}

Prick up your ears; a ftory now I'll tell,
Which once a widow and her child befel;
I knew the mother and her daughter well.
Poor, it is true, they were; but never wanted,
For whatfoe'er they afk'd was always granted :
One fatal day the matron's truth was try'd,
She wanted meat and drink, and fairly cry'd.
[Child.] Mother, you cry! [Moth.] Oh, child, I've got
no bread.

[Child.] What matters that? Why Providence an't

dead!

With reafon good, this truth the child might say,
For there came in at noon, that very day,
Bread, greens, potatoes, and a leg of mutton,
A better, fure, a table ne'er was put on :
Ay, that might be, ye cry, with thofe poor fouls;
But we ne'er had a rafher for the coals.

And d'ye deserve it? How d'ye fpend your days?
In paftimes, prodigality, and plays!

Let's go fee Foote! ah, Foote's a precious limb!
Old Nick will foon a foot-ball make of him!
For foremost rows in fide-boxes you shove,
Think you to meet with fide-boxes above?
Where giggling girls and powder'd fops may fit,
No, you will all be cramm'd into the pit,
And croud the house for Satan's benefit.
Oh! what you fnivel? well, do so no more,
Drop, to atone, your money at the door,
And, if I pleafe,-I'll give it to the poor.

Several Gentlemen fitting at table, Mixum attending. Gent. How now, Robin Mixum! What makes thee in this confufion? What's the matter?

Mix. O, Sir! the moft villainous piece of roguerynot of my own, Sir,-but that rogue of all rogues Vizard's committing. I'll tell you, Sir, how it was; the villain Vizard, who has more tricks than a Jefuit, and would make an afs of the devil, came to my house one night, and with him a woman, whom he told me he had married, and that she was a great fortune; upon which I grew extremely civil: he order'd the cloth to be laid, which was done while you could whistle; and bespoke a fupper, which was upon the table in a trice: he gave

me

me a bill of twenty pounds, and defired the money of me. The goldfmith living too far to fend to at that time, I willingly gave him the money, took his bill, and withdrew: Then enters a blind harper, and cries, Do you lack any mufic? He cries, play; the harper uncafes; the drawer is nodded out, who obeys, believing he would be private with the gentlewoman; and 'tis Sam's part, you know, Sir, to wink at fuch things. Gent. Right, and civil.

Mix. Well, Sir, having eat the fupper, and perceiving none in the room but the blind harper, whose eyes heaven had fhut from beholding wickednefs, opens the cafement to the street, very patiently packs up my plate, naturally thrusts the woman out of the window, and himself, with the most acute dexterity, leaps after her. The blind harper plays on, bids the empty dishes much good may do them, and plays on ftill; the drawer returns, D'ye call, Sir? But out, alas! the birds were flown, Sir, flown; laments were raised

Gent. Which did not pierce the heavens.

Mix. Sam cries out; my wife, in the bar, hears the noife; the bawls out; I heard her, and thundered; the boys flew like lightning; and all was in confufion. My plate being gone, and the thief after it, I bethought me of my bill, ran with all speed to the goldímith's to receive my money; but out, alas! the bill was forg'd. I was feized; Vizard run away; my word would not be taken; I was found guilty of forgery; loft my reputation; and flood in the pillory for being cheated.

Gent. Was it impoffible to find him!

Mix. Sir, he walks invifible. You might as foon find truth with a gamefter, fincerity in a lawyer, or wealth in a poet. He changes his drefs and his lodgings as often as a whore does her name and her lover. I'll e'en go home, and comfort myself and my wife; and for that rogue Vizard, I hope I fhall live to fee him hang'd in hemp of his own beating, [Exit.

Enter Vizard.

Viz. A pox of all dice! I wish I could forfwear touching a box again while I live for what I get by ether men's folly, I lofe by my own. Let me fee, the filver tankard which I ftole from Mixum the vintner (as

great a rogue as myfelf), I fold for five and twenty pounds, which I lost at hazard in two hours; and now I don't know where to eat. Neceffity is the mother of invention. I have cheated all my acquaintance over and over again; and am as poor now as when I was honest. I have but one poor folitary fhilling left-Oh, here comes a barber's boy; his bafon and razors will purchase a dinner.

Enter Solomon.

How now, my lad! Where art thou going?

Sol. To fhave Mr. Mixum, Sir.

Vix. Oh, that's well; I was juft going to your mafter's.

Sol. To my father's you mean, I believe, Sir.

Viz. Ay, right, thy father's; you are a pretty boy; I have heard Mr. Mixum, my friend, commend thee much

Sol. He is my godfather, Sir.

Viz. Is he, is he? Well, and what is thy name?
Sol. My name is Solomon Smack.

Vix. A wife boy, I affure you. Well, Solomon, I was just going to thy father's to borrow an apron, a bafon, and razors, to fhave Mr. Mixum-out of a frolic: So, now I have met thee, I'll take thine. [Offers to take’em. Sol. O dear, Sir, what do you mean?

Viz. No harm, my lad, only a frolic.-I'll get thee, in the mean time, to step to the fign of the Crown, at the end of the street, and tell the gentleman who waits there for me, I defire him to come to me at Mr. Mixun's house. My name is Truman ; and here is fixpence for thy pains: I'll leave thy bason and things for thes at thy godfather's.

Sol. Thank you kindly, Sir; I'll make hafte.

[Exit Sol.

Viz So, this happens luckily. By this I get admittance to Mixum's chamber; and if I can fix my birdlime fingers upon any thing that is moveable, I'm fure my confcience won't fly in my face. I take more pleafure in cheating that rogue than any body I know; and if I don't have him now, I fhall fay my wit and my razers are both very blunt.

[Exit.

Scene