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me to lay hold on this fellow; you have no sword now, captain; no sword, d'ye mark me? Enter Servants and ROBIN.

Rove. But I have a pistol, sir, at your service. [Pulls out a pistol.

Arg. O Lord! O Lord! Rove. And I'll unload it in your breast, if you stir one step after me.

Arg. A bloody-minded dog! But lay hold on that rogue there, that country-cheat.

Rob. See here, gentlemen, are two little bulldogs of the same breed (Presenting two pistols.) they are wonderful scourers of the brain;so that, if you offer to molest or follow meyou understand me, gentlemen? you under

stand me?

1 Ser. Yes, yes; we understand you, with a pox!

2 Ser. The devil go with them, I say! Arg. Ay, ay; good-bye to you, in the devil's

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name.-A terrible dog!-what a fright he has put me in!-I shan't be myself this month. And you, ye cowardly rascals! to stand by and see my life in danger; get out, ye slaves! oat of my house, I say!I'll put an end to all this; for I'll not have a servant in the house.I'll carry all the keys in my pocket, and never sleep more. What a murdering son of a whore is this! But I'll prevent him; for to-morrow she shall be married certainly, and then my furious gentleman can have no hopes left.A Jezabel, to have a red-coat without any money!-Had he but money-if he wanted sense, manners, or even manhood itself, it mattered not a pin;-but to want money is the devil! Well, I'll secure her under lock and key till to-morrow: and if her husband can't keep her from captain-hunting, e'en let her bring him a fresh pair of horns every time she goes out upon the chase.

[Exit.

ACT II.

SCENE I-A Chamber.

Arg. A very dutiful lady, indeed! I'll make you sing another song to-morrow; and, till

ARETHUSA discovered sitting melancholy on a then, I'll leave you in salva custodia, to con

couch. AIR.

O leave me to complain

My loss of liberty!

I never more shall see my swain, Nor ever more be free.

O cruel, cruel Fate!

What joy can I receive, When in the arms of one I hate, I'm doomed alas, to live? Ye pitying pow'rs above,

That see my soul's dismay, Or bring me back the man I love, Or take my life away.

Enter ARCUS.

Arg. So, lady! you're welcome home !-See how the pretty turtle sits moaning the loss of her mate!-What! not a word, Thusy? not a word, child? Come, come; don't be in the dumps now, and I'll fetch the captain, or the 'squire's sister: perhaps they may make it prattle a bit- -Ah, ungracious girl! Is all my care come to this? Is this the gratitude you show your uncle's memory, to throw away what he had bustled so hard for, at so mad a rate? Did he leave you 12,000l. think you, to make you no better than a soldier's trull? to follow a camp? to carry a knapsack? This is what you'd have, mistress, is it not?

Are. This, and ten thousand times worse, were better with the man I love, than to be chained to the nauseous embraces of one I hate.

sider.-B'ye, Thusy!

Are. How barbarous is the covetousness and caution of ill-natured parents. They toil for estates with a view to make posterity happy; and then, by a mistaken prudence, they match us to our aversion. But I am resolved not to suffer tamely, however.-They shall see, though my body's weak, my resolution's strong, and I may yet find spirit enough to plague them.

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Without affectation, gay, youthful, and pretty; Without pride or meanness, familiar and witty; Without forms, obliging, good-natured, and free;

Without art, as lovely as lovely can be.

She acts what she thinks, and she thinks what she says,

Regardless alike both of censure and praise; Her thoughts, and her words, and her actions 'are such,

That none can admire them, or praise her, too much.

Hear. Well, success attend you!know where to find me when there's occasion.

Enter Box.

-You

[Exit.

Boy. Sir, sir! I want to speak with you. Rove. Is your mistress locked up, say you? Boy. Yes, sir, and Betty's turned away, and all the men-servants; and there's no living soul in the house but our old cook-maid, and I, and my master, and Mrs. Thusy; and she cries, and cries her eyes out almost.

Rove. O the tormenting news! But if the garrison is so weak, the castle may be the sooner stormed. How did you get out?

Boy. Through the kitchen-window, sir.
Rove. Show me the window presently.

Boy. Alack-a-day, it won't do, sir! That

plot won't take!

Rove. Why, sirrahı ?

Boy. You are something too big, sir.
Rove. I'll try that, however.

Boy. Indeed, sir, you can't get your leg in ; but I could put you in a way. Rove. How, dear boy!

Boy. I can lend you the key of Mrs. Thusy's chamber -If you can contrive to get into the bouse-But you must be sure to let my

mistress out.

