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must run to get ready my soup. Come, gen

tlemen,

Rob. Did you observe, sir?

Gov. Most feelingly! But it will soon be over. Rob. Courage, sir; times, perhaps, may change.

Cape. A poor prospect, Robin! But this scheme of life at last must be changed: for what spirit, with the least spark of generosity, can support a life of eternal obligation and disagreeable drudgery? Inclination not consulted, genius cramped, and talents misapplied!

What prospect have those authors to be read, Whose daily writings earn their daily bread!

ACT II.

YOUNG CAPE and MRS. CADWALLADER at

cards.

Mrs. Cad. You want four, and I two, and my deal: now, knave noddy-no, hearts be trumps. Cape. I beg.

Mrs. Cad. Will you stock them?
Cape. Go on, if you please, madam.

Mrs. Cad. Hearts again-- one, two, three; one, two-hang them, they won't slip, three. Diamonds-the two: have you higher than the queen?

Cape. No, madam.

Mrs. Cad. Then there's highest-and lowest, by gosh! Games are even; you are to deal. Cape. Pshaw, hang cards! there are other amusements better suited to a tête-à-tête, than any of the four aces can afford us.

Mrs. Cad. What pastimes be they? We ben't enough for hurt the whistle, nor blind-man's buff; but I'll call our Bell, and Robin the butler. -Dicky will be here by and by.

Cape. Hold a minute. I have a game to propose, where the presence of a third person, especially Mr. Cadwallader's, would totally ruin the sport.

Mrs. Cad. Ay! what can that be?

Cape. Can't you guess?

Mrs. Cad. Not I; questions and commands, mayhap.

Cap. Not absolutely that-some little resemblance; for I am to request, and you are to com

mand.

Mrs. Cad. Oh, daisy! that's charming; I never played at that in all my born days; come, begin, then.

Cape. Can you love me?

Mrs. Cad. Love you! But is it in jest or ear

nest?

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Mrs. Cad. Why then do you love me?
Cape. With all my soul!
Mrs. Cad. Upon your sayso?

Cape. Upon my sayso.

Mrs. Cad. I'm glad on't, with all my heart.This is the rarest pastime !

Cape. But you have not answered my question.

Mrs. Cad. Hey? that's true. Why, I believe there's no love lost.

Cape. So; our game will soon be over; I shall be up at a deal. I wish I mayn't be engaged to play deeper here than I intended, though. [Aside. Mrs. Cad. Well; now; 'tis your turn.

Cape. True, ay; but, zooks, you are too hasty! the pleasure of this play, like hunting, does not consist in immediately chopping the prey.

Mrs. Cad. No! how then?

Cape. Why, first, I am to start you; then run you a little in view; then lose you; then unravel all the tricks and doubles you make to escape me,

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Cape. It was a very seasonable one, I promise you had you staid a little longer, I don't know what might have been the consequence. Ara. No danger to your person, I hope? Cape. Some little attacks upon it. Ara. Which were as fcebly resisted. Cape. Why, consider, my dear Bell, though your sister is a fool, she is a fine woman, and flesh is frail.

Ara. Dear Bell! and flesh is frail! we are grown strangely familiar, I think.

Cape. Hey-day? In what corner sits the wind,

now?

Ara. Where it may possibly blow strong enough to overset your hopes.

Cape. That a breeze of your breath can do. Ara. Affected!

Cape. You are obliging, madam; but, pray, what is the meaning of all this?

Ara. Ask your own guilty conscience.

Enter MRS. CADWALLADER.

Mrs. Cad. Soh! Mr. Poet, you are a pretty gentleman, indeed; ecod, I'm glad I have caught you. I'm not such a fool as you think for, man; but here will be Dicky presently; he shall hear of your tricks, he shall: I'll let him know what a pretty person he has got in his house.

Cape. There's no parrying this; had not I better decamp?

Ara. And leave me to the mercy of the eneny? My brother's temper is so odd, there's no knowing in what light he'll see this.

Mrs. Cad. Oh, he's below; I hear him. Now we shall hear what he'll say to you, madam. Enter CADWALLADER, GOVERNOR, SPRIGHTLY,

and ROBIN.

Cad. No, pray walk in Mr. Interpreter; be tween you and I, I like his royal highness mightily; he is a polite, pretty, well-bred gentlemanbut damn his soup!

Gon. Why, sir, you eat as if you liked it. Cad. Liked it! hey, egad, I would not eat another mess to be his master's prime minister;

Cape. Were I inclined to flatter myself, this as bitter as gall, and as black as my hat; and

little passion would be no bad presage.

