Phil. Sottises. [Reads.

Mel. Sottises:  bon. That’s an excellent word to begin withal; as, for example, he or she said a thousand sottises to me.  Proceed.

Phil. Figure: As, what a figure of a man is there! Naive, and naivete.

Mel. Naive! as how?

Phil. Speaking of a thing that was naturally said, it was so naive; or, such an innocent piece of simplicity ’twas such a naivete.

Mel. Truce with your interpretations.  Make haste.

Phil. Foible, chagrin, grimace, embarrasse, double entendre, equivoque, ecclaircissement, suitte, beveue, facon, penchant, coup d’etourdy, and ridicule.

Mel. Hold, hold; how did they begin?

Phil. They began at sottises, and ended en ridicule.

Mel. Now, give me your paper in my hand, and hold you my glass, while I practise my postures for the day. [MELANTHA laughs in the glass.] How does that laugh become my face?

Phil. Sovereignly well, madam.

Mel. Sovereignly?  Let me die, that’s not amiss.  That word shall not be yours; I’ll invent it, and bring it up myself:  My new point gorget shall be yours upon’t.  Not a word of the word, I charge you.

Phil. I am dumb, madam.

Mel. That glance, how suits it with my face?
                                        [Looking in the glass again.

Phil. ’Tis so languissant!

Mel. Languissant! that word shall be mine too, and my last Indian gown thine for’t.  That sigh? [Looks again.

Phil. ’Twill make a man sigh, madam.  ’Tis a mere incendiary.

Mel. Take my guimp petticoat for that truth.  If thou hast most of these phrases, let me die but I could give away all my wardrobe, and go naked for them.

Phil. Go naked?  Then you would be a Venus, madam.  O Jupiter! what had I forgot?  This paper was given me by Rhodophil’s page.

Mel. [Reading the letter.] Beg the favour from you.—­Gratify my passion—­so far—­assignation—­in the grotto—­behind the terrace—­clock this evening—­Well, for the billets doux there is no man in Sicily must dispute with Rhodophil; they are so French, so gallant, and so tendre, that I cannot resist the temptation of the assignation.  Now, go you away, Philotis; it imports me to practise what to say to my servant when I meet him. [Exit PHILOTIS.] Rhodophil, you’ll wonder at my assurance to meet you here;—­let me die, I am so out of breath with coming, that I can render you no reason of it.—­Then he will make this repartee; Madam, I have no reason to accuse you for that which is so great a favour to me.—­Then I reply,