aided by the fagacity of your fon Caleb, I owe my difcovery.

Ald. Look you, don't think to abuse my lady. Fam one of the―

Puff Quorum-I know it, Mr Alderman; but I mean to ferve your worship, by humbling a little the vanity of your wife.

L. Pen Come along,, chuck I'll not ftay to hear the rafcality of the fellow.

Puff. Oh, my lady Pentweazel, correct the feverity of that frown, left you should have more of the Medufa than the Medicis in your face.

L. Pen. Saucy jackanapes!

Puff What, then, I have quite loft my city acquaintance; why, I've promifed all my friends tickets for my lord mayor's ball through your ladyship's inte. reft.

L. Pen. My intereft, indeed, for fuch a

Puff. If Blowbladder-street has any charms-SirMa'am not a ftep-The fineft gentleman! ha, ha, ha! And what can you fay for yourfelf, you cowardly ill-looking rafcal? [to Canto.] Defert your friend at the first pinch-your ally-your partner!No apology, Sir-I have done with you. From poverty and fhame I took you; to that I reftore you. Your crime be your punishment.' [Turning to the audience.] Could I be as fecure from the cenfure of this affembly, as I am safe from the refentment of Dupe, Novice, Squander, from the alluring baits of my amorous city lady, and the dangerous combination of my false friend, I fhould be happy.

'Tis from your fentence I expect my fate;.
Your voice alone my triumph can complete.

THE

WHE

U E.

'HEN first, in falling Greece's evil hour,
Ambition aim'd at universal pow'r;

When the fierce man of Macedon began
Of a new monarchy to form the plan;

Each Greek (as fam'd Demosthenes relates)
Politically mad!--wou'd rave of states!

And help'd to form, where'er the mob could meet,
An Arcopagus in ev'ry street.

What

}

What news, what news? was their eternal cry:
Is Philip fick !*-then foar'd their spirits high ;-
Philip is well!-dejection in each eye.
Athenian coblers join'd in deep debate,
While gold in fecret undermin'd the state;
Till wifdom's bird the vulture's prey was made,
And the fword gleam'd in Academus' shade.
Now modern Philips threaten this our land,
What fay Britannia's fons ?—along the Strand
What news? ye cry-with the fame paffion fmit ;.
And there at least you rival Attic wit.

A parliament of porters here fhall muse

On ftate affairs- "fwall'wing a taylor's news;"
For way and means no starv'd projector fleeps;
And ev'ry shop some mighty statesman keeps :
He Britain's foes, like Bobadil, can kill ::
Supply th' EXCHEQUER, and neglect his till.
In ev'ry ale houfe legiflators meet;
And patriots fettle kingdoms in th Fleet.

To fhow this phrenzy in its genuine light,
A modern newfmonger appears to night:
Trick'd out from Addifon's accomplish'd page,,
Behold! th' Upholsterer afcends the stage.

No minifter fuch trials e'er hath stood;
He turns a BANKRUPT for the public good!
Undone himself, yet full of England's glory!
A politician!neither whig nor tory-
Nor can ye high or low the Quixote call;
"He's knight o' th' fhire, and represents ye all."
As for the bard,to you he yields his plan ;,
For well he knows, you're candid where you can.
One only praife he claims, -no party-stroke
Here turns a public character to joke.
His Panacea is for all degrees,

For all have more or less of this disease:
Whatever his fuccefs, of this he's fure,

There's merit even to attempt the cure.
• Vide the first Philippic.

MR

4

ACT I

SCENE, Belmour's Lodging.

• Enter BELMOUR beating BRISK.
• BRISK.

R Belmour!-Let me die,
to be faved, Sir-

Bel. Sirrah! Rogue! Villain!

Sir-as I hope

I'll teach you, ›

3

I will, you rascal, to speak irreverently of her I

⚫ love.

• Br. As I am a finner, Sir, I only meant

Bel. Only meant ! You could not mean it, jack" anapes-you had no meaning, booby.

Br. Why, no, Sir-that's the very thing, Sir-I • had no meaning.

• Bel. Then, firrah, I'll make you know your meaning for the future.

Br. Yes, Sir-to be fure, Sir;-and yet upon my word, if you would be but a little cool, Sir, you'd find I'm not much to blame.- -Besides, master, you 'can't conceive the good it would do your health, if you will but keep your temper a little.

Bel. Mighty well, Sir, give your advice.

'Br. Why, really now, this fame love hath metamorphofed us both very ftrangely, mafter:-for, to be free, here have we been at this work thefe fix weeks, -ftark-ftaring mad in love with a couple of baggages not worth a groat ;-and yet, heav'n help us! they have as much pride as comes to the share of a lady of quality before fhe has been caught in the fact ⚫ with a handfome young fellow,—or indeed after she ⚫ has been caught, for that matter.

·

་

Bel. You won't have done, rascal—

Br. In fhort, my young mistress and her maid have as much pride and poverty as-as-no matter what ; they have the devil and all-when at the fame time every body knows the old broken upholsterer, Miss • Harriet's father, might give us all he has in the world, ⚫ and not eat the worse pudding on a Sunday for it. • Bel. Impious, execrable atheift! What! detract from Heav'n? I'll reform your notions, I will, you [Beats him. Br. Nay, but my dear Sir-a little patience-not. fo hard

faucy

Enter Rovewell, and Belmour, meeting. Rove. Belmour, your fervant-What, at logger-heads with my old friend Brisk ?

Bel. Confufion!-Mr Rovewell, your fervant-this is your doing, hang-dog.'Jack Rovewell, I am glad to fee thee.

• Rove

Rove. Brifk used to be a good servant-he has not been tampering with any of his master's girls, has he?

Bel. Do you know, Rovewell, that he has had the • impudence to talk detractingly and profanely of my • mistress?

Br. For which, Sir, I have fuffered unhumanly • and most unchristian-like, I affure you.

Bell. Will you leave prating, booby?

Rove. Well but, Belmour, where does fhe live? -I'm but just arrived, you know, and I'll go and • beat up her quarters.

• Bel. [Half afide ] Beat up her quarters !--

[Looks at him fmilingly, then half afide. Favours to none, to all the fmiles extends; Oft fhe rejects, but never once offends.

[Stands mufing. Rove. Hey! what, fallen into a reverie !-Prithee, Brifk, what does all this mean?

• Brisk. Why, Sir, you must know-I am over head ⚫ and ears in love..

• Rove. But I mean your master; what ails him?

Brifk. That's the very thing I'm going to tell you, Sir-As I faid, Sir-I am over head and ears in love ' with a whimsical queer kind of a piece here in the neighbourhood; and fo nothing can ferve my master, but he muft fall in love with the mistress-Look at him now, Sir

[Belmour continues mufing and muttering to himself. Rev. Ha, ha, ha!-Poor Belmour, I pity thee with all my heart

[Strikes him on the fhoulder, then ludicrously repeats,
Ye gods, annihilate both space and time,—
And make two lovers happy.

Bell. My dear Rovewell, fuch a girl!-Ten thou• fand cupids play about her mouth, you rogue.Rove. Ten thousand pounds had better play about her pocket. What fortune has she?

Br. Heaven help us, not much to crack of.— 'Bell. Not much to crack off, Mr Brazen !-Pri thee, Rovewell, how can you be fo ungenerous as to “afk fuch a question? You know I don't mind fortune; though by the way fhe has an uncle who is de

termined