University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

Enter Manlius and Clodio.
Manlius.
Come hither, Clodio, thou must leave thy Play,
And be my little Mercury To-day.
Thou hast a pretty, forward, winning Face,
And may'st in time deserve a better Place.
Can'st thou cajole and flatter? Can'st thou tell
A Lover's Story to a Lady well.
If so;—Go to Eudosia's Chamber—On her wait,
And entertain her with thy harmless Chat.
Thou'lt gain an easy Audience from the Fair;
Thy prattling Nonsense she'll with Pleasure hear:
Perhaps regard, my Boy, what thou shalt say,
Tho' when I speak, she turns with Scorn away.
In thy Discourse let drop thy Master's Name,
And whisper now and then his ardent Flame.
Perhaps thy Tongue may prove a Cupid's Dart,
And melt with his soft Fires her frozen Heart.

Clod.
Great Sir, I'll do the very best I can,
And wish (to serve you more) I was a Man;
But as I am, I can run to and fro,
And drop a careless Letter as I go;
Can, while my Lady dresses, sing a Song,
(Which she'll suspect not, as I am so young)
Wherein your Love shall bear the greatest Part,
And that Way steal a Passage to her Heart.

Manl.
There's my good Boy, thou understand'st me well;
And may'st thou with Success my Passion tell.
If not,—a thousand Ways I'll still contrive;
New Plots I'll form to make my Hopes revive:
In various Shapes I will pursue my Love,
Shapes more than Proteus knew, or the dread Thund'rer Jove.
But ere I go, exert thy little Art,
And let me hear how thou wilt act thy Part.
Practise thy Song before me, let me see
How thy soft Sounds will with my Love agree.

Clod.
With Pleasure I obey.—But, my good Lord,
If I succeed, I hope you'll keep your Word.

[Clodio sings.
The SONG.

Manl.
O! may thy little Arts propitious prove,
And melt the beauteous Virgin down to Love!
If thou but prosper'st, thou shalt be supply'd
With all New Play-Things, and a Horse beside.