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art indebted to thy tailor. Thou hast lost thy native language, and brought home none in exchange for it.

Buck. Extremément bien !

Luc. Had not thy vanity so soon exposed thy villiany, I might, in reverence to that name, to which thou art a disgrace, have taken a wretched chance with thee for life.

Buck. I am obliged to thee for that; and a pretty pacific partner I should have had. Why, look ye, child, you have been, to be sure, very eloquent, and, upon the whole, not unentertaining: though, by the by, you have forgot in your catalogue one of my foreign acquisitions; c'est à dire, that I can, with a most intrepid sang froid, without a single emotion, support all this storm of female fury. But, adieu, mu belle; and when a cool hour of reflection has made you sensible of the propriety of my proposals, I shall expect the honour of a card. [Exit. Luc. I am ashamed this thing has had the power to move me thus. Who waits there? Desire Mr. Crab

Enter LORD JOHN and CRAB.

Enter BUCK.

Buck. So, so, I thought she would come to; but, I confess, not altogether so soon. Eh bien, ma belle, see me ready to receive your commands.

Luc. Pray, be seated, Sir Charles. I am afraid the natural warmth of my temper might have hurried me into some expressions not altogether so suitable.

Buck. Ah, bagatelle. Name it not.
Luc. Will you drink tea, sir?

Buck. Volontiers. This tea is a pretty innocent kind of beverage; I wonder the French don't take it. I have some thoughts of giving it a fashion next winter.

Luc. That will be very obliging. It is of extreme service to the ladies this side of the water, you know.

Buck. True, it promotes parties, and infuses a kind of spirit into conversation. But what has occasioned me, ma reine, the honour of your message by Mr. Crab?

Luc. The favours I have received from your family, Sir Charles, I thought, demanded from

Lord John. We have been, unwillingly, ma-me, at my quitting your house, a more decent dam, silent witnesses to this shameful scene. I and ceremonious adieu than our last interview blush, that a creature, who wears the outward would admit of. marks of humanity, should be in his morals so much below

Crab. Pr'ythee, why didst thou not call thy maids, and toss the booby in a blanket?

Lord John. If I might be permitted, madam, to conclude what I intended saying, when interrupted by Mr. Crab

Luc. My lord, don't think me guilty of affectation; I believe I guess at your generous design: but my temper is really so ruffled-besides, I am meditating a piece of female revenge on this coxcomb.

Lord John. Dear madam, can I assist? Luc. Only by desiring my maid to bring hither the tea. My lord, I am confounded at the liberty, but

Lord John. No apology-You honour me, madam. [Exit. Crab. And, pr'y thee, wench, what is thy scheme?

Luc. Oh, a very harmless one, I promise you. Crab. Zounds, I am sorry for it. I long to see the puppy severely punished, methinks.

Luc. Sir Charles, I fancy, can't be yet got out of the house. Will you desire him to step hither?

Crab. I'll bring him.

Luc. No, I wish to have him alone. Crab. Why, then, I'll send him.

Enter LETTICE.

Buck. Is that all, ma chere? I thought your flinty heart had at last relented. Well, ma reine, adieu!

Luc. Can you, then, leave me?
Buck. The fate will have it so.

Luc. Go then, perfidious traitor, be gone! I have this consolation, however, that if I cannot legally possess you, no other woman shall. Buck. Hey, how, what!

Luc. And though the pleasure of living with you is denied me, in our deaths, at least, we shall soon be united.

Buck. Soon be united in death! When, child? Luc. Within this hour.

Buck. Which way?

Luc. The fatal draught's already at my heart. I feel it here; it runs through every pore.Pangs, pangs, unutterable! The tea we drank, urged by despair and love--Oh!

Buck. Well!
Luc. I poisoned-
Buck. The devil!

Luc. And as my generous heart would have shared all with you, I gave you half. Buck. Oh, curse your generosity!

Luc. Indulge me in the cold comfort of a last embrace.

Buck. Embrace! O, confound you! But it [Exit. may not be too late. Macruthen, Jonquil, physicians, apothecaries, oil, and antidotes.Je meurs, je meurs! Ah, la diablesse ?

Luc. Place these things on the table, a chair on each side very well. Do you keep within call. But hark, he is here. Leave me, Lettice.

Oh,

[Exit BUCK.

Enter LORD JOHN and CRAB.

Crab. A brave wench! I could kiss thee for [Exit. this contrivance.