Rove. How couldst thou get it! This is al

most a miracle.

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Enter ROBIN as a lawyer, and soldiers. Rove. So, my hearts of oaks, are you all ready?

Sold. Yes, an't please your honour.

Rove. You know your cue then to your

post.

[They retire to a corner of the stage; he knocks smartly at the door.

Rob. What, are you all asleep, or dead in the house, that you can't hear?

[ARGUS, holding the door in his hand. Arg. Sir, you are very hasty, methinksRob. Sir, my business requires haste. Arg. Sir, you had better make haste about it, for I know no business you have here.

Rob. Sir, I am come to talk with you on an affair of consequence.

Arg. Sir, I don't love talking; I know you not, and consequently can have no affairs with

you.

Rob. Sir, not know me!

Arg. Sir, 'tis enough for me to know myself. Rob. A damned thwarting old dog this same! [Aside.] Sir, I live but just in the next [To him.

street.

Arg. Sir! If you lived at Jamaica, 'tis the same thing to me.

Rob. [Aside.] I find coaxing won't do. I must change my note, or I shall never unkennel this old fox---[To him.] Well Mr. Argus, there's no harm done, so take your leave of 30001. You have enough of your own already. [Going.

Arg. How! 3000l.! I must inquire into this, [Aside.] Sir, a word with you.

Rob. Sir! I have nothing to say to you. I took you to be a prudent person, that knew the worth of money, and how to improve it; but, I find I'm deceived.

Arg. Sir, I hope you'll excuse my rudeness; but, you know, a man cannot be too cautious. Rob. Sir, that's true; and, therefore, I ex

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: but I'd take such treatment from no man in England besides yourself.

Arg. Sir, I beg your pardon; but, to the

business.

Rob. Why, thus it is: a spendthrift young fellow is galloping through a plentiful fortune: I have lent 20001. upon it already; and, if you'll advance an equivalent, we'll foreclose the whole estate, and share it between us; for, I know, he can never redeem it.

Arg. A very judicious man; I'm sorry I affronted him. [Aside.] But how is this to be done?

Rob. Very easily, sir.-A word in your ear; a little more this way.

[Draws him aside; the soldiers get between him and the door.] Arg. But the title, sir, the title? Rob. Do you doubt my veracity? Arg. Not in the least, sir; but one cannot

be too sure.

Rob. That's very true, sir; and, therefore,
I'll make sure of you, now I have you.

[ROBIN trips up his heels; the soldiers
blind-fold and gag him, and stand over
him, while RoVEWELL carries ARE-
THUSA off; after which, they leave him,
he making a great noise.
Enter Mob.

Enter ROBIN, as constable.

All. Here's Mr. Constable, here's Mr. Constable!

Rob. Silence, in the king's name!

All. Ay, silence, silence.

makes all this disturbance?
Rob. What's the meaning of this riot? Who

1 Mob. I'll tell you, Mr. Constable.
3 Mob. An't please your worship, let me
speak.

Rob. Ay; this man talks like a man of parts -What's the matter, friend?

3 Mob. An't please your noble worship's honour and glory, we are his majesty's liege subjects, and were terrified out of our habitations and dwelling-places, by a cry from abroad; which your noble worship must understand was occasionable by the gentleman of this house, who was so unfortunable as to be killed by thieves, who are now in his house to the numberation of above forty, an't please your worship, all completely armed with powder and ball, back-swords, pistols, bayonets, and blun derbusses!

Rob. But what is to be done in this case? 3 Mob. Why, an please your worship, knowing your noble honour to be the king's majesty's noble officer of the peace, we thought 'twas best your honour should come and terrify these rogues away with your noble authority. Rob. Well said; very well said, indeed!mur-mand you, in the king's name, to aid and assist Gentlemen, I am the king's officer, and I com

All. What's the matter, what's the matter? [They ungag him, &c. Arg. O neighbours! I'm robbed and dered, ruined, and undone for ever.

1 Mob. Why, what's the matter, master? Arg. There's a whole legion of thieves in my house; they gagged and blindfolded me, and offered forty naked swords at my breast-I beg of you to assist me, or they'll strip the house in a minute.

2 Mob. Forty drawn swords, say you, sir? Arg. Ay; and more, I think, on my con

science.

2 Mob. Then, look you, sir, I'm a married man, and have a large family: I would not venture amongst such a parcel of blood-thirsty rogues for the world; but, if you please, I'll run and call a constable.

All. Ay, ay; call a constable, call a constable!

