_Plot._ Madam I am a human creature. Taste my balsamick kiss.
_Underp._ A lover in swadling-clouts! What is his kiss, to my embrace?
_Plot._ Look upon me, madam. See how I am embroider'd with hieroglyphicks.
_Underp._ Consider my beautiful row of teeth.
_Town._ Such a contest of beauty! How shall I decide it?
_Plot._ Take me out of my shell, madam, and I'll make you a present of the kernel.
_Underp._ Then I must be upon a level with him, and be uncrocodil'd.
_Town._ Keep both of you your shapes, and we are in no fear of a surprize from the doctor: If you uncase, his presence would undo us. Sure never was any thing so unlucky--I hear his foot-steps; quick to your posts.
[_Mummy and Crocodile run to their places._
Enter FOSSILE, Dr. _Nautilus_, and Dr. _Possum_.
_Naut._ Much joy to the learned Dr. Fossile. To have a mummy, an alligator, and a wife, all in one day, is too great happiness for mortal man!
_Poss._ This an alligator! Alack a day, brother Nautilus, this is a mere lizard, an eft, a shrimp to mine.
_Naut._ How improving would it be to the female understanding, if the closets of the ladies were furnish'd, or, as I may say, ornamented and embellish'd with preserv'd butterflies, and beautiful shells, instead of China jars, and absurd Indian pictures.
_Town._ Now for a stratagem to bring off my unsuccessful pair of gallants.
_Foss._ Ah, Dr. Nautilus, how have I languish'd for your feather of the bird Porphyrion!
_Foss._ Your haft of the antediluvian trowel, unquestionably the tool of one of the Babel masons!
_Naut._ What's that to your fragment of Seth's pillar?
_Poss._ Gentlemen, I affirm I have a greater curiosity than all of them. I have an entire leaf of Noah's journal aboard the ark, that was hewen out of a porphyry pillar in Palmyra.
_Naut._ By the formation of the muscular parts of the visage, I conjecture that this mummy is male.
_Pos._ Male, brother! I am sorry to observe your ignorance of the symetry of a human body. Do but observe the projection of the hip; besides, the bloom upon the face; 'tis a female beyond all contradiction.
_Fos._ Let us have no rash dispute, brothers; but proceed methodically----Behold the vanity of mankind! [_pointing to the mummy._] Some Ptolemy perhaps!----