Hip. I'm sure, cousin, you have lost no time there.
Mons. Auh, le brave Scaramouche!
Hip. But is it a science in France, cousin? and is there an academy for fooling? sure none go to it but players.
Mons. Dey are comedians dat are de maîtres; but all the beau monde go to learn, as they do here of Angel and Nokes. For if you did go abroad into company, you would find the best almost of de nation conning in all places the lessons which dey have learned of the fools dere maîtres, Nokes and Angel.
Hip. Indeed!
Mons. Yes, yes, dey are de gens de qualité that practise dat science most, and the most ambitieux; for fools and buffoons have been always most welcome to courts, and desired in all companies. Auh, to be de fool, de buffoon, is to be de great personage.
Hip. Fools have fortune, they say, indeed.
Mons. So say old Senèque.
Hip. Well, cousin, not to make you proud, you are the greatest fool in England, I am sure.
Mons. Non, non, de grace; non: Nokes de comedian is a pretty man, a pretty man for a comedian, da—