Buck. Name them. Take my estate, mysave but my life, take all.

Lord John. He really deserves it all. Crab. Deserves it! Hang him. But the sensible resentment of this girl has almost reconci- Crab. First, then, renounce thy right to that led me to the world again. But stay, let us see lady, whose just resentment has drawn this puCan't we make a further use of this puppy's punishment upon thee, and in which she is an unnishment? I suppose we may very safely depend happy partaker. on your contempt of him.

Luc. Most securely.

Crab. And this young thing here has been breathing passions and protestations. But I'll take care my girl shan't go a beggar to any man's bed. We must have this twenty thousand pound, Lucy.

Lord John. I regard it not. Let me be happy, and let him be

Crab. Pshaw, don't scorch me with thy flames. Reserve your raptures; or, if they must have vent, retire into that room, whilst I go plague the puppy.

[Exit CRAB one way, Lucy and LORD
JOHN another.

SCENE II. Discovers Buck, MACRUTHEN, JONQUIL, BEARNOIS, LA LOIRE, Physician and Surgeon. Buck in a night-cap and gown.

Sur. This copious phlebotomy will abate the inflammation; and if the six blisters on your head and back rise, why there may be hopes.

Buck. Cold comfort. I burn, I burn, I burn! Ah, there is a shoot! And now again, I freeze! Mac. Ay, they are aw symptoms of a strong poison.

Buck. Oh, I am on the rack!

Mac. Oh, if it be got to the vitals, a fig for aw antidotes.

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Buck. I renounce her from my soul.

Crab. To this declaration you are witnesses. Next, your tawdry trappings, your foreign foppery, your washes, paints, poniades, must blaze before your door.

Buck. What all?

Crab. All; not a rag shall be reserved. The execution of this part of your sentence shall be assigned to your old friends here.

Buck. Well, take them.

Crab. And, lastly, I'll have these exotic attendants, these instruments of your luxury, these panders to your pride, packed in the first cart, and sent post to the place from whence they

came.

Buck. Spare me but La Jonquil!

Crab. Not an instant. The importation of these puppies makes a part of the politics of your old friends the French; unable to resist you, whilst you retain your ancient roughness, they have recourse to these minions, who would first, by unmanly means, sap and soften all your na tive spirit, and then deliver you an easy prey to their employers.

Buck. Since, then, it must be so, adieu, La
Jonquil !!!
[Exeunt Servants.
Crab. And now to the remedy. Come forth,
Lucinda.

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Crab. No; nor you neither, you blockhead. Buck. Why, did not I leave you in pangs? Luc. Ay, put on. The tea was innocent, upon my honour, Sir Charles. But you allow me to be an excellent actrice.

Buck. Oh, curse your talents!

Crab. This fellow's public renunciation has put your person and fortune in your power; and if you were sincere in your declaration of being directed by me, bestow it there.

Luc. As a proof of my sincerity, my lord, re

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close the scene, receive, young man, this last advice from the old friend of your father: As it is your happiness to be born a Briton, let it be your boast; know, that the blessings of liberty are your birth-right, which, while you preserve, other nations may envy or fear, but never conquer or contemn you. Believe, that French fashions are as ill suited to the genius, as their

politics are pernicious to the peace, of your native land.

A convert to these sacred truths, you'll find That poison, for your punishment designed, Will prove a wholesome medicine to your mind. [Exeunt omnes.

S

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SCENE I.-A Room.

GOVERNOR CAPE and ROBIN.

Gov. And he believes me dead, Robin?

Rob. Most certainly.

Gov. You have given him no intimation that his fortunes might mend?

Rob. Not a distant hint.

Gon. How did he receive the news? Rob. Calmly enough: when I told him, that his hopes from abroad were at an end, that the friend of his deceased father thought he had done enough in putting it in his power to earn his own livelihood, he replied, 'twas no more than he had long expected, charged me with his warmest acknowledgements to his concealed benefactor, thanked me for my care, sighed, and left me.

Gov. And how has he lived since?

Rob. Poorly, but honestly: to his pen he owes all his subsistence. I am sure my heart bleeds for him: consider, sir, to what temptations you expose him.

Gov. The severer his trials, the greater his triumph. Shall the fruits of my honest industry, the purchase of so many perils, be lavished on a lazy, luxurious booby, who has no other merit than being born five-and-twenty years after nie? No, no, Robin; him, and a profusion of debts, were all that the extravagance of his mother left me.

Rob. You loved her, sir?

