Al. Good God!  What strange glorious Sight do I see here?

Ba. Either you see what is not to be seen, or I can’t see that which is to be seen.

Al. Nay, I’ll assure you, ’tis a wonderful charming Sight.

Ba. Why do you plague me at this Rate?  Tell me, where ’tis you see it.

Al. Upon the left Hand there in the Grove, under the Side of the Hill.

Ba. I see the Hill, but I can see nothing else.

Al. No! don’t you see a Company of pretty Maids there?

Ba. What do you mean, to make a Fool of me at this Rate?  I can’t see a bit of a Maid any where.

Al. Hush, they’re just now coming out of the Grove.  Oh admirable!  How neat they are!  How charmingly they look!  ’Tis a heavenly Sight.

Ba. What!  Are you possess’d?

Al. Oh, I know who they are; they’re the nine Muses and the three Graces, I wonder what they’re a-doing.  I never in all my Life saw ’em more charmingly dress’d, nor in a gayer Humour; they have every one of ’em got Crowns of Laurel upon their Heads, and their Instruments of Musick in their Hands.  And how lovingly the Graces go Side by Side!  How becomingly they look in their loose Dress, with their Garments flowing and trailing after ’em.

Ba. I never heard any Body talk more like a mad Man in all my Days, than you do.

Al. You never saw a happier Man in all your Life-Time.

Ba. Pray what’s the Matter, that you can see and I can’t?

Al. Because you have never drank of the Muses Fountain; and no Body can see ’em but they that have.

Ba. I have drank plentifully out of Scotus’s Fountain.

Al. But that is not the Fountain of the Muses, but a Lake of Frogs.

Ba. But can’t you do something to make me see this Sight, as well as you?

Al. I could if I had a Laurel-Branch here, for Water out of a clear Spring, sprinkled upon one with a Laurel Bough, makes the Eyes capable of such Sights as these.

Ba. Why, see here is a Laurel and a Fountain too.

Al. Is there?  That’s clever, I vow.

Ba. But prithee, sprinkle me with it.

Al. Now look, do you see now?

Ba. As much as I did before.  Sprinkle me again.

Al. Well, now do you see?

Ba. Just as much; sprinkle me plentifully.

Al. I believe you can’t but see now.

Ba. Now I can scarce see you.

Al. Ah poor Man, how total a Darkness has seized your Eyes!  This Art would open even the Eyes of an old Coachman:  But however, don’t plague yourself about it, perhaps ’tis better for you not to see it, lest you should come off as ill by seeing the Muses, as Actaeon did by seeing Diana:  For you’d perhaps be in Danger of being turn’d either into a Hedgehog, or a wild Boar, a Swine, a Camel, a Frog, or a Jackdaw.  But however, if you can’t see, I’ll make you hear ’em, if you don’t make a Noise; they are just a-coming this Way.  Let’s meet ’em.  Hail, most welcome Goddesses.