THE
BUSIE BODY.

ACT I. SCENE The Park.

Sir George Airy meeting Charles.

Cha. Ha!  Sir George Airy! A Birding thus early, what forbidden Game rouz’d you so soon?  For no lawful Occasion cou’d invite a Person of your Figure abroad at such unfashionable Hours.

Sir Geo. There are some Men, Charles, whom Fortune has left free from Inquietudes, who are diligently Studious to find out Ways and Means to make themselves uneasie.

Cha. Is it possible that any thing in Nature can ruffle the Temper of a Man, whom the four Seasons of the Year compliment with as many Thousand Pounds, nay! and a Father at Rest with his Ancestors.

Sir Geo. Why there ’tis now! a Man that wants Money thinks none can be unhappy that has it; but my Affairs are in such a whimsical Posture, that it will require a Calculation of my Nativity to find if my Gold will relieve me or not.

Cha. Ha, ha, ha, never consult the Stars about that; Gold has a Power beyond them; Gold unlocks the Midnight Councils; Gold out-does the Wind, becalms the Ship, or fills her Sails; Gold is omnipotent below; it makes whole Armies fight, or fly; It buys even Souls, and bribes the Wretches to betray their Country:  Then what can thy Business be, that Gold won’t serve thee in?

Sir Geo. Why, I’m in Love.

Cha. In Love—­Ha, ha, ha, ha; In Love, Ha, ha, ha, with what, prithee, a Cherubin!

Sir Geo. No, with a Woman.

Cha. A Woman, Good, Ha, ha, ha, and Gold not help thee?

Sir Geo. But suppose I’m in Love with two—­

Cha. Ay, if thou’rt in Love with two hundred, Gold will fetch ’em, I warrant thee, Boy.  But who are they? who are they? come.

Sir Geo. One is a Lady, whose Face I never saw, but Witty as an Angel; the other Beautiful as Venus—­

Cha. And a Fool—­

Sir Geo. For ought I know, for I never spoke to her, but you can inform me; I am charm’d by the Wit of One, and dye for the Beauty of the Other?

Cha. And pray, which are you in Quest of now?

Sir Geo. I prefer the Sensual Pleasure, I’m for her I’ve seen, who is thy Father’s Ward Miranda.

Cha. Nay then, I pity you; for the Jew my Father will no more part with her, and 30000 Pound, than he wou’d with a Guinea to keep me from starving.

Sir Geo. Now you see Gold can’t do every thing, Charles.

Cha. Yes, for ’tis her Gold that bars my Father’s Gate against you.

Sir Geo. Why, if he is this avaricious Wretch, how cam’st thou by such a Liberal Education?

Cha. Not a Souse out of his Pocket, I assure you; I had an Uncle who defray’d that Charge, but for some litte Wildnesses of Youth, tho’ he made me his Heir, left Dad my Guardian till I came to Years of Discretion, which I presume the old Gentleman will never think I am; and now he has got the Estate into his Clutches, it does me no more good, than if it lay in Prester John’s Dominions.