nity; methinks a
Conventicle should ill agree with her Humour.

_Isab._ Oh, she finds it the only way to secure her from his Suspicion,
which if she do not e'er long give him cause for, I am mistaken in her
Humour.--

Enter L. _Knowell_ and _Leander_.

But see your Mother and my Cousin _Leander_, who seems, poor man, under
some great Consternation, for he looks as gravely as a Lay-Elder
conducting his Spouse from a Sermon.

L. _Kno._ Oh, fy upon't. See, Mr. _Fancy_, where your Cousin and my
_Lucretia_ are idling: _Dii boni_, what an insupportable loss of time's
this?

_Lean._ Which might be better imploy'd, if I might instruct 'em, Madam.

L. _Kno._ Ay, Mr. _Fancy_, in Consultation with the Antients.--Oh the
delight of Books! when I was of their age, I always imploy'd my looser
Hours in reading--if serious, 'twas _Tacitus_, _Seneca_, _Plutarch's
Morals_, or some such useful Author; if in an Humour gay, I was for
Poetry, _Virgil_, _Homer_ or _Tasso_. Oh that Love between _Renaldo_ and
_Armida_, Mr. _Fancy_! Ah the Caresses that fair _Corcereis_ gave, and
received from the young Warrior, ah how soft, delicate and tender! Upon
my Honour I cannot read them in the Excellence of their Original
Language, without I know not what Emotions.

_Lean._ Methinks 'tis very well in our Mother Tongue, Madam.

L. _Kno._ O, Faugh, Mr. _Fancy_, what have you said, Mother Tongue! Can
any thing that's great or moving be express'd in filthy _English_?--I'll
give you an Energetical proof, Mr. _Fancy_; observe but divine _Homer_
in the _Grecian_ Language--_Ton d' apamibominous prosiphe podas ochus
Achilleus!_ Ah how it sounds! which English't dwindles into the most
grating stuff:--Then the swift-foot _Achilles_ made reply: oh, faugh.

_Lucr._ So now my Mother's in her right Sphere.

L. _Kno._ Come, Mr. _Fancy_, we'll pursue our first design of retiring
into my Cabinet, and reading a leaf or two in _Martial_; I am a little
dull, and wou'd fain laugh.

_Lean._ Methinks, Madam, Discourse were much better with these young
Ladies. Dear Lucretia, find some way to release me.
[Aside.

L. _Kno._ Oh, how I hate the impertinence of Women, who for the
generality have no other knowledge than that of dressing; I am uneasy
with the unthinking Creatures.

_Lucr._ Indeed 'tis much better to be entertaining a young Lover alone;
but I'll prevent her, if possible.
[Aside.

L. _Kno._ No, I am for the substantial pleasure of an Author