II. And let each nymph and shepherd tell, Sing high, fing low, fing ding dong bell'; As Perdita and Florizel. HIGH SCENE,, An apartment in Freeman's houfe.. FREEMAN and LOVEL, entering. FREEMAN. A Country boy! ha, ha, ha! How long has this in your head? Lov. Some time.-I am now convinc'd of what you have often been hinting to me, that I am confoundedly cheated by my fervants. Free. Oh, are you fatisfied at laft, Mr Lovel? I al ways ways told you, that there is not a worfe fet of fervants in the parish of St James's, than in your kitchen. Lov. 'Tis with fome difficulty I believe it now, Mr Freeman; though, I muft own, my expences often make me ftare. -Philip, I am fure, is an honeft fellow; and I will fwear for my blacks-If there is a rogue among my folks, it is that furly dog Tom. Free. You are mistaken in every one. Philip is an hypocritical rafcal; Tom has a good deal of furly honefty about him; and for your blacks, they are as bad as your whites. Lo. Prithee, Freeman, how came you to be fo well acquainted with my people? None of the wenches are handsome enough to move the affections of a middleaged gentleman as you are-ha, ha, ha! Free. You are a young man, Mr Lovel, and take a pride in a number of idle unneceffary fervants, who are the plague and reproach of this kingdom. Lov. Charles, you are an old-fashion'd fellow. Servants a plague and reproach! ha, ha, ha! I would have forty more, if my houfe would hold them. Why, man, in Jamaica, before I was ten years old, I had a hundred blacks kiffing my feet every day. Free. You gentry of the Western Ifles are high-mettled ones, and love pomp and parade.-I have feen it delight your foul, when the people in the ftreet have ftared at your equipage; especially if they whispered loud enough to be heard, "That is fquire Lovel, the great West"Indian"-ha, ha, ha! Lov. I fhould be very forry if we were as fplenetic as you northern iflanders, who are devoured with melancholy and fog-ha, ha, ha! No, Sir, we are children of the fun, and are born to diffuse the bounteous favour which our noble parent is pleased to bestow on us. Free. I wish you had more of your noble parent's regularity, and lefs of his fire. As it is, you confume so faft, that not one in twenty of you live to be fifty years old. Lov. But in that fifty we live two hundred, my dear; mark that- -But to bufinefs-I am refolved upon my frolic I will know whether my fervants are rogues or not. If they are, I'll baftinado the rafcals; if not, Ι I think I ought to pay for my impertinence.Pray tell me, is not your Robert acquainted with my people? Perhaps he may give a little light into the thing. Free. To tell you the truth, Mr Lovel, your fervants are fo abandoned, that I have forbid him your houfe.. However, if you have a mind to ask him any queftion, he shall be forthcoming. Lov. Let us have him. Free. You fhall: but it is an hundred to one if you get any thing out of him; for though he is a very honeft fellow, yet he is fo much of a fervant, that he'll never tell any thing to the disadvantage of another. Who waits? [Enter fervant.] Send Robert to me. [Exit fervant.] And what was it determin'd you upon this project at laft? Lov. This letter. It is an anonymous one, and fo ought not to be regarded; but it has fomething honeft in it, and put me upon fatisfying my curiofity-Read it. [Gives the letter. Free. I fhould know fomething of this hand-[Reads. "To Peregrine Lovel, Efq; "Please your honour, "I take the liberty to acquaint your honour, that you are fadly cheated by your fervants.- -Your ho"nour will find it as I fay- -I am not willing to be "known; whereof, if I am, it may bring one into ❝trouble. "So no more, from your honour's "Servant to command.' -Odd and honeft! Well-and now what are the steps you intend to take? [Returns the letter. Lov. I fhall immediately apply to my friend the manager for a disguife.-Under the form of a gawky country boy, I will be an eye-witnefs of my fervants behaviour. You must affift me, Mr Freeman. Free. As how, Mr Lovel? Lov. My plan is this-I gave it out that I was going to my borough in Devonshire; and yesterday set out with my fervant in great form, and lay at Bafingftoke.Free. Well? Lov. I ordered the fellow to make the best of his way down into the country, and told him that I would fol low low him; inftead of that, I turn'd back, and am juft come to town: Ecce fignum! Free. It is now one o'clock. [Points to his boots. L. This very afternoon I fhall pay my people a vifit. Free. How will you get in? Lov. When I am properly habited, you fhall get me introduced to Philip as one of your tenants fons, who wants to be made a good fervant of. Free. They will certainly discover you, Lov. Never fear; I'll be fo countrify'd, that you fhall not know me.As they are thoroughly perfuaded I am many miles off, they'll be more easily impofed on. Ten to one but they begin to celebrate my departure with a drinking bout, if they are what you defcribe them. Free. Shall you be able to play your part? Lov. I am furprised, Mr Freeman, that you, who have known me from my infancy, fhould not remember my abilities in that way. But you old fellows have fhort memories. • Free. What fhould I remember? 'Lov.' How I play'd Daniel in the Conscious Lovers at fchool, and afterwards arriv'd at the diftinguished character of the mighty Mr Scrub- [Mimicking. Free. Ha, ha, ha! that is very well-EnoughHere is Robert. Enter Robert. Rob. Your honour order'd me to wait on you. Rob. Sir Free. Come here. You know, Robert, I have a good opinion of your integrity. Rob. I have always endeavoured that your honour fhould. Free. Pray, have not you fome acquaintance among Mr Lovel's people? Rob. A little, please your honour. Free. How do they behave?-We have nobody but friends-you may speak out. Lov. Ay, Robert, fpeak out. Rob. |