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Ears. A quondam justice, that of late Hath been discarded out o' the pack o' the peace,

For some lewd levity he holds in capite,
But constantly loves him. In days of yore
He used to give the charge out of his
poems;

He carries him about him in his pocket,
As Philip's son did Homer in a casket,
And cries, O happy man! to the wrong
party,

Meaning the poet, where he meant the subject.

Fame. What are this pair?
Eyes. The ragged rascals?
Fame. Yes.

Eyes. Mere rogues:-you'd think them
rogues, but they are friends;

One is his printer in disguise, and keeps His press in a hollow tree, 2 where to con

ceal him,

1 That unctuous Bounty is the boss of Billingsgate.] Boss is a head or reservoir of water. It frequently occurs in Stow, who also mentions that of the text. "The Bosses of water at Belinsgate, by Powles Wharfe, and by St. Giles without Cripplegate, were made about the year 1423."-Survey of London. This word has escaped Mr. Todd.

To pure satyric Latin; makes his boys To learn him; calls him the Times' Juvenal;

Hangs all his school with his sharp sentences;

And o'er the execution place hath painted Time whipt, for terror to the infantry.

Eyes. This man of war i' the rear, he is both trumpet

And champion to his muse.

Ears. For the whole city.

Nose. Has him by rote, recites him at the tables

Where he doth govern; swears him into

name,

Upon his word and sword, for the sole youth

Dares make profession of poetic truth,
Now militant amongst us: to th' incre-
dulous,

That dagger is an article he uses
To rivet his respect into their pates,
And make them faithful. Fame, you'll find
you have wronged him.

Fame. What a confederacy of folly's here?

They all dance but FAME, and make the
first ANTIMASQUE, in which they adore,
and carry forth CHRONOMASTIX.
After which the CURIOUS come up again
to FAME..

Eyes. Now, Fame, how like you this?
Ears. This falls upon you

For your neglect.

Nose. He scorns you, and defies you, He has got a Fame on's own, as well as a faction.

Eyes. And these will deify him, to despite you.

Fame. envy not the 'Αποθέωσις. 'Twill prove but deifying of a pompion.3 Nose. Well, what is that the 'Time will

now exhibit?

Eyes. What gambols, what devices, what new sports?

Ears. You promised us we should have anything.

to be able to appropriate it with sufficient accuracy. Nothing gave the great officers of the law such trouble as ferreting out the obscure holes in which the libels which overflowed the country were produced. Almost every scurrilous writer had a portable press, which was moved from one hiding-place to another with a secrecy and dispatch truly wonderful.

3Twill prove but deifying of a pompion.] Alluding to the burlesque deification of Clau

SATURN and VENUS pass away, and the MASQUERS descend.

Cho. What grief or envy had it been That these and such had not been seen, But still obscured in shade! Who are the glories of the Time, Of youth and feature too the prime, And for the light were made.

I Vot. Their very number, how it takes! 2 Vot. What harmony their presence makes!

I Vot. How they inflame the place!
Cho. Now they are nearer seen and
viewed,

For whom could Love have better sued,
Or Time have done the grace?

Here to a loud Music, they march into their figure, and dance their ENTRY, or first DANCE.

After which,

Ven. The night could not these glories miss,

Good Time, I hope, is ta'en with this.

Sat. If Time were not, I'm sure Love is. Between us it shall be no strife, For now 'tis Love gives Time his life.

Vot. Let Time then so with Love conspire,

As straight be sent into the court, A little Cupid, armed with fire, Attended by a jocund Sport,

To breed delight, and a desire

Of being delighted in the nobler sort. Sat. The wish is crowned as soon as made.

Vot. And Cupid conquers ere he doth
invade.

His victories of lightest trouble prove,
For there is never labour where is Love.

Then follows the MAIN DANCE; Which done, CUPID, with the SPORT, comes forward.

Cup. [to the Masquers.] Take breath awhile, young bloods, to bring Your forces up, whilst we go sing Fresh charges to the beauties here.

Sport. Or if they charge you, do not fear, Though they be better armed than you; It is but standing the first view,

Cup. Or quit the field.

Sport. Nay, that they'll never do. They'll rather fall upon the place, Than suffer such disgrace.

You are but men at best, they say,
And they from those ne'er ran away.

[Pause. Cup. [to the King.] You, sir, that are the ford of Time,

Receive it not as any crime
'Gainst majesty, that Love and Sport
To-night have entered in your court.

Sport. Sir, doubt him more of some sur-
prise

Upon yourself. He hath his eyes.
You are the noblest object here,
And 'tis for you alone I fear :

For here are ladies that would give
A brave reward to make Love live
Well all his life, for such a draught;
And therefore look to every shaft :
The wag's a deacon in his craft.

[Pause. Cup. [to the Lords.] My lords, the honours of the crown,

Put off your sourness, do not frown,
Bid cares depart, and business hence :
A little for the Time dispense.

Sport. Trust nothing that the boy lets fall,
My lords, he hath plots upon you all.
A pensioner unto your wives,
To keep you in uxorious gyves,
And so your sense to fascinate,

To make you quit all thought of state,
His amorous questions to debate.
But hear his logic, he will prove
There is no business but to be in love.

Cup. The words of Sport, my lords, and

Cup. And try his fate.

Sport. These are fair wars; And will be carried without scars.

Cup. A joining but of feet and hands Is all the Time and Love commands. Sport. Or if you do their gloves off-strip, Or taste the nectar of the lip; See, so you temper your desires, For kisses, that ye suck not fires.

The REVELS follow; which ended, the Chorus appear again, and DIANA descends to HIPPOLITUS, the whole Scene being changed to a wood, out of which he comes.

Cho. The courtly strife is done, it should appear,

Between the youths and beauties of the