THE NEW SCIENCE AND COMEDY 93 



"you sympathize, I perceive". " What might your Menstruum 

 be", he asks of Plotwell who is disguised as a French Doctor, 

 "Snow-water or May-dew?" 94 Plotwell inquires if there is any 

 secret in "hydrology, zoology, mineralogy, hydraulics, acoustics, 

 pneumatics, logarithmatechny", which he desires to have revealed 

 to him. "That", Fossil answers, "is all out of my way. Do 

 you know any hermaphrodites, monstrous twins, antediluvian 

 shells, bones, and vegetables?" 95 



This virtuoso is interested, however, in the "Lapis Lydius, or 

 Touch-stone of Virginity", and prepares to try his household by 

 it. When he has called all of his servants before him, he divides 

 them into two classes, "the Platonicks and the Cartesians". "The 

 Platonicks are for Ideas, the Cartesians for matter and motion". 96 

 While Plotwell is in the house in the guise of a French Doctor, 

 Underplot comes in as a patient. A travesty at once follows on 

 the method of diagnosing a case. Plotwell who recognizes his rival 

 proposes the most violent treatment. An operation, he says, is 

 unavoidable; the strongest glisters must be used. The scene when 

 worked to this pitch falls tamely away. 



As antiquarian Fossil has a famous museum, filled with his 

 "dear pickled hieroglyphics". Even his new wife is to him "the 

 best of my Curiosities". He decides to lock her up in this room 

 when he leaves to make his calls, thinking she would thus be out 

 of temptation's way. It so happens, however, that Plotwell has 

 been previously carried in as a mummy and Underplot as an alli 

 gator. Fossil returns unexpectedly, with two of his friends, Drs. 

 Nautilus and Possum. They are desirous of examining the two 

 newly received curiosities much to the consternation of Mrs. Town- 

 ley and the two intriguers. Mrs. Townley suddenly looks through 

 the telescope that stands conveniently near and cries, "What do I 

 see! Most prodigious! A Star as broad as the Moon in Day 

 time!" 97 The three virtuosi rush to the instrument and quarrel 

 as to which one ghall first observe the phenomenon. Meanwhile 



94 Three Hours after Marriage, Act I. 

 96 Ibid. Act II. 

 M Ibid. 

 87 Ibid. 



