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COME along, neighbours, come along, we shall be too late for the suttlers' market.

Enter 2d MAN.

Put on, put on, neighbours. Here, Robin, where are you, boy?

ROBIN, behind.

I'm coming, feather, as soon as I can get the colt up, for the plaguy beast is down again, and mother and chickens are all in the slough.

O. Man. Why, is the colt down again? You graceless dog, help your mother up-Oh, neighbour Farrow has helped her up, I see.

Enter OLD WOMAN.

O. Woman. Husband, as sure as you are alive, that rogue of a boy drove the colt in the dirt for the purpose, and down we came with such a wang

O. Man. What a mercy it is the chickens escaped! -Come, put on, neighbours,

Enter ROBIN and Colt.

Robin. Why, feather, how could I help it ?-The colt has not had an eye in his head these eight years.

O. Woman. O, here comes our kinswoman, and her daughter

Bless me,

Enter MISS.

child! you are in such a heat you'll quite spoil your complexion.

Miss. Lord, neighbours, you hurry one so.-— 2d Woman. Put on, put on; make haste, we shall be too late-O dear, here comes Nell; and she'll scold us all, for cheating the soldiers.

3d Woman. Damn that wench, she won't cheat herself, nor let other honest people do it, if she can help it; and she says she likes a soldier so well she would sell them goods for nothing.

2d Man. Come, neighbours, now we shall see what bargains your daughter will make at the Camp.

2d Woman. Aye, aye, soldiers are testy customers -They won't buy of the ugly ones- -O, here Nell

comes.

Enter NELL.

Nell. Why, how now, what you are consulting how you shall cheat the poor soldiers; for shame! for shame! how can you use the poor fellows so? a parcel of unfeeling wretches! Poor fellows, that risk their lives to defend your property, and yet you make it your study to defraud them.

O. Woman. It's very hard, Nell, you won't let us have a little picking among'em. What is it to you what we do?

Nell. Yes, it is to me; I never will bear to see a sol

dier cheated, with my eyes open. I love a soldier, and will always stand by them.

Miss. Mind your own business, Nell.

Nell. What's that you say, Miss Minx? Here's a wench dressed out: the poor soldiers are forced to pay for all this finery, you impudent slut you!

2d Man. Why, Nell, if you go on at this rate we'll tell his worship, Mr Gage, of you: he's an exciseman, and a great friend to us poor folks.

Nell. What's that you say, master Grinder? Come forward, you sneaking sniveiling sot you, I think your tricks are pretty well known. Wasn't you caught soaking eggs in lime and water to make them pass for new ones: and did not you sit in the stocks for robbing the 'squire's rookery to make your pigeon pies.

2d Woman. Well, well, we'll tell Mr. Gage, and then what will he say to you?

Nell. Tell Mr. Gage, will you? he's a pretty protector indeed; he's a disgrace to his Majesty's inkhornwhile he seizes with one hand, he smuggles with the other. Why, no longer ago than last summer, he was a broken attorney at Rochester, and came down here, and bought this place with his vote, and now he is both a smuggler and contractor. O my conscience, if I had the management of affairs, I would severely punish all such fellows, who would be so base as to cheat a poor soldier.

2d Womun. If his worship was here, you dare not say so. Here he comes, here he comes. Now you'll change your note.

Nell. Will I? you shall see if I do. No, no; I'll tell him my mind; that's always my way.

Enter GAGE.

All. Ah! Mr. Gage.

Gage. Hey day! what's the matter? What the plague, is there a civil war broke out among you?

1st Woman. Why, Mr. Gage, Nell here has been scolding us for cheating the soldiers.

2d Woman. Yes, and says you encourage us in it.

Gage. Encourage you! to be sure I do, in the way of trade.

All. Aye, in the way of trade.

1st Woman. Yes, and she has been rating the poor girl, and says I dress her up thus only to make the better bargains

Gage. And e'cod you're in the right of it; your mother is a sensible old woman. Well said, dame, put plenty in your baskets, and sell your wares at the sign of your daughter's face.

1st Woman. Aye, aye, so I say.

and

Gage. Right-Soldiers are testy customers, this is the market where the prettiest will always make the best bargains.

All. Very true, very true.

Gage. To be sure; I hate to see an awkward gawkey come sneaking into the market; with her damned halfprice countenance and is never able to get scarce double the value of her best goods.

Nell. I can hold no longer: are you not ashamed, you who are a contractor, and has the honour te carry his Majesty's inkhorn at your button-hole, to teach these poor wretches all your court tricks. I'll tell you what-if I was to sit on a court-martial against such a fellow as you, you should have had your deserts, from the pilfering suttler to the head contractor, you should have the cat o' nine tails, and be forced to run the gauntlet, from Coxheath to Warley Common, that you should.

1st Man. How durst you talk so saucily to his worship?

Nell. Hold your tongue, or I'll throttle you, you sheep-biter. [Collaring him. 1st Man. O lord, your worship! if you don't put her under an arrest she'll choke me.

Gage. [Aside.] Come, Nell, hold your tongue, and I'll give you a pound of smuggled hyson, and throw youa silk handkerchief into the bargain.

Nell. Here's a rogue! Bear witness, neighbours, he has offered me a bribe;-a pound of tea. No, sir, take

your pitiful present, and know that I am not to be bribed to screen your villanies by influence and corrup[Throws it at him.

tion.

Gage. Don't mind her, she's mad, she talks treason. Away with you! I'll put every body under an arrest that stays to listen to her.

All. Aye, aye, she's mad. Come along, we shall be too late for market. [Gage drives them all off.

Gage. Here, Nell, will you take the tea?

[Offers it to her.

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[Puts in his pocket.

AIR.-NELL.

Now coaxing, caressing,

Now wheedling, distressing,

As fortune delights to exalt or confound,
Her smile or her frown

Sets them up, knocks them down,

Turning, turning, turning as the wheel goes round. O fie, Mr. Gage!

Quit the tricks of the age;

Scorn the slaves that to fortune, false fortune are bound, Their cringes and bows,

Protections and vows,

Turning, turning, &c.

[Exit NELL.

Gage. Foolish girl, not to accept a bribe, and follow the example of her betters.--But who have we here?

Enter O' DAUB.

O' Daub. Ah, my little Gage! to be sure I am not in luck; I will not want an interpreter to shew me the views about here; and by my shoul, I'll force you to accept my offer.

Gage. Why, what's your errand?

O' Daub. Why, upon my conscience, a very dangerous one: Jack the Painters's job was a fool to it. I am come to take the Camp.

Gage. The devil you are.

**

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