heads, like poor needy
scoundrels, are forced to examine their stock, and forecast the charges
of the day. Here she comes, I'll seem not to see her, and try to win her
with a new airy invention of my own, hem!

SCENE VI.

[_To him_] LADY FROTH.

BRISK [_Sings_, _walking about_.] 'I'm sick with love,' ha, ha, ha,
'prithee, come cure me. I'm sick with,' etc. O ye powers! O my Lady
Froth, my Lady Froth, my Lady Froth! Heigho! Break heart; gods, I thank
you. [_Stands musing with his arms across_.]

LADY FROTH. O heavens, Mr. Brisk! What's the matter?

BRISK. My Lady Froth! Your ladyship's most humble servant. The matter,
madam? Nothing, madam, nothing at all, egad. I was fallen into the most
agreeable amusement in the whole province of contemplation: that's
all--(I'll seem to conceal my passion, and that will look like respect.)
[_Aside_.]

LADY FROTH. Bless me, why did you call out upon me so loud?

BRISK. O Lord, I, madam! I beseech your ladyship--when?

LADY FROTH. Just now as I came in, bless me, why, don't you know it?

BRISK. Not I, let me perish. But did I? Strange! I confess your
ladyship was in my thoughts; and I was in a sort of dream that did in a
manner represent a very pleasing object to my imagination, but--but did I
indeed?--To see how love and murder will out. But did I really name my
Lady Froth?

LADY FROTH. Three times aloud, as I love letters. But did you talk of
love? O Parnassus! Who would have thought Mr. Brisk could have been in
love, ha, ha, ha. O heavens, I thought you could have no mistress but
the Nine Muses.

BRISK. No more I have, egad, for I adore 'em all in your ladyship. Let
me perish, I don't know whether to be splenetic, or airy upon't; the
deuce take me if I can tell whether I am glad or sorry that your ladyship
has made the discovery.

LADY FROTH. O be merry by all means. Prince Volscius in love! Ha, ha,
ha.

BRISK. O barbarous, to turn me into ridicule! Yet, ha, ha, ha. The
deuce take me, I can't help laughing myself, ha, ha, ha; yet by heavens,
I have a violent passion for your ladyship, seriously.

LADY FROTH. Seriously? Ha, ha, ha.

BRISK. Seriously, ha, ha, ha. Gad I have, for all I laugh.

LADY FROTH. Ha, ha, ha! What d'ye think I laugh at? Ha, ha, ha.

BRISK. Me, egad, ha, ha.

LADY FROTH. No, the deuce take me if I don't laugh at myself; for hang
me if I have not a violent passion for Mr. Brisk, ha, ha, ha.