Page:The Rehearsal - Villiers (1672).djvu/23



Tand. Who goes there?

2 Sol. A friend.

1 Sol. What friend?

2 Sol. A friend to the House.

1 Sol. Fall on.

Bayes. Hold, hold. Now here's an odd surprise: all these dead men you shall see rise up presently, at a certain Note that I have made, in Effaut flat, and fall a Dancing. Do you hear, dead men? remember your Note in Effaut flat. Play on.

Now, now, now. O Lord, O Lord! Out, out, out! Did ever men spoil a good thing so? no figure, no ear, no time, no thing? you dance worse than the Angels in Harry the Eight, or the fat Spirits in The Tempest, I gad.

1 Sol. Why, Sir, 'tis impossible to do any thing in time, to this Tune.

Bayes. O Lord, O Lord! impossible? why, Gentlemen, if there be any faith in a person that's a Christian, I sate up two whole nights in composing this Air, and apting it for the business: for, if you observe, there are two several Designs in this Tune; it begins swift, and ends slow. You talk of time, and time; you shall see me do't. Look you now. Here I am dead.

Now mark my Note in Effaut flat. Strike up Musick. Now. Ah, gadsookers, I have broke my Nose.

Johns. By my troth, Mr. Bayes, this is a very unfortunate Note of yours, in Effaut flat.

Bayes. A plague of this damn'd Stage, with your nails, and