_Maskwell_ calls out at _Saygraces door_, Mr. _Saygrace_ Mr. _Saygrace_.
The other answers, _Sweet sir I will but pen the last line of an Acrostick, and be with you in the twingling of an Ejaculation, in the pronouncing of an_ Amen. _&c._
Mask. _Nay good Mr._ Saygrace _do not prolong the time_, &c.
Saygrace. _You shall prevail, I would break off in the middle of a Sermon to do you Pleasure._
Mask. _You could not do me a greater----except----the business in hand----have you provided a Habit for Mellifont?_
Mask. _have you stich'd the Gownsleeve, that he may be puzled and wast time in putting it on?_
Saygr. _I have; the Gown will not be indued without Perplexity._ There is a little more profane, and abusive stuff behind, but let that pass.
The Author of _Don Sebastian_ strikes at the _Bishops_ through the sides of the _Mufti_, and borrows the Name of the _Turk_, to make the _Christian_ ridiculous. He knows the transition from one Religion to the other is natural, the Application easy, and the Audience but too well prepar'd. And should they be at a loss he has elsewhere given them a _Key_ to understand him.
_For Priests of all Religions are the same._[212]
However that the Sense may be perfectly intelligible, he makes the Invective General, changes the Language, and rails in the stile of Christendom.
----_Churchmen tho' they itch to govern all, Are silly, woful, awkard Polititians, They make lame Mischief tho' they mean it well._
So much the better, for 'tis a sign they are not beaten to the Trade. The next Lines are an Illustration taken from a _Taylor_.
_Their Intrest is not finely drawn and hid, But seams are coarsly bungled up and seen._[213]
This _Benducar_ was a rare Spokesman for a first _Minister_; And would have fitted _John_ of _Leyden_ most exactly!
In the Fourth _Act_ the Mufti is _Depos'd_ and _Captain Tom_ reads him a shrewd Lecture at parting. But let that pass:
To go on, _Mustapha_ threatens his great Patriark to put him to the Rack. Now you shall hear what an answer of Fortitude and Discretion is made for the _Mufti_.
Mufti. _I hope you will not be so barbarous to torture me. We may Preach Suffering to others, but alas holy Flesh is too well pamper'd to endure Martyrdom._[214] By the way, if flinching from _Suffering_ is a proof of _Holy Flesh_, the _Poet_ is much a Saint in his Constitution, witness his _Dedication_ of _King Arthur_.