Plot. And a man cannot easily be cuckolded by any body else.
Town. Here may'st thou remain the ornament of his study, and the support of his old age. Thou shalt divert his company and be a father to his children. I will bring thee legs of pullets, remnants of tarts, and fragments of [desarts]. Thou shalt be fed like Bell and the Dragon.
Plot. But madam; before you entertain me as your mummy in ordinary, you ought to be acquainted with my abilities to discharge that office. Let me slip off this habit of death, you shall find I have some symptoms of life.——Thus Jove within the milk-white swan compress'd his Leda.
[Underplot in the Alligator crawls forward, then rises up and embraces her.]
Underp. Thus Jove within the serpents scaly folds,
Twin'd round the [Macedonian queen],
Town. Ah! [shrieks.
Plot. Fear not, madam. This is my evil genius Underplot that still haunts me. How the devil got you here?
Underp. Why should not the play-house lend me a crocodile as well as you a mummy?
Town. How unlucky is this! [Aside.] Nay, I don't know but I may have twenty lovers in this collection. You snakes, sharks, monkeys, and [mantygers], speak, and put in your claim before it is too late.
Underp. Mr. Mummy, your humble servant; the lady is pre-engag'd.