with a pair of false eyes! No, 'tis the nurse, and by excellence the dry nurse, that gives him fashionable feet, legs, hands, mouth, eyes, nose, or whatever, in member else, is acceptable to ladies.

Duggs. Nay, there you wrong Mistress Holdback, for it is she that gives him measure I'm sure. Hold. Ay, and I'll justify his measure.

Duggs. And what increases that measure, but his milk, his sucking, and his battening?

Kecks. Yes, and your eating and drinking to get more; your decoctions and caudles, spurging, bathing, and boxing your breasts ;-thou mis-proud creature, I am ashamed of thee!

Duggs. How enviously she talks! as if any nearer or nobler office could be done the child than to feed him, or any more necessary and careful than to increase that which is his nutriment, from both which I am truly and principally named his nurse.

Kecks. Principally! O the pride of thy paps Would I were the ague in thy breasts, for thy sake, to bore 'em as full of holes as a cullender-as if there were no nutriment but thy milk, or nothing could nurse a child but sucking! Why, if there were no milk in nature, is there no other food?-How were my lady provided else against your going to men, (if the toy should take you,) and the corruption of your milk that way?

Duggs. How! I go to man, and corrupt my milk, thou dried eel-skin!

Kecks. You, mistress wet-eel-by-the-tail, if you have a mind to it. Such a thing has been done.

Duggs. I defy thee, I, thou onion-eater! And, now I think on't, my lady shall know of your close diet, your cheese and chibbols, with your fresh tripe and garlick in private, it makes a sweet perfume i' the nursery! as if you had swallowed surreverence. Ah, the pity such a one should ever come about any

good body's child! thou'lt stifle it with thy breath one of these mornings.

Kecks. Indeed you had like to have overlaid it the other night, and prevented its Christendom, if I had not looked unto you when you came so bedewed out of the wine cellar, and so watered your couch, that, to save your credit with my lady next morning, you were glad to lay it upon your innocent bed-fellow, and slander him to his mother how plentifully he had sucked! This was none of your dry feasts now, this was a soaker.

Hold. Ay, by my faith, was't; an you overflow so it is even time to stop the breach and pack you both hence here comes a wise man will tell us another

tale.

Enter a Mathematician.6

'Tis clear, in heaven all good aspects agree
To bless with wonder this nativity;

But what need this so far our star extend
When here a star shines that doth far transcend
In all benevolence, and sways more power
To rule his whole life, than that star his hour?
For in a prince are all things, since they all
To him as to their end in nature fall,

As from him being their fount, all are produced,
Heaven's right through his, where'er he rules, diffused;
This child then from his bounty shall receive,
Judgment in all things, what to take or leave;
Matter to speak, and sharpness to dispute
Of every action, both the root and fruit,
Truly foreseeing in his each fit deed,
Wisdom to attempt and spirit to proceed;
In mirth ingenious he shall be, in game
He shall gain favour, in things serious, fame.

6 i. e. an astrologer.

Dissensions shall he shun and peace pursue,
Friendships, by frailties broke, he shall renew.
Virtue by him shall gain again her youth,
And joy as much therein as in her truth.
All helpless chances he shall free indure,
And, perils past, at length survive secure ;
This is the song wherewith his fates are full,
That spin his thread out of the whitest wool.

SONG.

A battle, a battle! O that you had bin
To ha' seen but the delicate sport is within,
And how the two nurses do roar !

The dry-nurse she swears

T'have the wet by the ears

And in fellowship calleth her whore, And sayeth she will pay her score: Now the wet-nurse doth water the place, And while they do jangle

The midwife doth wrangle

And is very near in the same case!

She purgeth,

She urgeth,

And lays down the law :

They fight

And they bite

And not wave her a straw :

Then off goeth her grave velvet hat,

But they beat her with many a thump;

And now to assuage

The height of her rage

They are cooling her down at the pump!

The Watermen of Black Friars are then introduced into the Hall, with a

SONG.

They say it is merry when gossips do meet,
And more to confirm it, in us you may see't,
For we have well tasted the wine in the street,
And yet we make shift to stand on our feet.
As soon as we heard the Prince would be here,
We knew by his coming we should have good cheer;
A boy for my lady !—then every year,

Cry we-for a girl will afford us but beer.

Now, Luck, we beseech thee that all things may stand
With my lady's good liking, that my lord takes in hand;
That still there come gossips the best in the land
To make the Black Friars compare with the Strand:
That we may say
Another day,

My Lord be thanked
We had such a banquet
At Charles' christening
Was worth the listening,
After a year

And a day, for I fear
We shall not see

The like will be

To sample he,

While working the Thames
Unless't be a James!

A SONG OF THE MOON.

O the wonders of the Peak
I am come to add and speak,
Or as some would say to break
My mind unto you;

And I swear by all the light
At my back I am no sprite,
But a very merry wight

Prest in to see you.

I had somewhat else to say,
But have lost it by the way;
I shall think on't ere't be day :
The Moon commends her
To the merry beards in hall,
Those turn up and those that fall,
Morts and mirkins that wag all,
Tough, foul, or tender.

And as either news or mirth
Rise or fall upon the earth
She desires of every birth

Some taste to send her:
Specially the news of Darby
For, if there or peace or war be,
To the Peak it is so hard by,
She soon will hear it.

If there be a cuckold major
That his wife heads for a wager
As the standard shall engage her
The Moon will hear it;
Though she change as oft as she
And of circle be as free,

Or her quarters higher be

Yet do not fear it.