Lady Am. Ah, thou hypocrite! To obey is easy, when the heart commands.

Enter RovER, pushing by EPHRAIM.

Rover. Oh, my charming cousin! how agree you and Rosalind? Are you almost perfect? "Eh, what, all a-mort, old Clytus?" "Why, you're like an angry fiend, broke in among the laughing gods."- Come, come, I'll have nothing here, but " Quips and cranks, and wreathed smiles, such as dwell on Hebe's cheek." Looking at LADY AMARANTH. Lady Am. He says we mustn't have this amuse

ment.

Rover. "But I'm a voice potential, double as the Duke's, and I say we must."

Eph. Nay.

Rover. Yea: "By Jupiter, I swear, ay."

Eph. I must shut my ears.

[Music without.

The man of sin rub

beth the hair of the horse to the bowels of the cat.

Enter LAMP, with a Violin.

Lamp. Now, if agreeable to your ladyship, we'll go over your song.

Eph. I will go over it.

[Snatches the book from LADY AMARANTH, throws it on the ground, and steps on it.

Rover. Trample on Shakspeare! "You sacrilegious thief, that, from a shelf the precious diadem stole, and put it in thy pocket!" [ Takes up the book, and presents it again to LADY AMARANTH.] Silence, "thou owl of Crete," and hear the " Cuckoo's song." Lady Am. To practise it I'm content.

[LAMP begins to play. EPHRAIM jostles him, and puts him out of tune.

Lamp. Why, what's that for, my dear sir?

Eph. Friend, this is a land of freedom, and I've

as much right to move my elbow as thou hast to move thine. [ROVER pushes him.] Why dost thou so,

friend.

Rover. Friend, this is a land of freedom, and I have as much right to move my elbow, as thou hast to move thine.

[Mimicking, shoves EPHRAIM out. Lady Am. But, Harry, do your people of fashion act these follies themselves?

Rover. Ay, and scramble for the top parts as eager as for star, ribband, place, or pension. Lamp, deco-rate the seats out smart and theatrical, and drill the servants that I've given the small parts to

[Exit LAMP. Lady Am. I wished for some entertainment, (in which gay people now take delight,) to please those I have invited; but we'll convert these follies into a charitable purpose. Tickets for this day shall be delivered unto my friends gratis; but money to their amount, I will, from my own purse (after rewarding our assistants) distribute amongst the indigent of the village. Thus, whilst we please ourselves, and, perhaps, amuse our friends, we shall make the poor happy. [Exit. Rover. An angel! If Sir George doesn't soon arrive, to blow me, I may, I think, marry her angelic ladyship; but will that be honest? She's nobly born, though I suspect I had ancestors too, if I knew who they were. I certainly entered this house the poorest wight in England, and what must she imagine when I am discovered? That I am a scoundrel; and, consequently, though I should possess her hand and fortune, instead of loving, she'll despise me-[Sits down.] I want a friend now, to consult-deceive her I will not. Poor Dick Buskin wants money more than myself, yet this is a measure I'm sure he'd scorn. No, no, I must not.

Enter HARRY.

Harry. Now I hope my passionate father will be convinced that this is the first time I was ever under this roof. Eh, what beau is here? Astonishing! My old strolling friend!

[Unperceived, sits by ROVER. Rover. Heigho! I don't know what to do.

Harry. In the same tone.]" Nor what to say." Rover. [Turns.] Dick Buskin! My dear fellow! Ha ha ha! Talk of the devil, and-I was just thinking of you-'pon my soul, Dick, I'm so happy to see you! [Shakes hands cordially

Harry. But, Jack, eh, how came you to find me out?

Rover. Found you! I'm sure I wonder how the deuce you found me out. Ah, the news of my intended play has brought you.

Harry. He doesn't know as yet who I am; so I'll carry it on. [Aside.] Then you too have broke your engagement with Truncheon, at Winchester; figuring it away in your stage clothes too. Really, tell us what you are at here, Jack?.

Rover. Will you be quiet with your Jacking? I'm now 'Squire Harry.

Harry. What?

Rover. I've been pressed into this service by an old man of war, who found me at the inn, and, insisting I'm son to a Sir George Thunder, here, in that character, I flatter myself I have won the heart of the charming lady of this house.

Harry. Now the mystery's out. Then it's my friend Jack has been brought here for me! [Aside.] Do you know the young gentleman they take you for?

Rover. No; but I flatter myself he is honoured in his representative.

Harry. Upon my soul, Jack, you're a very high fellow.

Rover. I am, now I can put some pounds in your pockets; you shall be employed-we're getting up As you like it." Let's see, in the cast have I a part for you?-I'll take Touchstone from Lamp, you shall have it, my boy; I'd resign Orlando to you with any other Rosalind; but the lady of the mansion plays it herself, you rogue.

Harry. The very lady my father intended for me. [Aside.] Do you love her, Jack?

Rover. To distraction; but I'll not have her.
Harry. No! Why?

Rover. She thinks me a gentleman, and I'll not convince her I am a rascal. I'll go on with our play, as the produce is appropriated to a good purpose, and then lay down my 'squireship, bid adieu to my heavenly Rosalind, and exit for ever from her house, poor Jack Rover. Harry. The generous fellow I ever thought him! and he shan't lose by it. If I could make him believe-Aside.] Well, this is the most whimsical affair! You've anticipated, s uperseded me, ha! ha! ha! You'll scarce believe that I'm come here too (purposely though) to pass myself for this young Henry. Rover. No! Harry. I am.

Sir Geo. [Without.] Harry, where are you?
Rover. Eh! Who's that?

Harry. Ah! ah! ah! I'll try it; my father will be cursedly vexed; but no other way.

[Aside. Rover. Somebody called Harry-Zounds!" if the real Simon Pure" should be arrived, I'm in a fine Harry. Be quiet-that's my confederate.

Rover. Eh!

way!

Harry. He's to personate the father, Sir George. He started the scheme, having heard, that a union was intended, and Sir George not immediately expected— our plan is, if I can, before his arrival, flourish myself into the lady's good graces, and whip her up, as she's an heiress.

Rover. But who is this comrade?

Harry. One of our company, a devilish good actor in the old man.

Rover. So, you're turned fortune hunter! Oh, ho! then 'twas on this plan that you parted with me on the road, standing like a finger post," you walk up that way, and I must walk down this." [Mimics.] Why, Dick, I didn't know you were half so capital a rogue.

Harry. I didn't know my forte lay that way, till persuaded by this experienced stager.

Rover. He must be an impudent old scoundrel who is he? Do I know him?

Harry. Why, no-I hope not.

[Aside. Rover. I'll step down stairs, and have the honour of -I'll kick him.

Harry. Stop! No, I wou'dn't have him hurt neither.

Rover. What's his name?

Harry. His name is-is-Abrawang.

Rover. Abrawang! Abrawang! I never heard of him; but, Dick, why would you let him persuade you to such a scandalous affair?

Harry. Why 'faith, I would have been off it; but when once he takes a project into his head, the devil himself can't drive him out of it.

Rover. Yes; but the constable may drive him into Winchester gaol.

Harry. Eh! your opinion of our intended exploit, has made me ashamed of myself-Ha! ha! ha! Harkye, Jack, to frighten and punish my adviser, do you still keep on the character of young 'Squire Thunderyou can easily do that, as he, no more than myself, has ever seen the young gentleman.

Rover. But by Heavens I'll-" Quoit him down, Bardolph."

Harry. Yes; but, Jack, if you can marry her, her