Excerpt from The Whole Comical Works of Mons. Scarron, Vol. 1 of 2: Containing His Comical Romance of a Company of Stage-Players, in Three Parts Complete

Night. To (peak more like a Man, and in plainerterms; it was betwixt five and fix of the Clock, when a Cartcame into the Market-place ofmanr This Cart was drawn by two Yoke of lean Oxen led by a breeding Mare, who had a Colt that flcipped to and fro like a filly Creature as, bewas. The Cart was laden with Trunks, Portmanteaus, ' and great Packs of painted Clothes, that made a Sort of Pyramid on the Top of which {at a Damicl, in'a half City, half Country Drefs. A young Man, as poor in Clothes as rich in Mien, walked by the Side of the Cart: He had a great Patch on his Face (which covered one of his Eyes, and half of one Cheek) and carried a long birding-piece on his Shoulder, wherewith he had murthered leveral Magpies, Jays, and Crows, which having firung together, made him a Sort of Bandileer; at the Bottom of which hung a Hen and Goofe, that looked as if they had been taken from the Enemy by Way of Plunder. Infiead of a Hat he wore a Night-cap, tied about his Head with Garters of feveral Colours; and which was, without doubt, a Kind of unfi nillred Turbant. His Doublet was agrifet-coat, girt about with a Leather Thong; which ferved likewife to (up ort a Rapier {0 very long, that it could nor be ufed ex troufly without the Help of a Reil. He wore a Pair of Breeches tucked up to above the Middle of his Thighs, like thofe that Players have when they reprefent an anci ent Hero. Lufiead of Shoes he wore Tragic Balkins, be fpatteréd with Dirt up to the Ancles. An old Man, (ome thingmoreregularin hisdrefs, tho'invery ordinary Habit, walked by his Side. He carried a bale-viol on his Shoul ders; and becaufe he {looped a little as he went, one might have taken him at a Diliance for a great Tortoife walking upon his hind Feet. Some Critic or other will perhaps find Fault with the Comparifon by reafon of the Difpropor tion between that Creature and a Man But I lpeak of thore great Tortoit'es that are to be found in the Indie: and befides, I make hold to ufe the Simile upon my own Authority. Let's return to our firolling Company. They pall'ed by the Tennis Court at the Hind before which were then afl'embled feveral of the chief Men of the Town.

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