator, and _Harlequin_ attending.
_Feth._ Oh-- they come-- Prithee, _Ned_, advance-- [Puts him forward.
_Shift._ Most beautiful Ladies.
_Feth._ Why, what a flattering Son of a Whore's this?
_Shift._ These are the illustrious Persons your Uncle designs your humble Servants, and who have so extraordinary a Passion for your Seignioraships.
_Feth._ Oh yes, a most damnable one: Wou'd I were cleanlily off the Lay, and had my Money again.
_Blunt._ Think of a Million, Rogue, and do not hang an Arse thus.
_Giant._ What, does the Cavalier think I'll devour him? [To _Shift_.
_Feth._ Something inclin'd to such a Fear.
_Blunt._ Go and salute her, or, Adsheartlikins, I'll leave you to her Mercy.
_Feth._ Oh, dear _Ned_, have pity on me-- but as for saluting her, you speak of more than may be done, dear Heart, without a Scaling Ladder.
[Exit _Shift_.
_Dwarf._ Sure, Seignior _Harlequin,_ these Gentlemen are dumb.
_Blunt._ No, my little diminutive Mistress, my small Epitomy of Woman-kind, we can prattle when our Hands are in, but we are raw and bashful, young Beginners; for this is the first time we ever were in love: we are something aukard, or so, but we shall come on in time, and mend upon Incouragement.
_Feth._ Pox on him, what a delicate Speech has he made now-- 'Gad, I'd give a thousand Pounds a Year for _Ned's_ concise Wit, but not a Groat for his Judgment in Womankind.
Enter Shift with a Ladder, sets it against the Giant, and bows to _Fetherfool_.
_Shift._ Here, Seignior, Don, approach, mount, and salute the Lady.
_Feth._ Mount! why,'twould turn my Brains to look down from her Shoulders-- But hang't, 'Gad, I will be brave and venture.
[Runs up the Ladder, salutes her, and runs down again.
And Egad this was an Adventure and a bold one-- but since I am come off with a whole Skin, I am flesht for the next onset-- Madam-- has your Greatness any mind to marry?
[Goes to her, speaks, and runs back; Blunt claps him on the Back.
_Giant._ What if I have?
_Feth._ Why then, Madam, without inchanted Sword or Buckler, I'm your Man.
_Giant._ My Man? my Mouse. I'll marry none whose Person and Courage shall not bear some Proportion to mine.
_Feth._ Your Mightiness I fear will die a Maid then.