Spark. Another time. Faith, the king will have supped.

Har. Not with the worse stomach for thy absence. Thou art one of those fools that think their attendance at the king’s meals as necessary as his physicians, when you are more trouble-some to him than his doctors or his dogs.

Spark. Pshaw! I know my interest, sir.

Prithee hide me.

Horn. Your servant, Pinchwife.—What, he knows us not!

Pinch. Come along.

[To his Wife aside.

Mrs. Pinch. Pray, have you any ballads? give me sixpenny worth.

Bookseller. We have no ballads.

Mrs. Pinch. Then give me “Covent Garden Drollery,” and a play or two—Oh, here’s “Tarugo’s Wiles,” and “The Slighted Maiden”; I’ll have them.

Pinch. No; plays are not for your reading. Come along; will you discover yourself?

[Apart to her.

Horn. Who is that pretty youth with him, Sparkish?

Spark. I believe his wife’s brother, because he’s something like her: but I never saw her but once.

Horn. Extremely handsome; I have seen a face like it too. Let us follow ’em. [Exeunt PINCHWIFE, Mrs. PINCHWIFE, ALITHEA, and LUCY;

HORNER and DORILANT following them.

Har. Come, Sparkish, your mistress saw you, and will be angry you go not to her. Besides, I would fain be reconciled to her, which none but you can do, dear friend.

Spark. Well, that’s a better reason, dear friend. I would not go near her now for her’s or my own sake; but I can deny you nothing: for though I have known thee a great while, never go, if I do not love thee as well as a new acquaintance.

Har. I am obliged to you indeed, dear friend. I would be well with her, only to be well with thee still; for these ties to wives usually dissolve all ties to friends. I would be contented she should enjoy you a- nights, but I would have you to myself a-days as I have had, dear friend.

Spark. And thou shalt enjoy me a-days, dear, dear friend, never stir: and I’ll be divorced from her, sooner than from thee. Come along.

Har. [aside]. So, we are hard put to’t, when we make our rival our procurer; but neither she nor her brother would let me come near her now. When all’s done, a rival is the best cloak to steal to a mistress under, without suspicion; and when we have once got to her as we desire, we throw him off like other cloaks.

[Exit SPARKISH, HARCOURT following him.