Ara. You may prove a false prophet. Cape. Let me die if I know what to-but to descend to a little common sense; what part of my conduct-▬▬

Ara. Look'ye, Mr. Cape, all explanations are unnecessary: I have been lucky enough to discover your disposition before it is too late; and so you know there's no occasion-but, however, I'll not be any impediment to you: my sister will be back immediately; I suppose my presence will only but consider, sir, I have a brother's honour

Cape. Which is as safe from me, as if it was locked up in your brother's closet; but surely, madam, you are a little capricious here: have I done any thing but obey your directions?

Ara. That was founded upon a supposition, -but no matter.

that

Cape. That, what?

Ara. Why, I was weak enough to believe, what you was wicked enough to protest

Cape. That I loved you? and what reason have I given you to doubt it?

Ara. A pretty situation I found you in at my

entrance.

Cape. An assumed warmth, for the better concealing the fraud.

Mrs. Cad. What's that?

[Aside, listening. Cape. Surely, if you doubted my constancy, you must have a better opinion of my understanding.

Mrs. Cad. Mighty well! [Aside. Cape. What! an idiot, a driveller; no consideration upon earth, but my paving the way to the possession of you, could have prevailed upon me to support her folly a minute.

there have I been sitting these two hours with my legs under me, till they are both as dead as a herring.

Cape. Your dinner displeased you?

Cad. Displeased! hey! look'ye, Mr. Sprightly, I'm mightily obliged to you for the honour; but hold, hold! you shall never persuade me to be a hobblinwisky again, if the great cham of the Calmucs were to come over himself. Hey! and what a damned language he has got! Whee, haw, haw-but you speak it very fluently.

Gov. I was long resident in the country.

Cape. May be so, but he seems to speak it bet ter; you have a foreign kind of an accent: you don't sound it through the nose so well as he.— Hey! well, Becky, what, and how have you entertained Mr. Cape?

Mrs. Cad. Oh! here have been fine doings since you have been gone!

Cape. So now comes on the storm.

Cad. Hey! hold, hold! what has been the matter?

Mrs. Cad. Matter! why, the devil is in the poet, I think!

Cad. The devil! hold.

Mrs. Cad. Why, here he has been making love to me like betwitched.

Cad. How! which way?

Mrs. Cad. Why, some on't was out of his poetry, I think.

Cad. Hey! hold, hold! egad, I believe he's a little mad this morning he took me for king Turnus, you; now, who can tell but this afternoon he may take you for queen Dido?

Mrs. Cud. And there he told me I was to run, and to double and squat, and there he was to catch me, and all that

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Cad. Hold, hold! ecod, it is just as if the Grand Signior, at the head of his Janissaries, was to kick a chimney-sweeper?

Mrs. Cad. Hey! what's that you say, Dicky? what, be I like a chimney-sweeper?

Cad. Hey! hold, hold! Zounds! no, Beck! hey! no; that's only by way of simile, to let him see I understand his tropes and figures as well as himself, egad! and therefore

Spright. Nay; but, Mr. Cadwallader— Cad. Don't mention it, Mr. Sprightly; he's the first poet I ever had in my house, except the bellman for a Christmas-box.

Spright. Good sir!

Cad. And-hold, hold! I am resolved he shall

be the last.

Spright. I have but one way to silence him. Cad. And let me tell you

Spright. Nay, sir, I must tell him; he owes his reception, here, to my recommendation; any abuse of your goodness, any breach of hospitality, here, he is answerable to me for.

Cad. Iley! hold, hold; so he is, ccod: at him; give it him home.

Spright. Ungrateful monster! And is this your return, for the open, generous treatment

Mrs. Cad. As good fried cow-heel, with a roast fowl and sausages, as ever came to a table.

Cad. Hush, Beck, hush!

Spright. And could you find no other object but Mr. Cadwallader; a man, perhaps, possessed of a genius superior to your own

Cad. If I had had a university educationSpright. And of a family as old as the creation!

Cad. Older; Beck, fetch the pedigree. Spright. Thus far relates to this gentleman; but now, sir, what apology can you make me, who was your passport, your security? Cad. Zounds, none! fight him! Spright. Fight him!

Cad. Ay, do; I'd fight him myself, if I had not had the measles last winter; but stay till I get out of the room.

Spright. No: he's sure of a protection here, the presence of the ladies.

