Ter. Oh Madam, Madam, forgive me, my dear Ma'am -I did not do it purpose-I did not, as I hope for mercy I did not— Quid. Is the woman crazy! you Ter. I did not intend to give it him—I would have seen him gibbeted first.—I found the letter in your bedchamber I knew it was the fame I delivered to youand my curiofity did make me peep into it. Says my curiofity, "Now, Termagant, you may gratify your"felf by finding out the contents of that letter, which "you have fo violent an itching for."-My curiofity did fay fo -and then I own my respect for did fay to me," Huffy, how dare you meddle with what "does not belong to you? Keep your distance, and let "your mistress's fecrets alone.’ And then upon that, in comes my curiofity again, "Read it, I tell you, Termagant; a woman of fpirit fhould know every thing." "Let it alone, you jade," fays my respect, "it is as much as your place is worth." "What fignification's a place with an old bankrupper?" fays my curiofity; "there's more places than one; and fo read it, "I tell you, Termagant."--I did read it, what could I do?-Heav'n help me-- -I did read it-I don't go to deny it, I don't- -I don't I don't[Crying very bitterly. Quid. And I have read it too; don't keep fuch an uproar, woman————— • Ter. And after I had read it, thinks me, I'll give this to my miftrefs again, and her geremanocus of a father fhall never fee it- And fo, as my ill stars ⚫ would have it, as I was giving him a newspaper, I hand into the lion's mouth. run my [Crying. Bel. What an unlucky jade fhe has been. [Afide. Har. Well, there's no harm done, Termagant; ⚫ for I don't want to deceive my father. Quid. Yes, but there is harm done.' (Knocking.) Hey, what's all this knocking-Step and fee, Termagant. Ter. Yes, Sir [Exit. Quid. A waiter from the coffee-houfe, mayhap, with fome news -You fhall go to the round-houfe, friend -(To Belmour.) I'll carry you there myfelf; and who knows knows but I may meet a parliament man in the roundhoufe to tell him fome politics? Enter Rovewell. Rove. But I fay I will come in, my friend shan't be murder'd amongst you Bel. 'Sdeath, Rovewell! what brings you here? Bove. I have been waiting in a hackney-coach for you these two hours, and split me but I was afraid they had fmother'd you between two feather-beds. Enter Termagant. Ter. More misfortunes- here comes the watch. Quid. The best news I ever heard. Enter Watchman. Quid. Here, thieves, robbery, murder, I charge 'em both, take 'em directly. Watch. Stand, and deliver in the king's name, seize 'em, knock 'em down Bel. Don't frighten the lady-here's my fword I furrender. Rove. You fcoundrels Stand off, rafcals. Watch. Down with him-down with him- [Fight. Enter Razor with the Gazette in his hand Raz. What, a fray at my Mafter Quidnunc'sknock him down -knock him down [Folds up the Gazette, puts himself in a boxing attitude, and fights with the Watchmen.] Quid. That's right, that's right-hold him fast. [Watchmen feize Rovewell. Rove. You have overpower'd me, you rafcals Ter. I believe as fure as any thing, as how he's a highwarman, and as how it was he that robb'd the mail. Quid. What! rob the mail and ftop all the news Search himsearch him he may have the letters belonging to the mail in his pockets now-Ay, here's one letter" To Mr Abraham Quidnunc."-Let's fee what it is" Your dutiful fon, John Quidnunc." Rove. That's my name, and Rovewell was but affumed. Quid. What, and am I your father? Raz. (Looks at him.) Oh my dear Sir, (Embraces him and powders him all over) 'tis he fure enough-I T 2 remember remember the mole on his cheek-I fhaved his firft beard. Quid. Juft returned from the West Indies, I fuppofe? Rove. By a rich planter's widow; and I have now fortune enough to make you happy in your old age. Raz. And I hope I fhall fhave him again. Rove. So thou shalt, honeft Razor-In the mean time, let me intreat you bestow my fifter upon my friend Belmour here. Quid. He may take her as foen as he pleases-'twill make an excellent paragraph in the newspapers. Ter. There, Madam, calcine your person to him. Quid. What are the Spaniards doing in the bay of Honduras? Rove. Truce with politics for the prefent, if you please, Sir-We'll think of our own affairs firft-before we concern ourselves about the balance of power. Raz. With all my heart; I'm rare happy. Come, Maiter Quidnunc, now with news ha' done, L E Mr Tatoo, the Poet, and Mrs Tatoo, are always omitted in the reprefentation. The Taylor is alfo omitted very often. SCENE, A Grove. With a View of the river Lethe. PRIT CHARON and Esor difcovered.. CHARON. RITHEE, philofopher, what grand affair is tranf acting upon earth? There is fomething of impor-tance going forward, I am fure; for Mercury flew over the Styx this morning, without paying me the ufual! compliments. Ef. I'll tell thee, Charon: This is the anniverfary of the rape of Proferpine; on which day, for the future,, T. 3 Pluto Pluto has permitted her to demand from him fomething for the benefit of mankind. Char. I understand you-his majefty's paffion, by a long poffeffion of the lady, is abated; and fo, like a mere mortal, he must now flatter her vanity, and facrifice his power, to atone for deficiences- -But what has our royal mistress proposed in behalf of her favourite mortals? Ef. As mankind, you know, are ever complaining of their cares, and diffatisfied with their conditions, the generous Proferpine has begg'd of Pluto, that they may have free accefs to the waters of Lethe, as a fovereign remedy for their complaints--Notice has been already given above, and proclamation made: Mercury is to conduct them to the Styx, you are to ferry 'em over to Elyfium, and I am placed here to diftribute the wa ters. Char. A very pretty employment I fhall have of it, truly! If her majefty has often these whims, I must petition the court either to build a bridge over the river, or let me refign my employment. Do their majefties know the difference of weight between fouls and bodies? However, I'll obey their commands to the beft of my power; I'll row my crazy boat over and meet 'em; but many of them will be relieved from their cares before they reach Lethe. Ef. How fo, Charon? Char Why, I fhall leave half of 'em în the Styx ; and any water is a specific against care, provided it be taken in quantity. Enter Mercury. Mer. Away to your boat, Charon; there are fome mortals arriv'd, and the females among 'em will be very clamorous if you make 'em wait. Char. I'll make what hafte I can, rather than give thofe fair creatures a topie for converfation. [Noife within, Boat, boat, boat! Coming-coming-Zounds, you are in a plaguy harry, fure! No wonder these mortal folks have fo many complaints, when there's no patience among 'em; if they were dead now, and to be fettled here for ever, they'd be damn'd before they'd make fuch a rout to come |