brazen the brunt of the business out, and have the pleasure of turning the impostor upon his lordship, which I believe may easily be done.

Enter SIR TUNBELLY CLUMSY.

Did you ever hear, sir, of so impudent an undertaking? Sir T. Never, by the mass; but we'll tickle him, I'll warrant you.

Young F. They tell me, sir, he has a great many people with him, diguised like servants.

Sir T. Ay, ay, rogues enow, but we have master'd them. We only fired a few shot over their heads, and the regiment scower'd in an instant. Here, Tummus, bring in your prisoner.

Young F. If you please, sir Tunbelly, it will be best for me not lo confront the fellow yet, till you have heard how far his impudence will carry him.

Sir T. 'Egad, your lordship is an ingenious person. Your lordship then will please to step aside.

Lory. Fore heaven, I applaud my master's modesty. [Exit with YOUNG FASHION.

Enter SERVANTS, with LORD FOPPINGTON disarmed. Sir T. Come, bring him along, bring him along. Lord F. What the plague do you mean, gentlemen? is it fair time, that you are all drunk before supper?

Sir T. Drunk, sirrah! here's an impudent rogue for you now. Drunk or sober, bully, I'm a justice o'the peace, and know how to deal with strollers.

Lord F. Strollers!

Sir T. Ay, strollers. Come, give an account of yourself. What's your name? where do you live? do you pay scot and lot? Come, are you freeholder or a copyholder?

Lord F. And why dost thou ask me so many impertinent questions?

Sir T. Because I'll make you answer 'em, before I have done with you, you rascal you.

Lord F. Before Gad, all the answers I can make to

them is, that you are a very extraordinary old fellow, stap my vitals!

Sir T. Nay, if thou art joking deputy lieutenants, we know how to deal with you. Here, draw a warrant for him immediately.

Lord F. A warrant! What the devil is't thou wouldst be at, old gentleman?

Sir T. I would be at you, sirrah (if my hands were not tied as a magistrate), and with these two double fists beat your teeth down your throat, you dog you! [Driving him. Lord F. And why wouldst thou spoil my face at that rate?

Sir T. For your design to rob me of my daughter, villain.

Lord F. Rab thee of thy daughter! Now do I begin to believe I am in bed and asleep, and that all this is but a dream. Pr'ythee, old father, wilt thou give me leave to ask thee one question?

Sir T. I can't tell whether I will or not, till I know what it is.

Lord F. Why then, it is, whether thou didst not write to my Lord Foppington, to come down and marry thy daughter?

Sir T. Yes, marry, did I, and my Lord Foppington is come down, and shall marry my daughter before she's a day older.

Lord F. Now give me thy hand, old dad; I thought we should understand one another at last.

Sir T. the fellow's mad-here, bind him hand and foot. [They bind him. leave fooling; thy

Lord F. Nay, pr'ythee, knight, jest begins to grow dull.

Sir T. Bind him, 1 say-he's water, a dark room, and a whip, his senses again.

mad: bread and may bring him to

Lord F. Pr'ythee, Sir Tunbelly, why should you take such an aversion to the freedom of my address, as to suffer the rascals thus to skewer down my arms like a rabbit? 'Egad, if I don't awake, by all that I

can see, this is like to prove one of the most impertinent dreams that ever dreamt in my life.

Re-enter MISS HOYDEN and NURSE.

[Aside

Miss. H. [Going up to him.] Is this he that would have run- -Fough, how he stincks of sweets! Pray, father, let him be dragged through the horse-pond.

Lord F. This must be my wife, by her natural inclination to her husband.

[A side. Miss. H. Pray, father, what do you intend to do with him--hang him?

Sir T. That at least, child.

Nurse. Ay, and it's e'en too good for him too.

Lord F. Madame la gouvernante, I presume; hitherto this appears to me to be one of the most extraordinary families that ever man of quality match'd into. [Aside.

Sir T What's become of my lord, daughter?
Miss H. He's just coming, sir.
Lord F. My lord! what does he mean by that, now?

