friends to make him a ftaid man: yet, the want of a leg notwithstanding, he muft travel in this kind, against all common reason, by the special policy of providence.

Springlove.

ift Beggar.

His father, fir, was a courtier; a great court-beggar, I affure I made thefe verfes on him, and his fon here.

you:

A courtier begg'd by covetife, not need,
From others that, which made them beg, indeed.
He begg'd till wealth had laden him with cares,
To keep for's children, and their children, fares:
While the opprefs'd, that loft that great estate,
Sent curfes after it unto their fate.

The father dies (the world fays) very rich;
The fon being gotten, while (it seems) the itch
Of begging was upon the courtly fire,
Or bound by fate, will to no wealth afpire,
Tho' offer'd him in money, cloaths, or meat,
More than he begs, or inftantly must eat.

Is not be beavenly bleft that hates earth's treasure,
And begs with, what's a gentleman, but's pleasure ?
Or Jay it be upon the heir a curfe;

What's that to him? the beggar's ne'er the worse.
For of the general ftore that Heaven has fent,

He values not a penny, 'till't be spent.

A Scribble, a Scribble!

All.

2d Beggar.

What city or court-poet could fay more than our hedgemufe-monger here?

3d Beggar.

What fay you, fir, to our poet Scribble, here?

Springlove.

I like his vein exceeding well, and the whole concert of you.

2d Beggar.

Concert, fir! we have musicians too among us:

true

merry

merry beggars indeed, that being within the reach of the lafh for finging libellous fongs at London, were fain to fly into our covey, and here they fing all our poet's ditties. They can fing any thing moft tuneably, fir, but pfalms. What they may do hereafter, under a triple tree, is much expected but they live very civilly and genteelly among

us.

Springlove.

But what is he there, that folemn old fellow, that nei ther speaks of himself, nor any body for him?

2d Beggar.

O fir, the rareft man of all: he is a prophet. See how he holds up his prognosticating nofe. He is divining

now.

How, a prophet?

Springlove

zd Beggar.

Yes, fir, a cunning man, and a fortune-teller. 'Tis thought he was a great clerk before his decay; but he is his beginning, nor the fortune he himself is fallen from; but he ferves us for a clergyman ftill, and marries us, if need be, after a new way of his

very clofe; will not tell

had his company?
2d Beggar.

But lately come amongft us; but a very ancient ftroller all the land over, and has travelled with gipfies; and is a patrico. Shall he read your fortune, fir?

If it please him.

Springlove.

Lend me your hand, fir.

Patrico.

By this palm, I understand

Thou art born to wealth and land;

And after many a bitter guft,

Shalt build with thy great grandfire's duft.

Springlove.

Where fhall I find it? But come, I'll not trouble my

head with the fearch.

Z 4

zd Beggar.

Are we not well con

zd Beggar.

What fay you, fir, to our crew?

gregated?

Springlove.

You are a jovial crew; the only people whofe happiness I admire.

3d Beggar.

Will you make us happy in ferving you? Have you any enemies? Shall we fight under you? Will you be our captain ?

2d Beggar.

Nay, our king,

3d Beggar.

Command us fomething, fir.

Maple-down] In Kent, on the north-weft fide of Wrotham. 10 Song.] On the revival of this play, the following fong was fubfti tuted, instead of that in the text :

I.

"Courtiers, courtiers, think it no scorn,

"That filly poor swains in love should be;
Love lies hid in rags all torn,

"As well as in filks and bravery.

Chorus.

"And the beggar he loves his lafs as dear
"As he that has thousands, thousands, thousands;

"As he that has thousand pounds a year:

II. "States

In field, in grove, on hill, in dale:
But above all the nightingale;
Who in her fweetness ftrives t' out-do
The loudness of the boarfe cuckoo.

Cuckoo, cries be; Jug, Jug, Jug, fings fhe,
From bush to bush, from tree to tree.

Why in one place then tarry we?

Come away; why do we stay?
We have no debt or rent to pay:
No bargains or accounts to make;
Nor land, nor lease, to let or take:
Or if we had, should that remore us,
When all the world's our own before us?
And where we pass, and make refort,
It is our kingdom and our court.

Cuckoo, cries, &c.^

So now away.

Springlove.

[Exeunt Cantantes.

They dream of happiness that live in ftate;
But they enjoy it that obey their fate.

II.

"States and titles are pitiful things;

"The meaneft eftate more pleafing does prove:

"Lords and ladies, princes and kings,

"With beggars have equal charms in love.

Chorus.

"And the beggar," &c.

[Exeunt Cantantes.

АСТ

Beggars! they are the only people can boaft the benefit of a free state, in the full enjoyment of liberty, mirth, and eafe; having all things in common, and nothing wanting of Nature's whole provifion within the reach of their defires. Who would have loft this fight of their revels

Vincent.

How think you, ladies? Are they not the only happy in a nation?

Meriel.

Happier than we, I'm fúre, that are pent up and ty'd by the nose to the continual fteam of hot hofpitality here, in our father's house, when they have the air at pleasure, in all variety.

Rachel.

And though I know we have merrier spirits than they, yet to live thus confin'd, ftifles us.

Hilliard.

Why, ladies, you have liberty enough; or may take what you please.

Meriel.

Yes, in our father's rule and government, or by his allowance! What's that to abfolute freedom; fuch as the very beggars have; to feast and revel here to-day, and yonder to-morrow; next day, where they please; and fo on ftill, the whole country or kingdom over? There's liberty! the birds of the air can take no more.

Rachel.

And then at home here, or wherefoever he comes, our father