Cad. Psha, pox! they belong to the family; never mind them.

Spright. Well, sir, are you dumb? No excuse? No palliation?

Cad. Ay; no palliation?

Mrs. Cad. Ay; no tribulation? Tis a shame, so it is.

Cupe. When I have leave to speak-
Cad. Speak! what the devil can you say?
Cape. Nay, sir

Spright. Let's hear him, Mr. Cadwallader, however.

Cad. Hold, hold! come, begin, then.

Cape. And first to you, Mr. Sprightly, as you seem most interested; pray, does this charge correspond with any other action of my life, since I have had the honour to know you?

Spright. Indeed, I can't say that I recollect; but still as the scholiasts-Nemo repente turpissimus.

Cad. Hold, hold; what's that?

Spright. Why, that is as much as to say, this is bad enough.

Mrs. Cud. By gosh! and so it is.

Cad. Ecod, and so it is: speak a little more Latin to him; if I had been bred at the university, you should have it both sides of your

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Cad. Answer that, Mr. Cape, hey! Answer that.

Cape. I can only answer for the innocency of my own intentions; may not your lady, apprehensive of my becoming too great a favourite, contrive this charge with a view of destroying the connection

Spright. Connection!

Cad. Hey! hold, hold! connection?
Spright. There's something in that—

Cad. Hey! is there? hold, hold, hey! egad, he is right-you're right, Mr. Cape; hold, Becky, my dear, how the devil could you be so wicked, hey! child; ecod, hold, hold! how could you have the wickedness to attempt to destroy the connection!

Mrs. Cad. I don't know what you say.

Cad. D'ye hear? You are an incendiary, but you have missed your point; the connection shall be only the stronger: My dear friend, I beg ten thousand pardons, I was too hasty; but, ecod, Becky's to blame.

Cape. The return of your favour has effaced every other impression.

Cad. There's a good-natured creature! Cape. But if you have the least doubts remaining, this lady, your sister, I believe, will do me the justice to own

Mrs. Cad. Ay, ask my fellow if I be a thief!
Cad. What the devil is Becky at now?
Mrs. Cad. She's as bad as he.

Cad. Bad as he!-Hey! how! what the de

vil! she did not make love to you too? Stop, hey! hold, hold, hold!

Mrs. Cad. Why no, foolish-but you are always running on with your riggmonrowles, and won't stay to hear a body'e story out.

Cad. Well, Beck! come, let's have it. Mrs. Cad. Be quiet then; why, as I was telling you, first he made love to me, and wanted me to be a hare!

Cad. A hare! hold, ecod, that was whimsical! a hare! hey! oh, ecod, that might be because he thought you a little hair-brained already, Becky! a damned good story; Well, Becky, go on, let's have it out.

Mrs. Cad. No, I won't tell you no more, so I

won't.

Cad. Nay, pr'ythee, Beck!

Mrs. Cad. Hold your tongue then-and so there he was going on with his nonsense; and so in came our Bell; and so

Cad. Hold, hold, Becky,-damn your so's; go on, child, but leave out your so's; 'tis a low hold, hold, vulgar-but go on.

Mrs. Cad. Why, how can I go on, when you stop me every minute? Well, and then our Bell came in, and interrupted him; and methought she looked very frumpish and jealous.

Cad. Well.

Mrs. Cad. And so I went out and listened. Cad. So; what, you staid and listened? Mrs. Cad. No; I tell you, upon my staying, she went out; no-upon my going out, she staid.

Cud. This is a damned blind story; but go on, Beck.

Mrs. Cad. And then at first she scolded him roundly for making love to me; and then he said, as how she advised him to it: and then she said no; and then he said

Cad. Hold, hold; we shall never understand all these he's and she's; this may all he very true, Beck, but hold, hold; as I hope to be saved, thou art the worst teller of a story

Mrs. Cad, Well, I have but a word more; and then he said, as how I was a great fool. Cad. Not much mistaken in that. [Aside. Mrs. Cad. And that he would not have staid with me a minute, but to pave the way to the possession of she.

Cad. Well, Beck, well?

Mrs. Cad. And so that's all.

Cad. Make love to her, in order to get possession of you?

Mrs. Cad. Love to me, in order to get she. Cad. Hey! Oh, now, I begin to understand. Hey! What is this true, Bell, Hey! Hold, hold, hold; ecod, I begin to smoke, hey! Mr. Cape?

Cape. How shall I act?

Rob. Own it, sir; I have a reason.

