Gay.  I’m sorry I have took it at its Turning; I’m sure mine’s ebbing out as fast.

Old W.  Will you not speak, Sir—­will you not on?

Gay.  I wou’d fain ask—­a civil Question or two first.

Old W.  You know too much Curiosity lost Paradise.

Gay.  Why, there’s it now.

Old W.  Fortune and Love invite you, if you dare follow me.

Gay.  This is the first thing in Petticoats that ever dar’d me in vain.  Were I but sure she were but human now—­for sundry Considerations she might down—­but I will on—­

[She goes, he follows; both go out.

SCENE IV. A Chamber in the Apartments of L. Fulbank.

    Enter Old Woman followed by Gayman in the dark.

        [Soft Musick plays, she leaves him.

Gay.—­Hah, Musick—­and Excellent!

  SONG.

Oh!  Love, that stronger art than Wine, Pleasing Delusion, Witchery divine, Want to be prized above all Wealth, Disease that has more Joys than Health; Though we blaspheme thee in our Pain, And of thy Tyranny complain, We all are bettered by thy Reign.

  What Reason never can bestow,
  We to this useful Passion owe. 
  Love wakes the dull from sluggish Ease,
  And learns a Clown the Art to please: 
  Humbles the Vain, kindles the Cold,
  Makes Misers free, and Cowards bold. 
  ’Tis he reforms the Sot from Drink,
  And teaches airy Fops to think.

  When full brute Appetite is fed,
  And choak’d the Glutton lies, and dead;
  Thou new Spirits dost dispense,
  And fine’st the gross Delights of Sense. 
  Virtue’s unconquerable Aid,
  That against Nature can persuade;
  And makes a roving Mind retire
  Within the Bounds of just Desire. 
  Chearer of Age, Youth’s kind Unrest,
  And half the Heaven of the blest_.

Gay.  Ah, Julia, Julia! if this soft Preparation Were but to bring me to thy dear Embraces; What different Motions wou’d surround my Soul, From what perplex it now.

    Enter Nymphs and Shepherds, and dance.

        [Then two dance alone.  All go out but Pert and a Shepherd.

—­If these be Devils, they are obliging ones: 
I did not care if I ventur’d on that last Female Fiend.

Man sings.

Cease your Wonder, cease your Guess, Whence arrives your happiness.  Cease your Wonder, cease your Pain, Human Fancy is in vain.

Chorus.

  ’Tis enough, you once shall find,
  Fortune may to Worth be kind; [gives him Gold.
  And Love can leave off being blind.

Pert sings.

  You, before you enter here
  On this sacred Ring must swear,
          [Puts it on his Finger, holds his Hand.
  By the Figure which is round,
  Your Passion constant and profound;
  By the Adamantine Stone,
  To be fixt to one alone: