Puff. Hands off. If I muft fuffer, it fhall not be fingly. Here is the obfequious Mr. Brush, and the very courtly Mr. Canto, fhall be the Partners of my Diftrefs. Know then, we all are Rogues, if the taking Advantage of the Abfurdities and Follies of Mankind can be call'd Roguery. I own I have been a Cheat, and I glory in it. But what Point will you Virtuofi, you Connoiffeurs, gain by the Detection? Will not the publishing of our Crimes trumpet forth your Folly? Lord. Matchlefs Impudence! Puff, My noble Lord here the Dilettanti, the Curieu, the Precieu of this Nation, what Infinite Glory will he acquire from this Story, that the Leo, the Mecenas, the Petronius, notwithstanding his exquifite Tafte, has been drawn in to purchase, at an immenfe Expence, a Cart load of-Rubbish! Lord. Gentlemen and Ladies-I have the Honour to take my leave. Puff. Your Lordship's moft obedient-When fhall I fend your Corregio, your St. Anthony of Padua, your Ram Cat, my good Lord? Lord. Rafcal! (Exit. Nov. This won't do, Sir.-Tho, my Lord has not Spirit enough. damn me if I quit you. Puff. What, my fprightly Squire! Pray favour me with a Sight of your Oriuna.-It has the Relish; an Indifputable Antique; being a Bristol Fathing, coin'd by a Soap-boiler to pay his Journeymen in the Scarcity of Cafh, and purchased for Twopence of a travelling Tinker by, Sir, your humble Servant, Timothy Puff. Ha, ha, ha! Nov. My Oriuna a Briftol Farthing! Nov. I'H be reveng'd Going Puff. Stay, ftay, and take your Buft, my sweet Squire; your Serapis. Two Heads, they fay, are better than one; lay them together. But the Locks! how gracefully they fall all adown! fo decent, and fo-ha, ha, ha ! Nov. Confound you! Puff. Why, Sir, if it had a Nofe, I would not give Sixpence for it-Pray, how many Years before the Creation was it fabricated, Squire? Nov. I fhall live to fee you hang'd, you Dog. (Exit. Now, Puff. Nay, but, Squire; ha, ha, ha!Madam, to your Ladyfhip I come; to whofe Difcernment, aided by the Sagacity of your Son Caleb, I owe my Discovery. Ald. Look you, don't think to abuse my Lady. I am one of the Puff. Quorum-I know it, Mr. Alderman; but I mean to ferve your Worship by humbling a little the Vanity of your Wife. Lady. Come along, Chuck. I'll not stay to hear the rafcality of the Fellow. Puff Oh, my Lady Pentweazle, correct the Severity of that Frown, left you should have more of the Medufa than the Medicis in your Face. Lady. Saucy Jackanapes! Puff. What, then, I have quite loft my City Acquaintance; why, I've promised all my Friends Tickets for my Lord Mayor's Ball, through your Ladyship's Intereft. Lady. My interest, indeed, for such a— Puff. If Blowbladder-ftreet has any CharmsSir-Ma'am-Not a ftep-The finest Gentleman! ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!-And what can you fay for yourself, you cowardly ill-looking Rafcal? (to Canto.) Defert your Friend at the first Pinch--your Ally --your Partner--No Apology, Sir-I have done with you. From Poverty and Shame I took you; to that I restore you. Your Crime be your Punish(Turning to the Audience.) Could I be as fecure from the Cenfure of this Affembly as I am fafe from the Refentment of Dupe, Novice, Squander; from the alluring Baits of my amorous City Lady; and the dangerous Combination of my falfe Friend I fhould be happy. ment. 'Tis from your Sentence I expect my Fate; Four Voice alone my Triumph can complete. FINIS. |