บทที่ บทที่ 2 · [_To them_] BRISK.

BRISK. Boys, boys, lads, where are you? What, do you give ground?

Mortgage for a bottle, ha? Careless, this is your trick; you're always

spoiling company by leaving it.

CARE. And thou art always spoiling company by coming in o't.

BRISK. Pooh, ha, ha, ha, I know you envy me. Spite, proud spite, by the

gods! and burning envy. I'll be judged by Mellefont here, who gives and

takes raillery better than you or I. Pshaw, man, when I say you spoil

company by leaving it, I mean you leave nobody for the company to laugh

at. I think there I was with you. Ha, Mellefont?

MEL. O' my word, Brisk, that was a home thrust; you have silenced him.

BRISK. Oh, my dear Mellefont, let me perish if thou art not the soul of

conversation, the very essence of wit and spirit of wine. The deuce take

me if there were three good things said, or one understood, since thy

amputation from the body of our society. He, I think that's pretty and

metaphorical enough; i'gad I could not have said it out of thy company.

Careless, ha?

CARE. Hum, ay, what is't?

BRISK. _O mon coeur_! What is't! Nay, gad, I'll punish you for want of

apprehension. The deuce take me if I tell you.

MEL. No, no, hang him, he has no taste. But, dear Brisk, excuse me, I

have a little business.

CARE. Prithee get thee gone; thou seest we are serious.

MEL. We'll come immediately, if you'll but go in and keep up good humour

and sense in the company. Prithee do, they'll fall asleep else.

BRISK. I'gad, so they will. Well, I will, I will; gad, you shall

command me from the Zenith to the Nadir. But the deuce take me if I say

a good thing till you come. But prithee, dear rogue, make haste, prithee

make haste, I shall burst else. And yonder your uncle, my Lord

Touchwood, swears he'll disinherit you, and Sir Paul Plyant threatens to

disclaim you for a son-in-law, and my Lord Froth won't dance at your

wedding to-morrow; nor, the deuce take me, I won't write your

Epithalamium--and see what a condition you're like to be brought to.

MEL. Well, I'll speak but three words, and follow you.

BRISK. Enough, enough. Careless, bring your apprehension along with

you.

SCENE 3.