Re-enter YOUNG FASHION and LORY.

[Aside.

Stap my vitals, Tam, now the dream's out. [Runs. Young F. Is this the fellow, sir, that design'd to trick me of your daughter?

Sir T. This is he, my lord; how do you like him? Is not he a pretty fellow to get a fortune?

Young F. I find by this dress, he thought your daughter might be taken with a beau.

Miss H. Oh, gemini! Is this a beau? Let me see him again. [Surveys him.] Ha! I find a beau is no such ugly thing, neither

Young. F. 'Egad, she'll be in love with him presently I'll e'en have him sent away to jail. [A side. -Sir, though your undertaking shews you a person of no extraordinary modesty, I suppose you ha'n't confidence enough to expect much favour from me? [TO LORD FOPPINGTON.

Lord F. Strike me dumb, Tam, thou art a very impudent fellow.

Nurse. Look, if the varlet has not the effrontery to call his lordship, plain Thomas.

Lord F. My Lord Foppington, shall I beg one word with your lordship?

Nurse. Ho, ho, it's my lord with him now. See how afflictions will humble folks.

Miss H. Pray, my lord, [TO FASHION] don't let him whisper too close, lest he bite your ear off.

Lord F. I am not altogether so hungry as your ladyship is pleased to imagine. Look you, Tam, I am sensible I have not been so kind to you as I ought, but I hope you'll forgive what's past, and accept of the five thousand pounds I offer thou mayst live in extreme splendour with it, stap my vitals!

Young F. It's a much disease than to cure it. A have secured your mistress, deem her.

[Apart to YOUNG FASHION. easier matter to prevent a quarter of that sum would twice as much cannot re[Apart. Leaving him.

Sir T. Well, what says he? Young F. Only the rascal offered me a bribe to let him go.

Sir T. Ay, he shall go, with a plague to him-lead on, constable.

Enter a SERVANT.

Serv, Sir, here is muster Loveless, and muster Colonel Townly, and some ladies, to wait on you.

[TO YOUNG F. Lory. So, sir, what will you do now? [Aside. Young F. Be quiet; they are in the plot. [Aside to LORY.]-Only a few friends, Sir Tunbelly, whom I wish'd to introduce to you.

Lord F. Thou art the most impudent fellow, Tam, that ever nature yet brought into the world. Sir Tunbelly, strike me speechless, but these are my friends and acquaintance, and my guests, and they

I will soon inform thee whether I am the true Lord Foppington or not.

Enter LOVELESS, COLONEL TOWNLY, AMANDA, and BERINTHIA.-LORD FOPPINGTON accosts them as they pass, but none answer him.

Young F. So, gentlemen, this is friendly; I rejoice to see you.

Col. T. My lord, we are fortunate to be the witnesses of your lordship's happiness.

Love. But your lordship will do us the honour to introduce us to Sir Tunbelly Clumsy?

Aman. And us to your lady.

Lord F. [Amazed.] Ged take me, but they are all in a story.

Sir T. Gentlemen, you do me much honour; my Lord Foppington's friends will ever be welcome to me and mine.

Young F. My love, let me introduce you to these ladies.

Miss H. By goles, they look so fine and so stiff, 1 am almost asham'd to come nigh 'em.

Aman. A most engaging lady, indeed!

Miss H. Thank ye, ma'am.

Ber. And I doubt not will soon distinguish herself in the beau monde.

Miss H Where is that?

Young F. You'll soon learn, my dear.

Love. But, Lord Foppington-

Lord F. Sir!

Love. Sir! I was not addressing myself to you, sir! Pray who is this gentleman? He seems rather in a singular predicament

Col. T. For so well-dressed a person, a little oddly circumstanced, indeed.

Sir T. Ha, ha, ha! So, these are your friends and your guests, ha, my adventurer?

Lord F. I am struck dumb with their impudence, and cannot positively say whether I shall ever speak again or not.

L