racter. The report goes, that, to retrieve his father's wants (brought on by her deceiving the fon) in a moment of defperation, he committed a robbery: and, for aught I know, his life may pay the forfeit. (Fanny claps her bands.) Eh! what's the matter? Fanny. Oh! Sir-fpare me-I cannot fupport this! Sid. This interest for a stranger! How's this! Fanny. Ch! no; he is no ftranger. I have known him long-known his worth-his heart!Sid. Indeed! Enter LA ROQUE. La Ro. Ah, ah! Monsieur Sidney. Then it is not true vat I hear. Pray, Sir, tell me Vas you not robb'd and murdered-and toft in de ditch. Sid. Why, it appears I was not. Come, cheer up Fanny, all will be well, I warrant. La Ro. Pauvre Ma'mfelle-You terrify her by de news! Do not believe him. Mon enfant, you hear him fay he is not murdered. Fanny. Was it my uncle he attacked-dreadful. Sid. She feels it feverely-I pity her. But if every giddy girl had fuch a leffon, 'twould foon cure 'em of flirtation. (aside.) Fanny. I am better-let me retire. This inftant will I fend to Oliver. And tho' I have used him cruelly, he shall find that I ftill prize his humble merit-nor fhall twenty thousand pounds tempt me to wrong the man I love. [Exit. La Ro. Oh !fye! fye! You have no gallantrie. You have say something to her make her ou des espoir ! He is de grand favage of de vorld-he never love de woman in all his life. Sid. La Roque! La Ro. I am come, Sair, agreeable to your order. Sid. The poor thing's in a fad pucker; but I'll purfue my plan-I pity her-but the deserves it. La Ro. Vat fignify pity. If your plan is to break poor child's heart-You are not Englishman. Sid. What, your French blood is up, is it? de La Ro. If your Englis blood vas up-vat you call, you would not make one poor lady miserable. I ferve you for no ting all round about de corner of de vide vorld-but I vil not be dam ver ever I go, for de ill ufage of helpless woman. Sid. Your fentiment is good; fo I pardon its mif application. Now, liften to what I fay. My niece Fanny has been playing the fool. La Ro. Ha! my vife play the fool too-but she could not help. Sid. Plague take your wife. La Ro. Vid all my heart. De devil take my vife -She plague me every hour I live. La Ro. I open both my ear. Sid. In the evening you must wait at the bottom of the nut-walk, in the garden, and bring a perfon to me who will wait there-Now mind what I fayDon't begin chattering your damn'd broken Englifh, or you will spoil all. I have plann'd it fo that he will expect to meet me, but as I may be mifs'd in the house, you must take my place. Come with me, and you fhall underftand me. La Ro. You vil be very kind, indeed-at prefent I understand nothing Sid. 'Tis my fon, I expect you to meet. La Ro. Your son! your fon! Sid. Come. [Exit. La Ro. Ha! ha! entendez vous-de littel fhild -la petit garçon. Ah! ha!-I have de perception -Alon, Monfieur---Vivi la bagatille---de littel fhild, ha! ha! vive l'amour. [Exit. SCENE V.-BABBLE's Shop. Enter BABBLE. F J. Bab. So, fhop's fhut-that's right-open tomorrow with double eclat-no longer a fhew of empty Boxes-till full as a tick- over the doorBabble and Co.-charming! delightful!-neat trick of mine giving the bill-anfwer came fafe to hand (looking at a letter, which in returning to his pocket be drops.) How I long to clasp her-her money, in thefe fond arms. Let me fee-not quite time(looks at his watch.)-Hope fhe'll be punctual. The fecond Mrs. Babble-draught to be repeatedMatrimony!brimftone and treacle-fweet and bitter-never mind-four-crout to-day, honey and molaffes to-morrow-tick to me like a leech all the Jeft of her life.-If the runs rusty, must rub her off she -fend her to Smithfield-poor John Hobbs fent his wife there-'twould not do-no go.-But he was happy at laft. SONG.-JEREMIAH BABBLE. (For this Song, the Author is indebted to a Friend.) A jolly shoe-maker, John Hobbs, John Hobbs, A jolly shoe-maker, John Hobbs; He married Jane Carter, No damsel look'd smarter, John Hobbs, John Hobbs, Yes, he caught a Tartar, John Hobbs. He tied a rope to her, John Hobbs, John Hobbs, To 'scape from hot water To Smithfield he brought her, But nobody bought her, Jane Hobbs, Jane Hobbs. They all were afraid of Jane Hobbs. Oh, who'll buy a wife! says Hobbs, John Hobbs, But somehow they tell us, John Hobbs, John Hobbs, And none of 'em wanted Jane Hobbs. The rope it was ready, John Hobbs, John Hobbs, I won't stand to wrangle, Myself I will strangle, And hang dingle dangle, John Hobbs, John Hobbs, So he hung dingle dangle, John Hobbs. But down his wife cut him, Jane Hobbs, John Hobbs, With a few hubble bubbles, They settled their troubles, Like most married couples, John Hobbs-Jane Hobbs, Oh, happy shoe-maker John Hobbs. [Exit. Enter PETER BABBLE cautiously, as BABBLE goes. Peter. Dad's all alive-merry as a grig-a thriving wooer perhaps hey-what's this? (takes up the Let F ter Babble dropt.) "Mr. Babble,"-woman's hand "I have too long delayed the acknowledgment"that I love. I will meet you at the end of Mr. Sydney's garden this evening. You can there explain the particulars."The particularsAh! poor Fanny-clear as day-light-wants to know about Oliver. But how came it here?-that bandy-legged fervant of our's-always leaves my - letters in the fhop-moft time to go-father's off fhop fhut-now Cupid be propitious-let not thy votary fue in vain-Can't marry 'em all-I'll have Fanny, and leave the reft to pine. If this figure doesn't fetch her, nothing will-I'm off. [Exit. SCENE VI.-The Garden (Dark.) LA ROQUE discovered. La Ro. Very agreeable business I have got-dis jardain is as dark as de mouth of de dog. I have fcratch and tear my felf wid all de bramble, 'till I have no fkin left from my head to my heel. Begar I am a flea alive-dis must be de place-I hope he vil not make me wait more as he can help.ew.ew shivers.) If I had not brought de cordial Coniac, I fhould be petrify by de cold. (drinks.) Ha! bon-ver good brandy indeed! Enter BABBLE. -Bew J. Bab. So-fhe's here -Don't like her drinking brandy tho' La Ro. I hear him-he is come. Enter Mr. ANTIDOTE, on the oppofite fide. Mrs. Ant. Surely I heard fome one approachhift-Sir, I am here. |