Fun. Parfon! why won't her ladyfhip please to be married at Powl's?

Mrs. Mech. Lord, Mr. Fungus, do you think a lady of her rank and condition would bear to be feen in public at once with a perfon like you ? Fun. That's true, I

Mrs. Mech. No, no; I have fent to Dr. Tickletext, and the business will be done in the parlour below.

Fun. As you and her ladyfhip pleafes, good Mrs. Mechlin.

Mrs. Mech. You will get dreffed as foon as you

can.

Fun. I fhall only take a fhort leffon from Mr. Brídoun, and then wait her ladyfhip's pleasure. Mrs. Mechlin, may my brother be by?

Mrs. Mech. Ay, ay, provided his being fo is kept a fecret from her.

Fun. Never fear.[Exit Mrs. Mechlin.]Well, Mr. Bridoun, and you think I am mended a little.

Brid. A great deal.

Fun. And that in a month or fix weeks I may be able to prance upon a long-tailed horfe in Hyde-park, without any danger of falling? Brid. Without doubt.

Fun. It will be vaft pleasant, in the heat of the day, to canter along the King's-road, fide by fide with the ladies, in the thick of the duft; but that I must not hope for this fummer.

Brid. I don't know that, if you follow it clofe. Fun. Never fear, 1 fhan't be fparing of But come, come, let us get to our bufinefsJohn, have the carpenters brought home my new horfe?

Enter

Enter JOHN.

John. It is here, fir, upon the top of the ftairs. Fun. Then fetch it in, in an inftant,-[Exit John.-What a deal of time and trouble there goes, Mr. Bridoun, to the making a gentleman. And do your gentlemen born now (for I reckon you have had of all forts) take as much pains as we do?

Brid. To be fure; but they begin at an earlier age.

Fun. There is fomething in that; I did not know but they might be apter, more cuterer now in catching their larning.

Brid. Difpofitions do certainly differ.

Fun. Ay, ay, fomething in nater, I warrant, as they say the children of blackamoors will fwim as foon as they come into the world. -[Enter Servants with a wooden horfe.]Oh, here he is, Ods me! it is a stately fine beast.

Brid. Here, my lads, place it here-very well, where's your switch, Mr. Fungus?

Fun. I have it.

Brid. Now let me fee you vault nimbly into your feat. Zounds! you are got on the wrong fide, Mr. Fungus!

Fun. 1 am fo, indeed, but we'll foon rectify that. Now we are right: may I have leave to lay hold of the mane ?

Brid. If you can't mount him without.

Fun. I will try; but this fteed is fo devilish tall -Mr. Bridoun, you don't think he'll throw me? Brid. Never fear.

Fun. Well, if he fhould he can't kick, that's one comfort, however.

Brid. Now mind your pofition.

D 2

Fun.

Fun. Stay till I recover my wind.

Brid. Let your head be erect.
Fun. There.

Brid. And your shoulders fall easily back.

Brid. Your fwitch perpendicular in your right hand- -Your right that is it, your left to

the bridle.

Fun. There.

Brid. Your knees in, and your toes out.

Fun. There.

Brid. Are you ready?

Fun. When you will.

Brid. Off you go.

Fun. Don't let him gallop at first.

Brid. Very well: preferve your position.

Fun. I warrant.

Brid. Does he carry you easy?

Fun. All the world like a cradle. But, Mr. Bridoun, I go at a wonderful rate.

Brid. Mind your knees.

Fun. Ay, ay, I can't think but this here horse ftands ftill very near as faft as another can gallop. Brid. Mind your toes.

Fun. Ho, Stop the horse. Zounds! I'm out of the stirrups, I can't fit him no longer; there I go. [Falls off.

Brid. I hope you ar'n't hurt?

Fun. My left hip has a little confufion.

Brid. A trifle, quite an accident; it might happen to the very best rider in England.

Fun. Indeed!

Brid. We have fuch things happen every day at the manege; but you are vaftly improved. Fun. Why, I am, grown bolder a little; and,

Mr.

Mr. Bridoun, when do you think I may venture to ride a live horse?

Brid. The very inftant you are able to keep your feat on a dead one.

Enter Mrs. MECHLIN.

Mrs. Mech. Blefs me, Mr. Fungus, how you are trifling your time! I expect lady Sachariffa every moment, and fee what a trim you are in!

Fun. I beg pardon, good madam Mechlin. I'll be equipped in a couple of minutes; where will her lady fhip please to receive me?

Mrs. Mech. In this room, to be fure; come, ftir, ftir.

I'll

Fun. I have had a little fall from my horfe.go as faft as I-Mr. Bridoun, will you lend me a lift? [Exeunt Fungus and Bridoun. Mrs. Mech. There-Jenny, fhow Mrs. Loveit in here-Who's there?

Enter SERVANTS.

Pray move that piece of lumber out of the way. Come, come, make hafte. Madam, if you'll step in here for a moment.

Enter Mrs. LOVE IT.

Mrs. Lov. So, fo, Mrs. Mechlin; well, you fee I am true to my time; and how have you throve, my good woman?

Mrs. Mech. Beyond expectations.

Mrs. Lov. Indeed! And have you provided a party?

Mrs. Mech. Ay, and fuch a party, you might fearch the town round before you could meet with his fellow he'll fuit you in every refpect. Mrs Lov. As how, as how, my dear woman? Mrs. Mech. A gentleman by birth and by breed

D3

ing,

ing, none of your little whipper fnapper Jacks, but a countenance as comely, and a prefence as portly; he has one fault indeed, if you can but overlook that.

Mrs. Lov. What is it?
Mrs. Mech. His age.

Mrs. Lov. Age! how, how?

Mrs. Mech. Why he is rather under your mark, I am afraid; not above twenty at most.

Mrs. Lov. Well, well, fo he answers in every thing elfe, we muft overlook that; for, Mrs. Mechlin, there is no expecting perfection below. Mrs. Mech. True, ma'am.

Mrs. Lov. And where is he?

Mrs. Mech. I look for him every minute; if you will but ftep into the drawing-room, I have given him fuch a picture, that I am fure he is full as impatient as you.

Mrs. Lov. My dear woman, you are fo kind and obliging: but, Mrs. Mechlin, how do I look ? don't flatter me, do you think my figure will ftrike him?

Mrs. Mech. Or he must be blind.

Mrs. Lov. You may juft hint black don't become me, that I am a little paler of late; the lofs of a husband one loves will caufe an alteration, you know.

Mrs. Mech. True; oh, he will make an allowance for that.

Mrs. Lov. But things will come round in a trice. [Exit Mrs. Loveit.

Enter SIMON.

Sim. Madam, mifs Dolly is dizened out, and

every thing ready.

Mrs.