muft know that-that I-no-this gentlemanI mean this gentleman and I-He got a little behind hand, as any honeft, well principled man often may, from bad harvests and rains-lodging cornand his cattle-from murrain, and-rot-and rot the murrain! you know this is the way all this affair happen'd (to Banks) and then up fteps this gentleman (to Twitch) with a-a tip in his waymadam, you understand? And then in fteps Iwith my a-In short, madam, I am the worst ftory teller in the world where myself is the hero of the tale.

Twitch. In plain English, Mr. Banks has been arrested for thirty pounds, and this gentleman has paid twenty guineas of the debt.

Banks. My litigious neighbour to expose me thus!

Lady Am. The young man and maiden within, have spoken well of thy fifter, and pictured thee as a man of irreproachable morals though unfor

tunate.

Rov. Madam, he's the honefteft fellow-I've known him above forty years, he has the best hand at flirring a fire-If you were only to tafte his currant wine.

Banks. Madam, I never afpired to an enviable rank in life: but hitherto pride and prudence kept me above the reach of pity: but obligations from a stranger

Lady Am. He really a ftranger, and attempt to free thee? But, friend (to Rover) thou haft affumed a right which here belongeth alone to me. As I enjoy the bleffings which thefe lands produce, I own alfo the heart delighting priviledge of difpenfing those bleffings to the wretched. Thou mad'ft thyfelf my worldly banker, and no cash of

mine in thine hands, (takes a note from a pocket book) but thus I balance our account (offers it.)

Rover. "Madam, my mafter pays me, nor can "I take money from another hand without injur"ing his honour and difobeying his commands."

"Run, run, Orlando, carve on every tree "The fair, the chafte, the inexpreffive fhe." [Runs off. Banks. But, fir, I infift you'll return him his money (to Twitch) Stop! (going)

Twitch. Ay, Stop! (bolds the skirt of his coat)
Lady Am. Where dwelleth he?

Banks. I fancy, where he can, Madam. I understand, from his difcourfe, that he was on his way to join a company of actors in the next town.

L. Am. A profane ftage-player with fuch a gentle, generous heart! Yet fo whimfically wild, like the unconscious rofe, modeftly fhrinking from the recollection of its own grace and sweetness.

Enter JANE, from the boufe, dreft.

Jane. Now, my lady, I'm fit to attend your ladyship. I look fo genteelifh may hap her ladyship may take me home with her.

Lady Am. This maiden may find out for me whither he goeth. (afide) Call on my fteward, and thy legal demands fhall be fatisfied. (to Twitch)

Jane. Here, coachman, drive up my lady's chariot, nearer to our door. (calls off) If he'd take me with her, la! how all the folks will ftare. (afide) Madam, tho' the roads are so very dufty, I'll walk all the way on foot to your ladyhip's house-ay, tho' I should spoil my bran new petticoat.

VOL. II.

Lady

Lady Am, Rather than fully thy garment, thou fhalt be feated by me.

Jane. Oh, your ladyship! he, he, he! If I didn't think fo-(afide)

Enter SIM.

Here you Sim, order the charrott for us. Sim. Us! Come, come, Jane, I've the little tax cart to carry you.

Jane. Cart!

Lady Am. Friend be cheerful; thine and thy fifter's forrows fhall be but an April fhower.

[Exeunt feverally,

SCENE II.

Before an Inn.

Enter ROVER and WAITER.

Rover. Hillo! friend, when does the coach fet out for London ?

Wait. In about an hour, fir.

Rover. Has the Winchefler coach paffed yet? Wait. No, fir. [Exit. Rover. That's lucky! Then my trunk is here ftill. Go I will not. Since I've loft the fellow, ship of my friend Dick, I'll travel no more, I'll try a London audience, who knows but I may get an engagement. This celeftial lady quaker! She must be rich, and ridiculous for fuch a poor dog as I, even to think of her. How Dick would

laugh

laugh at me if he knew-I dare fay by this she has releafed my kind hoft from the gripe of that rafcal-I should like to be certain, tho'.

Enter LANDLORD.

Land. You'll dine here, fir? I'm honeft Bob Johnston; have kept the fun these twenty years. Excellent dinner on table at two.

Rover. "Yet my love indeed is appetite, I'm as hungry as the fea, and can digeft as much."

Land. Then you won't do for my fhilling ordinary, fir, there's a very good ordinary at the Saracen's head, at the end of the town. Shouldn't have thought indeed, hungry foot travellers to eat like aldermen-coming, fir.

Rover. I'll not join this company at Winchester. No, I'll not ftay in the country hopeless even to expect a look, (except of fcorn) from this lady. I will take a touch at a London theatre. The public there, are candid and generous, and before my merit can have time to create enemies, I'll fave money, and," a fig for the fultan and fophy."

Enter JANE at the back, and SIM watching her.

Jane. Ay, that's he!

Rover. But if I fall, by heaven, I'll overwhelm the manager, his empire, and-"himself in one prodigious ruin.”

Jane. Oh lord! (runs back)

Sim. What can you expect when you follow young men? I've dodged you all the way. Jane. Well! wasn't I fent?

Sim. Oh yes, you were fent-very likely. Who fent you?

Jane. It was I won't tell it's my lady, caufe fhe bid me not. (afide)

Sim. I'll keep you from fheam-a fine life I fhould have in the parish, rare fleering, if a fifter of moine fhould ftand fome funday at church, in a white fheet, and to all their flouts what could I fay ?

Rover. Thus, "I fay my fifter's wrong'd, my "fifter Blowfabella, born as high and noble as "the attorney-do her juftice, or by the gods, "I'll lay a fcene of blood, fhall make this hay"mow horrible to Beedles."" Say that,

"Chamont."

Sim. I believe it's full moon. You go hoame to your place, and moind your bufinefs.

Jane. My lady will be fo pleafed I've found him! I dont wonder at it, he's fuch a fine spoken man.

Sim. Dang it! Will you ftand here grinning at the wild bucks. You faucy flut, to keep me and the cart there waiting for you at the end of the lane.

Jane. Never mind him, fir; it's because my lady gave me a ride in her coach that makes the boy fo angry.

Rover, Then you are Kaftrill, the angry boy?"

Sim. So was the prime minifter till he got himfelf fhaved.

Jane. Perhaps the gentleman might wish to fend her ladyship a compliment. An't please you, fir, if it's even a kifs between us two, it fhall go fafe; for though you should give it me, brother Sim then can take it to my lady.

Rover. "I kiis'd thee e'er I kill'd thee".

Jane. Kill me!

Rover. "No way but this killing myself to die upon a kifs!" (advancing)