Chapter III: Epilogue

In me you see one _Busie-Body_ more; Tho' you may have enough of one before. With Epilogues, the _Busie-Body_'s Way, We strive to help; but sometimes mar a Play. At this mad Sessions, half condemn'd e'er try'd, Some, in three Days, have been turn'd off, and dy'd, In spight of Parties, their Attempts are vain, For like false Prophets, they ne'er rise again. Too late, when cast, your Favour one beseeches, And Epilogues prove Execution Speeches. Yet sure I spy no _Busie-Bodies_ here; And one may pass, since they do ev'ry where. Sowr Criticks, Time and Breath, and Censures waste, And baulk your Pleasure to refine your Taste. One busie Don ill-tim'd high Tenets Preaches, Another yearly shows himself in Speeches. Some snivling Cits, wou'd have a Peace for spight, To starve those Warriours who so bravely fight. Still of a Foe upon his Knees affraid; Whose well-hang'd Troops want Money, Heart, and Bread. Old Beaux, who none not ev'n themselves can please, Are busie still; for nothing--but to teize The Young, so busie to engage a Heart, The Mischief done, are busie most to part. Ungrateful Wretches, who still cross ones Will, When they more kindly might be busie still! One to a Husband, who ne'er dreamt of Horns, Shows how dear Spouse, with Friend his Brows adorns. Th' Officious Tell-tale Fool, (he shou'd repent it.) Parts three kind Souls that liv'd at Peace contented, Some with Law Quirks set _Houses_ by the Ears; With Physick one what he wou'd heal impairs. Like that dark Mob'd up Fry, that neighb'ring Curse, Who to remove Love's Pain, bestow a worse. Since then this meddling Tribe infest the Age, Bear one a while, expos'd upon the Stage. Let none but _Busie-Bodies_ vent their Spight! And with good Humour, Pleasure crown the Night!_

Dramatis Personæ.

Men.

Sir _George Airy_. A Gentleman of Four Thousand a Year in Love with _Miranda_. Acted by Mr. _Wilks_.

Sir _Francis Gripe_. Guardian to _Miranda_ and _Marplot_, Father to _Charles_, in Love with _Miranda_. Mr. _Estcourt_.

_Charles_. Friend to _Sir George_, in Love with _Isabinda_.
Mr. _Mills_.

Sir _Jealous Traffick_. A Merchant that had liv'd sometime in _Spain_, a great Admirer of the _Spanish_ Customs, Father to _Isabinda_. Mr. _Bullock_.

_Marplot_. A sort of a silly Fellow, Cowardly, but very Inquisitive to know every Body's Business, generally spoils all he undertakes, yet without Design. Mr. _Pack_.

_Whisper_. Servant to _Charles_.
Mr. _Bullock_ jun.

Women.

_Miranda_. An Heiress, worth Thirty Thousand Pound, really in Love with Sir _George_, but pretends to be so with her Guardian Sir _Francis_. Mrs. _Cross_.

_Isabinda_. Daughter to Sir _Jealous_, in Love with _Charles_, but design'd for a _Spanish_ Merchant by her Father, and kept up from the sight of all Men. Mrs. _Rogers_.

_Patch_. Her Woman.
Mrs. _Saunders_.

_Scentwell_. Woman to _Miranda_.
Mrs. _Mills_.

[Transcriber's Note: The scenes within each Act are not numbered. Their descriptions are listed here for convenience:

ACT I [scene i] The Park
ACT II [scene i] [Sir Francis Gripe's house]
[scene ii] Sir Jealous Traffick's House
[scene iii] Charles's Lodging