"Monop. An excellent transition.
" O'Cul. Vastly ingenious indeed.
"Sim. Was it not? hey! it required a little command,—a little presence of mind,—but I believe we had better proceed.
"Monop. The sooner the better,—come, gentlemen, resume your seats.
"Sim. Now for it. Draw up the curtain, and (looking at his book) enter Sir Richard Ixion,—but stay,—zounds, Sir Richard ought to overhear Jupiter and his wife quarrelling,—but, never mind,—these accidents have spoilt the division of my piece.—So enter Sir Richard, and look as cunning as if you had overheard them. Now for it, gentlemen,—you can't be too attentive.
"Enter Sir RICHARD IXION completely dressed, with bag, sword, &c.
"Ix.
'Fore George, at logger-heads,—a lucky minute,
'Pon honor, I may make my market in it.
Dem it, my air, address, and mien must touch her,
Now out of sorts with him,—less God than butcher.
O rat the fellow,—where can all his sense lie,
To gallify the lady so immensely?
Ah! le grand bete qu'il est!—how rude the bear is!
The world to two-pence he was ne'er at Paris.
Perdition stop my vitals,—now or never
I'll niggle snugly into Juno's favor.
Let's see,—(looking in a glass) my face,—toll loll—
'twill work upon her.
My person—oh, immense, upon my honor.
My eyes,—oh fie.—the naughty glass it flatters,—
Courage,—Ixion flogs the world to tatters. [Exit Ixion.]
"Sim. There is a fine gentleman for you,—In the very pink of the mode, with not a single article about him his own,—his words pilfered from Magazines, his address from French valets, and his clothes not paid for.
"Macd. But pray, Mr. Simile, how did Ixion get into heaven?