Gov. Fondly, nay foolishly; or necessity had not compelled me to seek for shelter in another climate. "Tis true, fortune has been favourable to my labours; and when George convinces me,

that he inherits my spirit, he shall share my property; not else.

Rob. Consider, sir, he has not your opportuni

ties.

Gov. Nor had I his education.

Cape. Take it[Throws it at him. Devil. What, d'ye think it belongs to the cir culating library, or that it is one of your own performances, that you

Cape. You shall have a larger-[Exit Devil.]

Rob. As the world goes, the worst you could-Sdeath! a pretty situation I am in! And are have given him. Lack-a-day! Learning, learn- these the fruits I am to reap from a long, laboriing, sir, is no cominodity for this market: no- ous, and expensivething makes money here, sir, but money; or some certain fashionable qualities that you would not wish your son to possess.

Gov. Learning useless! Impossible! Where are the Oxfords, the Halifaxes, the great protectors and patrons of the liberal arts?

Rob. Patron! The world has lost its use; a guinea-subscription at the request of a lady, whose chambermaid is acquainted with the author, may be now and then picked up—Proteetor! Why, I dare believe there's more money laid out upon Islington turnpike, in a month, than upon all the learned men in Great Britain in se

ven years.

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see.

Gov. But what apology shall we make for the visit?

Rob. That you want the aid of his profession; a well-penned address, now, from the subjects of your late government, with your gracious reply, to put into the newspapers.

Gov. Ay! is that part of his practice? Well lead on, Robin. [Exeunt.

SCENE II-CAPE'S Lodgings,-YOUNG CAPE discovered with the Printer's Devil. Cape. Pr'ythee, go about thy business-vanish, dear devil.

Devil. Master bid me not come without the proof; he says as how there are two other answers ready for the press; and if yours don't come out a Saturday, 'twont pay for the paper. But you are always so lazy; I have more plague with youthere's Mr. Guzzle, the translator, never keeps me a minute-unless the poor gentleman happens to be fuddled.

Cape. Why you little, sooty, snivelling, diabolical puppy, is it not sufficient to be plagued with the stupidity of your absurd master, but I must be pestered with your impertinence?

Devil. Impertinence! Marry come up, I keep as good company as your worship every day in the year-there's Mr. Clench, in Little Britain, does not think it beneath him to take part of a pot of porter with me, though he has wrote two volumes of Lives in quarto, and has a fulio a-coming out in numbers.

in

Cape. Harkye, sirrah, if you don't quit the room this instant, I'll show you a shorter way to the street, than the stairs.

Devil. I shall save you the trouble; give me the French book that you took the story from for the last journal.

Re-enter Devil.

Devil. I had like to have forgot; here's your week's pay for the newspaper, five and fivepence; which, with the two-and-a-penny master passed his word for to Mrs. Suds, your washerwoman, makes the three half-crowns.

Cape. Lay it on the table.

Devil. Here's a man on the stairs wants you; by the sheepishness of his looks, and the shabbiness of his dress, he's either a pick-pocket or a poet-Here, walk in, Mr. What-d'ye-call-uni, the gentleman's at home.

[Surveys the figure, laughs, and exit.

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Poet. Why, sir, my case, in a word, is this: I, like you, have long been a retainer of the Muses, as you may see by their livery.

Cape. They have not discarded you, I hope? Poet. No, sir; but their upper servants, the booksellers, have-I printed a collection of jests upon my own account, and they have ever since refused to employ me; you, sir, I hear, are in their graces: now I have brought you, sir, three imitations of Juvenal in prose; Tully's oration for Milo, in blank verse; two essays on the British herring-fishery, with a large collection of rebusses; which, if you will dispose of to them, in your own name, we'll divide the profits.

Cape. I am really, sir, sorry for your distress; but I have a larger cargo of my own manufacturing, than they choose to engage in.

Poet. That's pity; you have nothing in the compiling or index way, that you would entrust to the care of another?

Cape. Nothing.

Poet. I'll do it at half price.

Cape. I'm concerned it is not in my power, at present, to be useful to you; but if this triflePoet. Sir, your servant. Shall I leave you any of my

Cape. By no means.
Poet. An essay or an ode?
Cape. Not a line.

Poet. Your very obedient

[Exit Poet, Cape. Poor fellow! And how far am I removed from his condition? Virgil had his Pollio; Horace his Mæcenas; Martial his Pliny. My protectors are, Title-page the publisher, Vamp

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