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Oh, there's the wine !—This moment for my life or death.

Enter ORIANA.

Lost, for ever lost!-Faintly. Where's the wine, child?

Oriana. Coming up, sir.

Stamps.

Enter Captain DURETETE with his sword drawn, and six soldiers with their pieces presented; the Bravoes drop their swords. Exit ORIANA.

Mirabel. The wine! the wine! the wine! Youth, pleasure, fortune, days, and years, are now my own again.-Ah, my dear friends, did not I tell you this wine would make me merry?-Dear captain, these gentlemen are the best-natured, facetious, witty creatures, that ever you knew.

Enter LAMOrce.

Lamorce. Is the wine come, sir?

there!

Mirabel. O yes, madam, the wine is come-see Pointing to the Soldiers. Your ladyship has got a very fine ring upon your finger.

Lamorce. Sir, 'tis at your service.

Mirabel. O ho! is it so?

Puts it on his finger.

Thou dear seven hundred pound, thou 'rt welcome home again, with all my heart !—Ad's my life, madam, you have got the finest built watch there! Tompion's, I presume?

Lamorce. Sir, you may wear it.

Mirabel. O madam, by no means, 'tis too much!Taking it from her.

Rob you of all !—

Good dear time, thou 'rt a precious thing: I'm glad I have retrieved thee.

Putting it up.

What, my friends neglected all this while! Gentlemen, you'll pardon my complaisance to the lady.-How now, is it so civil to be out of humour at my entertainment, and I so pleased with yours?-To DURetete. Captain, you 're surprised at all this! but we 're in our frolics you must know.-Some wine here!

Enter Servant with wine.

Come, captain, this worthy gentleman's health.Tweaks First Bravo by the nose; he roars. But now, where, where 's my dear deliverer, my boy, my charming boy?

First Bravo. I hope some of our crew below stairs have despatched him.

Mirabel. Villain, what sayest thou? despatched! I'll have ye all tortured, racked, torn to pieces alive, if you have touched my boy.-Here, page! page! page!

Runs out. Duretete. Here, gentlemen, be sure you secure those fellows.

First Bravo. Yes, sir, we know you and your guard will be very civil to us.

Duretete. Take 'em to justice.

Exeunt Soldiers with the Bravoes.

Enter Old MIRABEL and Others.

Old Mirabel. Robin! Robin ! where 's Bob, where's my boy? . . .

Re-enter MIRABEL.

Ah, my dear Bob, art thou safe, man?

Mirabel. No, no, sir, I'm ruined, the saver of my life is lost.

Old Mirabel. No, no, he came and brought us the

news.

Mirabel. But where is he?

Re-enter ORIANA.

Ha!

Runs and embraces her. My dear preserver, what shall I do to recompense your trust? Father, friend, gentlemen, behold the youth that has relieved me from the most ignominious death, from the scandalous poniards of these bloody ruffians, where to have fallen, would have defamed my memory with vile reproach.-My life, estate, my all, is due to such a favour. Command me, child: before you all, before my late, so kind indulgent stars, I swear, to grant whate'er you ask.

Oriana. To the same stars indulgent now to me, I will appeal as to the justice of my claim; I shall demand but what was mine before-the just performance of your contract to Oriana. Discovering herself.

All. Oriana !

Oriana. In this disguise I resolved to follow you abroad, counterfeited that letter that got me into your service; and so, by this strange turn of fate, I became the instrument of your preservation. Few common servants would have had such cunning: my love inspired me with the meaning of your message, 'cause my concern for your safety made me suspect your company.

THE RECRUITING OFFICER

THE plot of this good broad comedy needs for the understanding of our extract from it no further setting forth than the statement that Captain Plume, an easygoing fine gentleman officer, and Sergeant Kite, a knavish soldier, are engaged on a recruiting expedition to Shrewsbury, and that Costar and Appletree, their dupes, are two countrymen.

The Market-Place. Drum beats the Grenadier's

March.

Enter Sergeant KITE, followed by THOMAS APPLETREE, COSTAR PEARMAIN, and the Mob.

Kite. Making a speech. If any gentlemen soldiers, or others, have a mind to serve Her Majesty, and pull down the French king: if any prentices have severe masters, any children have undutiful parents: if any servants have too little wages, or any husband too much wife let them repair to the noble sergeant Kite, at the sign of the Raven, in this good town of Shrewsbury, and they shall receive present relief and entertainment.

-Gentlemen, I don't beat my drums here to ensnare or inveigle any man; for you must know, gentlemen, that I am a man of honour; besides, I don't beat up for common soldiers; no, I list only grenadiers, grenadiers, gentlemen. Pray, gentlemen, observe this cap. This is the cap of honour, it dubs a man a gentleman in the drawing of a trigger; and he that has the good fortune to be born six foot high, was born to be a great man. To COSTAR PEARMAIN. Sir, will you give me leave to try this cap upon your head?

Cos. Is there no harm in 't? Won't the cap list me? Kite. No, no, no more than I can.-Come, let me see how it becomes you.

Cos. Are you sure there be no conjuration in it? no gunpowder plot upon me?

Kite. No, no, friend; don't fear, man.

Cos. My mind misgives me plaguily. Let me see it. Going to put it on. Smell, Tummas.

It smells woundily of brimstone.

Tho. Ay, wauns does it.

Cos. Pray, sergeant, what writing is this upon the face of it?

Kite. The crown, or the bed of honour.

Cos. Pray, now, what may be that same bed of honour.

Kite. Oh, a mighty large bed! bigger by half than the great bed at Ware-ten thousand people may lie in it together, and never feel one another.

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