Arg. I shan't have a penny left, if we stay for a constable--I am but one man; and, as old as I am, I'll lead the way, if you'll follow [Exit ARG. All. Ay, ay, in, in; follow, follow; huzza! 1 Mob. Prithee, Jack, do you go in, if you come to that.

me.

4 Mob. I go in! what should I go in for! I have lost nothing.

Wom. What! nobody to help the poor old gentleman? odds bobs! if I was a man, I'd follow him myself.

3 Mob. Why don't you, then? What occasionableness have I to be killed for him or you either?

me to call those rogues out of the housein the king's name, and submit yourselves to Who's within there? I charge you come out, our royal authority.

2 Mob. This is the gentleman that was killed, an't please your worship.

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3 Mob. Marry come up, what valuation can she be?-But, have they taken nothing else? Arg. Would they had stript my house of every pennyworth, so they had left my child!

1 Mob. That's a lie, I believe; for he loves his money more than his soul, and would sooner part with that than a groat.

Arg. This is the captain's doings, but I'll have him hanged.

Rob. But where are the thieves?

Arg. Gone, gone, beyond all hopes of pursuit.

2 Mob. What! are they gone? Then, come

neighbours, let us go in, and kill every mother's child of them.

Rob. Hold; I charge you to commit no murder; follow me, and we'll apprehend them.

Arg. Go, villains, cowards, scoundrels, or I shall suspect you are the thieves that mean to rob me of what is yet left. How brave you are, now all the danger's over! Oh, sirrah, you dog! [Looking at ROBIN.] you are that rogue, Robin, the captain's man. Seize him, neighbours, seize biin!

Rob. [Aside.] I don't care what you do, for the job's over; I see my master a-coming.

Arg. Why don't you seize him, I say? Mob. Not we; we have lost too much time about an old fool already.

2 Mob. Ay; the next time you're bound and gagged, you shall lie and be damned for

me!

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pany.

Are. Sir, I hope my husband's company is not criminal!

Arg. Your husband! who's your husband, housewife? that scoundrel? Captain-Out of my sight, thou ungracious wretch !—I'll go make my will this instant and you, you villain! how dare you look me in the face after all this? I'll have you ban ged, sirrah! I will so.

Hear. O fie, brother Argus! moderate your passion. It ill becomes the friendship you owe Ned Worthy, to vilify and affront his only child, and for no other crime than improving that friendship which has ever been between us.

Arg. Ha! my dear friend alive! I heard thou

wert dead in the Indies-And is that thy son? and my godson, too, If I am not mistaken?

Hear. The very same-the last and best remains of our family; forced, by my wife's cruelty, and my absence, to the army. My wife is since dead, and the son she had by her former husband, whom she intended to heir my estate; but fortune guided me by chance to my dear boy, who, after twenty years absence, and changing my name, knew me not, till I just now discovered myself to him and your fair daughter, whom I will make him deserve by thirty thousand pounds, which I brought from India, besides what real estate I may leave at my death.

Arg. And to match that, old boy, my daughter shall have every penny of mine, besides her uncle's legacy-Ah! you young rogue, had I known you, I would not have used you so roughly!- -However, since you have won my girl so bravely, take her, and welcome—But you must excuse all faults the old man meant all for the best; you must not be angry.

Rove. Sir, on the contrary, we ought to beg your pardon for the many disquiets we have given you; and, with your pardon, we crave your blessing. [They kneel,

Arg. You have it, children, with all my heart. Adod, I am so transported, I dont know whether I walk or fly!

Are. May your joy be everlasting!
ROVEWELL and ARETHUSA, embracing.
Thus fondly caressing,

My idol, my treasure,
How great is the blessing!
How sweet is the pleasure!
With joy I behold thee,

And doat on thy charms;
Thus while I unfold thee,
I've heaven in my arms.

[Exeunt omnes.

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Then nods and snores again: If this besleep, Tell me, ye gods! what mortal man's awake? What says my friend to this?

Rig-Fun. Say! I say he sleeps dog sleep:
What a plague would you have me say?
Aldi. O impious thought! O cursed insinu-
ation!

To animals detestible and vile,
As if great Chrononhotonthologos,
Had aught the least similitude!

Rig-Fun. My dear friend, you entirely miscraft; I was only going to tell you, that the solapprehend me: I did not call the king dog by diers have just now received their pay, and are all as drunk as so many swabbers.

Aldi. Give orders instantly, that no more mo

ney

Be issued to the troops: Mean time, my friend, Let the baths be filled with seas of coffee,

To stupify their souls into sobriety.

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