THE following scenes are taken from a play by Randolph,

entitled "Amyntas, or the Impossible Dowry," 4°,

Oxford, 1638. They are extremely amusing, and detail a laughable imposition, which will probably remind the reader of Mistress Quickly and her elves in the "Merry Wives of Windsor." Here we have for the first time fairy Latin, and it does no discredit whatever to the order.

Mop. Jocastus, I love Thestylis abominably! The mouth of my affection waters at her.

Joc. Be wary, Mopsus, learne of me to scorn the mortalls. Choose a better match: Go, love some fairy lady! Princely Oberon shall stand thy friend, and beauteous Mab, his queen, give thee a Maid of Honour.

Mop. How, Jocastus? Marry a puppet? Wed a mote i' th' sunne? Go looke a wife in nutshells ?

Wooe a gnat that's nothing but a voice? No, no, Jocastus, I must have flesh and bloud, and will have Thestylis. A fig for fairies!

Thes. 'Tis my sweet-heart Mopsus and his wise brother. O, the twins of folly! These doe I entertaine only to season the poore Amyntas madnesse.

Mop. Sacred red and white, how fares thy reverend beauty?

Thes. Very ill, since you were absent, Mopsus ! Where have you been all this live-long houre? Mop. I have been discoursing with the birds. Thes. Why, can birds speak?

Joc. In Fairy Land they can: I have heard 'em chirp very good Greek and Latin.

Mop. And our birds talk better farre than they : A new-laid egge of Sicily shall out-talk the bravest parrot in Oberon's Utopia.

Thes. But what languages doe they speak, servant? Mop. Severall languages, as Cawation, Chirpation, Hootation, Whistleation, Crowation, Cackleation, Shreekation, Hissation.

Thes. And Foolation?

Mop. No, that's our language.

speak that, that are the learned augurs.

We ourselves

Thes. What successe does your art promise?

Mop. Very good.

Thes. What birds met you then first?

Mop. A woodcock and a goose.

Thes. Well met.

Mop. I told'm so.

Thes. And what might this portend?

Mop. Why thus-and first the Woodcock. Wood and Cock-both very good signes.

For first the

wood doth signify the fire of our love shall never goe out, because it has more fuell: wood doth signifie more fuell.

Thes. What the Cock?

Mop. Better then the t'other: 'that I shall crow o're those that are my rivals, and roost myselfe with thee.

Thes. But now the goose?

Mop. I, I, the goose! That likes me best of all. Th'ast heard our gray-beard sheapheards talke of Rome, and what the geese did there. The goose doth signifie that I shall keep thy Capitoll.

Thes. Good gander !

Joc. It cannot choose but strangely please his high

nesse.

Thes. What are you studying of, Jocastus, ha?

Joc. A rare device, a masque to entertaine his grace of Fairy with.

Thes. A masque? what is't?

Joc. An anti-masque of fleas, which I have taught to dance currantos on a spider's thread.

Mop. An anti-masque of fleas! Brother, methinks a masque of birds were better, that could dance the morice in the ayre, wrens and robbin-red brests, linnets, and titmice.

Joc. So and why not rather your geese and woodcocks? Mortall, hold thy tongue; thou dost not know the mystery.

Thes. Tis true, he tells you. Mopsus, leave your augury: follow his counsell, and be wise.

Mop. Be wise! I skorn the motion! Follow his counsell and be wise! That's a fine trick, i'faith! Is this an age for to be wise in ?

Thes. Then you mean, I see, t'expound the oracle. Mop. I doe mean to be th' interpreter.

Joc. And then a jig of pismires is excellent. Mop. What, to interpret oracles? A foole must be th' interpreter.

Thes. Then no doubt but you will have honour.

Mop. Nay I hope I am as faire for't as another man, if I should now grow wise against my will, and catch this wisdome!

Thes. Never feare it, Mopsus.

Mop. Twere dangerous vent'ring. Now I think on't too, pray Heaven this ayre be wholesome! Is there not an antidote against it? What doe you think of garlick every morning?

Thes. Fye upon't, 'twill spoyle our kissing! and besides I tell you garlick's a dangerous dish; eating of garlick may breed the sicknesse, for as I remember 'tis the philosophers' diet.

Mop. Certainly I am infected, now the fit's upon me! Tis some thing like an ague; sure I caught it with talking with a schollar next my heart.

Thes. How sad a life live I hewixt your folly and Amyntas madnesse! For Mopsus, Ile prescribe you such a diet as shall secure you.

Mop. Excellent she-doctor! Your women are the best physitians, and have the better practice.

Thes. First, my Mopsus, take heed of fasting, for your hungry meales nurse wisdome.

Mop. True! O, what a stomack have I to be her patient!

Thes. Besides, take speciall care you weare not thredbare clothes: 'twill breed at least suspition you are wise.

Joc. I, marry will it.

Thes. And walk not much alone; or if you walk with company, be sure you walke with fooles, none of the wise.

Mop. No, no, I warrant you, Ile walk with nobody but my brother here, or you, or mad Amyntas.

Thes. By all meanes take heed of travell; your beyond-sea wit is to be fear'd.

Mop. If ere I travell, hang me!

Joc. Not to the Fairy Land?

Thes. Thither he may. But above all things weare no beard; long beards are signes the brains are full, because the excrements1 come out so plentifully.

Joc. Rather emptie; because they have sent so much out, as if their brains were sunk into their beards. King Oberon has ne're a beard, yet for his wit I am sure he might have beene a gyant. Who comes here? Enter Dorylas.

Dor. All haile unto the fam'd interpreter of fowles and Oracles !

Mop. Thankes, good Dorylas.

Dor. How fares the winged cattell? Are the woodcocks, the jayes, the dawes, the cuckoes, and the owles in health?

Mop. I thanke the gratious starres they are.

Dor. Like health unto the president of the jigs! I hope King Oberon and his royall Mab are well.

Joc. They are; I never saw their Graces eate such a meale before.

Dor. E'ne much good do 't 'em!

Joc. They're rid a hunting.

Dor. Hare or deere, my Lord?

Joc. Neither; a brace of snailes of the first head. Thes. But, Dorylas, ther's a mighty quarrell here, and you are chosen umpire.

Dor. About what?

Thes. The exposition of the Oracle.

these two you think the verier foole ?

Which of

Dor. It is a difficult cause. First, let me pose'em ; you, Mopsus, cause you are a learned augur, how many are the seven liberall sciences ?

1 The same phrase is used by Shakespeare in Love's Labour's Lost, act v. sc. I, and Merchant of Venice, act. iii. sc. 2.