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Montaigne, Seneca's Tragedies, Horace, Juvenal, Claudian, Pliny, Plutarch's lives, and the rest, have ever thought, upon this subject: and so, in a trice, by leaving out a few words, or putting in others of my own, the business is done.
Johns. Indeed, Mr. Bayes, this is as sure, and compendious a way of Wit as ever I heard of.
Bayes. I, Sirs, when you come to write your selves, o' my word you'l find it so. But, Gentlemen, if you make the least scruple of the efficacie of these my Rules, do but come to the Play-house, and you shall judge of 'em by the effects.
Smi. We'l follow you, Sir. [Exeunt.
Enter three Players upon the Stage.
1 Play. Have you your part perfect?
2 Play. Yes, I have it without book; but I do not understand how it is to be spoken.
3 Play. And mine is such a one, as I can't ghess for my life what humour I'm to be in: whether angry, melancholy, merry, or in love. I don't know what to make on't.
1. Phoo! the Author will be here presently, and he'l tell us all. You must know, this is the new way of writing; and these hard things please forty times better than the old plain way. For, look you, Sir, the grand design upon the Stage is to keep the Auditors in suspence; for to ghess presently at the plot, and the sence, tires 'em before the end of the first Act: now, here, every line surprises you, and brings in new matter. And, then, for Scenes, Cloaths and Dancing, we put 'em quite down, all that ever went before us: and these are the things, you know, that are essential to a Play.
2 Play. Well, I am not of thy mind; but, so it gets us money, 'tis no great matter.
Enter Bayes, Johnson and Smith.
Bayes. Come, come in, Gentlemen. Y'are very welcome Mr. ———a———Ha' you your Part ready?
1 Play. Yes, Sir.
Bayes. But do you understand the true humour of it?
1 Play. I, Sir, pretty well.
Bayes. And Amarillis, how does she do? Does not her Armor become her?
3 Play.