Cad. Well, what say you, Mr. Cape? Let's have it without equivocation; or, hold, hold, hold, mental reservation! Guilty, or not? Cape. Of what, sir?

Cad. Of what! Hold, hold! of making love to Bell?

Cape. Guilty.

Cad. Hey! how! Hold, zounds! No, what, not with an intention to marry her?

Cape. With the lady's approbation, and your kind consent.

Cad. Hold, hold! what, my consent to marry you? Cape. Ay, sir.

Cad. Hold, hold, hold! what, our Bell to mix the blood of the Cadwalladers with the puddle of a poet? Cape. Sir!

Cad. A petty, paltry, ragged, rhiming-
Spright. But Mr.-

Cad. A scribbling-hold, hold, hold-garretteer, that has no more cloaths than backs, no more heads than hats, and no shoes to his feet. Spright. Nay, but

Cad. The offspring of a dunghill! born in a cellar--Hold, hold-and living in a garret! a fungus, a mushroom!

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Enter PETER with the pedigree.

There it is! there; Peter, help me to stretch it out: there's seven yards more of lineals, besides three of collaterals, that I expect next Monday from the herald's office: d'ye see, Mr. Sprightly? Spright. Prodigious!

Cad. Nay; but look'e, there's Welsh princes and ambassadors, and kings of Scotland, and members of parliament: hold, hold! ecod, I no more mind an earl or a lord in my pedigree, hold, hold, than Kuli Khan would a serjeant in the trained bands.

Spright. An amazing descent!

Cad. Hey! is it not? And for this low, lousy, son of a shoemaker, to talk of families-hold, hold, get out of my house!

Rob. Now is your time, sir.
Cad. Mr. Sprightly, turn him out.

Gov. Stop, sir; I have a secret to disclose, that may make you alter your intentions. Cad. Hold, hold! how, Mr. Interpreter? Gov. You are now to regard that young man in a very different light, and consider him as my

son.

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Cad. Hold, hold! Is not he interpreter to-
Spright. No.

Cad. Why did not you tell

Spright. That was a mistake. This gentleman is the prince's friend; and, by long residence in the monarch's country, is perfect master of the language.

Cad. But who the devil is he, then?

Spright. He is Mr. Cape, sir; a man of unblemished honour, capital fortune, and late governor of one of our most considerable settlements.

Cad. Governor! Hold, hold! and how came you father to- -hey!

Gov. By marrying his mother.
Cape. But how am I to regard this?

Gov. As a solemn truth; that foreign friend, to whom you owe your education, was no other than myself: I had my reasons, perhaps capricious ones, for concealing this; but now they cease, and I am proud to own my son.

Cape. Sir! it is not for me [Kneeling.], but if gratitude, duty, filial

Gov. Rise, my boy. I have ventured far to fix thy fortune, George; but, to find the worthy of it, more than o'erpays my toil; the rest of my story shall be reserved till we are alone.

Cad. Hey! hold, hold, hold! ecod, a good sensible old fellow this; but hark'ye, Sprightly, I have made a damned blunder here. Hold, hold! Mr. Governor, I ask ten thousand pardons; but who the devil could have thought that the interpreter to prince Potuwowsky

Gov. Oh, sir, you have in your power sufficient means to atone for the injuries done us both. Cad. Hold, how?

Gov. By bestowing your sister with, I flatter myself, no great violence to her inclinations, here.

Cad. What, marry Bell! Hey! Hold, hold, bold: zounds, Bell, take him, do; 'ecod, he's a good likely- -hey! Will you?

Ara. I shan't disobey you, sir.

Cad. Shan't you? That's right. Who the devil knows, but he may come to be a governor himself; hey! Hold, hold; come here, then, give me your hands both. [Joins their hauds.] There, there; the business is done. And now, brother governor

Gov. And now brother Cadwallader.

Cad. Hey! Beck, here's something now for my pedigree; we'll pop in the Governor to-morrow. Mrs. Cad.Hark'ye, Mr. Governor, can you give me a black boy and a monkey?

Cad. Hey! ay, ay, you shall have a black boy, and a monkey, and a parrot too, Beck.

Spright. Dear George, I am a little late in my congratulation; but-

Gov. Which, if he is, in acknowledging your disinterested friendship, I shall be sorry I ever owned him. Now, Robin, my cares are over, and my wishes full; and if George remains as untainted by affluence as he has been untempted by distress, I have given the poor a protector, his country an advocate, and the world a friend.

[Exeunt omnes.

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