to. But I will truft myself no longer, and muft crave your interpofition and protection.

Sir Wil. To what?

Sir Geo. I will attend you with the explanation in an inftant.

Sir Wil. Prithee, Shift, what does he mean?
Shift. I believe I can guess.

Sir Wil. Let us have it.

[Exit,

Shift. I fuppofe the affair I overheard juft now; a prodigious fine, elegant girl, faith, that, discarded by her family, for refufing to marry her grandfather, fell into the hands of the venerable lady you faw; who being the kind caterer for your fon's amusements, brought her hither for a purpofe obvious enough. But the young gentleman, touch'd with her ftory, truth, and tears, was converted from the spoiler of her honour to the protector of her innocence.

Sir Wil. Lookee there, brother, did not I tell you that George was not fo bad at the bottom!

R. Weal. This does indeed atone for half the-But they are here.

Enter Sir George and Lucy. Sir Geo. Fear nothing, Madam, you may fafely rely on the

Lucy. My father ! .

R. Weal. Lucy!

Lucy. O, Sir, can you forgive your poor diftreft, unhappy girl? You fcarce can guefs how hardly I've been: us'd fince my banishment from your paternal roof. Want, pining want, anguifh, and fhame, have been my conftant partners.

Sir Wil Brother!

Sir Geo. Sir!

Lucy. Father!

R. Weal. Rife, child, 'tis I must ask thee forgiveness. Canft thou forget the woes I've made thee fuffer? Come to my arms once more, thou darling of my age.-What mischief had my rafhnefs nearly completed. Nephew, I scarce can thank you as I ought, but

-

Sir Geo. I am richly paid, in being the happy inftrument-Yet, might I urge a wifh

R. Weal. Name it.

Sir Geo. That you would forgive my follies of to-day; and, as I have been providentially the occafional guardian of your daughter's honour, that you would bestow on me that right for life.

R. Weal. That must depend on Lucy; her will, not mine, fhall now direct her choice-What fays your father?

Sir Wil. Me! Oh, I'll show you in an inftant. Give me your hands. There, children, now you are join'd ; and the devil take him that wishes to part you.

Sir Geo. I thank you for us both.

R. Weal. Happiness attend you.

Sir Wil. Now, brother, I hope you will allow me to be a good plotter. All this was brought to bear by my

means.

Shift. With my affistance, I hope, you'll own, Sir.

Sir Wil. That's true, honest Shift, and thou shalt be richly rewarded; nay, George fhall be your friend too. This Shift is an ingenious fellow, let me tell you, fon.

Sir Geo. I am no ftranger to his abilities, Sir. But, if you pleafe, we will retire. The various struggles of this fair fufferer require the foothing softness of a fifter's love. And now, Sir, I hope your fears for me are over; for had I not this motive to reftrain my follies, yet I now know the town too well to be ever its bubble, and will take care to preserve, at least,

Some more eftate, and principles, and wit,

Than brokers, bawds, and gamesters shall think fit.
Shift, addreing himself to Sir George.

And what becomes of your poor fervant Shift?

Your father talks of lending me a lift

A

great man's promife, when his turn is ferv'd!
Capons on promises wou'd foon be ftarv'd:
No, on myself alone I'll now rely:
'Gad I've a thriving traffic in my eye-
Near the mad manfions of Moorfields I'll bawl;
Friends, fathers, mothers, fifters, fons, and all,
Shut up your fhops, and listen to my call.
With labour, toil, all fecond means dispense,
And live a rent-charge upon Providence.

:}

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 deferve it? How d'ye spend 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 houfe for Satan's benefit.
Oh! what fnivel? well, do so no more,
Drop, to atone, your money at the door,
And, if I please,-I'll give it to the poor.

you

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 most villanous piece of roguerynot of my own, Sir,-but that rogue of all rogues Vi zard'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 he was a great fortune; upon which 1 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