Rov. (to Banks) The poor cottager! (to Gam.) And the fubftantial farmer! (kneels) 66 Hear, "Nature, dear goddess, hear! If ever you de"figned to make his corn-fields fruitful, change "thy purpose; that, from the blighted ear no "grain may fall to fat his ftubble goofe-and, "when to town he drives his hogs, fo like him"felf, oh, let him feel the foaking rain, then "may he curfe his crime too late, and know how "fharper than a ferpent's tooth it is."-Damme, but I'm spouting in the rain all this time.

[rifes and runs into Banks's.

Gam. Ay, neighbour, you'll foon rife from a beggar's bed if you harbour every mad vagrant. This may be one of the footpads, that, it feems, have got about the country; but I'll have an execution, and feize on thy goods, this day, my charitable neighbour! Eh, the fun ftrikes out, quite cleared up.

Jane. La, feyther, if there is'nt coming down the village

Gam. Ah, thou huffey!

Jane. Blefs me, feyther! No time for anger now. Here's lady Amaranth's chariot, drawn by her new grand long tail'd horfes.-La! it ftops.

Gam. Her Ladyfhip is coming out, and walks this way. She may wish to reft herfelf in my houfe. Jane, we must always make rich folks

welcome.

Jane. Dear me, I'll run in and fet things to rights. But, feyther, your cravat and wig are all got fo rumplified with your crofs grain'd tan

tarums.-I'll tie your neck-cloth in a big beau, and for your wig, if there is any flour in the drudging box-(adjusts them and runs into house) Gam. Oh! the bailiff too that I engaged.

Enter TWITCH.

Twitch. Well, mafter Gammon, as you defired, I'm come to ferve this here warrant of yours, and arreft mafter Banks; where is he?

Gam. Yes, now I be's determined on't-he'sStand afide, I'll speak to you anon. (looking out)

Enter Lady AMARANTH, ZACHARIAH following.

Lady Am. Friend, Jane, whom I have taken to be my handmaid, is thy daughter?

Gam. Ay fo her mother fay'd, an't please your ladyfhip.

Lady Am. Ephraim Smooth acquainteth me thou art a wealthy yeoman.

Gam. Why, my Lady, I pay my rent.

Lady Am. Being yet a ftranger on my eftate around here, I have paffed through thy hamlet to behold with mine own eye, the diftreffes of my poor tenants. I wish to relieve their wants.

Gam. Right, your Ladyfhip: for charity hides a deal of fins. How good of you to think of the poor! that's fo like me. I'm always contriving how to relieve my neighbours-you must lay Banks in jail to-night. (apart to Twitch)

Enter JANE.

Jane. An't pleafe you, will your ladyship enter our humble dwelling and reft your ladyship

in feyther's great cane bottom'd elbow chair with a high back. (curtfies.)

Gam. Do, my lady. To receive so great a bofo dy from her own chariot is an honour I dreamt not of; tho' for the hungry and weary foot traveller, my doors are always open and my mor fel ready. Knock; when he comes out, touch him. (apart to Twitch)

Lady Am. Thou art benevolent, and I will enter thy dwelling with fatisfaction.

Jane. O precious! This way, my lady.

[Exeunt all but Twitch. Twitch. Eh, where's the warrant? (feels his pocket, and knocks at Banks's door)

Erter BANKS.

Banks. Mafter Twitch! What's your business with me?

Twitch. Only a little affair here against you.
Banks. Me!

Twitch. Yes; farmer Gammon has bought up a thirty pound note of hand of yours.

Banks. Indeed! I didn't think this malice could have stretch'd fo far-I thought the love he profeffed for my fifter, might-why, its true, mafter Twitch, to lend our indigent cottagers fmall fums when they've been unable to pay their rents, I got lawyer Quirk to procure me this money, and hoped their induftry would have put it in my power to take up my note before now. However, I'll go round and try what they can do, then call on you and fettle it.

Twitch. No, no, you must go with me.

Rov. (without) Old gentleman come quick, or I'll open another bottle of your currant wine.

Twitch.

Twitch. You'd beft not make a noife, but come. (to Banks)

Enter ROVER.

Rov. Oh, you're here? Rain over-quite fine -I'll take a fniff of the open air too-Eh, what's the matter?

Twitch. What's that to you?

Rov. What's that to me? Why, you're a very unmannerly

Twitch. Oh, here's a rescue !

Banks. Nay, my dear, Sir, I'd wish you not to bring yourself into trouble about me.

Twitch. Now, fince you don't know what's civil, if the debt's not paid directly, to jail you go.

Rov. My kind, hofpitable good old man to jail! What's the amount, you fcoundrel. Twitch. Better words, or I'll

Rov. Stop; utter you a word good or bad, except to tell me what's your demand upon this gentleman, and I'll give you the greatest beating you ever got fince the hour you commenced rafcal. (in a low tone)

Twitch. Why, mafter, I don't want to quarrel with you, because

Rov. You'll get nothing by it. Do you know, you villain, that I am this moment the greatest man living?

Twitch. Who, pray?

Rov. "I am the bold thunder!" Sirrah, know that I carry my purfe of gold in my coat-pocket. Tho' dam'me if I know how a purfe came there. (afide and takes it out) There's twenty pictures of his Majefty; therefore, in the King's name, I

free

free his liege fubject, (takes Banks away) and now who am I? Ah, ah!

Twitch. Ten pieces fhort, my master; but if you're a housekeeper I'll take this and your bail.

Rov. Then for bail you must have a housekeeper? What's to be done?

Enter GAMMON.

Ah, here's little Hofpitality! I know you've a house, tho' your fire-fide was too warm for me. Lookye, here's fome rapacious, griping rascal, has had this worthy gentleman arrefted. Now acertain good for nothing, rattling fellow has paid twenty guineas of the debt, you pass your word for the other nine, we'll step back into the old gentleman's friendly house, and over his currant wine, our first toaft fhall be, liberty to the honeft debtor, and confufion to the hard hearted creditor.

Gam. Shan't.

Rov. Shan't! Pray an't your name Mr. Shy lock

Gam. No, my name's Gammon.

Rov. Gammon! You're the Hampshire hog.

[Exit Gammon, S'death! How fhall I do to extricate- ?

Enter Lady AMARANTH, from GAMMON'S.

Lady Am. What tumult's this?

Rov. A lady! Ma'am, your most obedient humble fervant. (bows) A quaker too! They are generally kind and humane, and that face is the prologue to a play of a thousand good actsmay be fhe'd help us here. (afide) Ma'am, you

muft