houses in the capital, where the conversation was always moral at least, if not entertaining! Dang. Now, egad, I think the worst alteration is in the nicety of the audience!-No double- Sneer. Yes, and our prudery in this respect is just on a par with the artificial bashfulness of a Dang. Sneer can't even give the public a good Sneer. Oh, that's a comedy, on a very new plan; 180 190 replete with wit and mirth, yet of a most serious Dang. Egad, this is new indeed! Sncer. Yes; it is written by a particular friend of mine, who has discovered that the follies and Dang. It is truly moral. Re-enter Servant. Ser. Sir Fretful Plagiary, sir. Dang. Beg him to walk up.-[Exit Servant.] Now, Mrs Dangle, Sir Fretful Plagiary is an author to your own taste. Mrs Dang. I confess he is a favourite of mine, because everybody else abuses him. Sneer. Very much to the credit of your charity, 220 madam, if not of your judgment. Dang. But, egad, he allows no merit to any author but himself, that's the truth on't-though he's my friend. Sneer. Never. He is as envious as an old maid verging on the desperation of six-and-thirty; and then the insidious humility with which he seduces you to give a free opinion on any of his works, can be exceeded only by the petulant arrogance with which he is sure to reject your 230 observations. Dang. Very true, egad-though he's my friend. Sneer. Then his affected contempt of all newspaper strictures; though, at the same time, he is the sorest man alive, and shrinks like scorched parchment from the fiery ordeal of true criticism: yet is he so covetous of popularity, that he had rather be abused than not mentioned at all. Dang. There's no denying it-though he is my friend. Sneer. You have read the tragedy he has just finished, haven't you? Dang. O yes; he sent it to me yesterday. Sneer. Well, and you think it execrable, don't you! Dang. Why, between ourselves, egad, I must own— though he is my friend-that it is one of the most- -He's here—[Aside] — finished and most admirable perform 240 Sir Fret. [Without.] Mr Sneer with him, did you 250 say? Enter Sir Fretful Plagiary. Dang. Ah, my dear friend!-Egad, we were just speaking of your tragedy.-Admirable, Sir Fretful, admirable! Sneer. You never did any thing beyond it, Sir Fretful -never in your life. Sir Fret. You make me extremely happy; for with out a compliment, my dear Sneer, there isn't a Dang. Mrs Dangle!—Ah, Sir Fretful, you know just now he knows how she admires you, Sir Fret. O Lord, I am sure Mr Sneer has more damned double-faced fellow ! 260 Dang. Yes, yes-Sneer will jest-but a better- 270 humoured Sir Fret. Oh, I know Dang. He has a ready turn for ridicule-his wit costs him nothing. Sir Fret. No, egad-or I should wonder how he came by it. Mrs Dang. Because his jest is always at the expense of his friend. [Aside. [Aside. Dang. But, Sir Fretful, have you sent your play to the managers yet?-or can I be of any service 280 to you? Sir Fret. No, no, I thank you: I believe the piece had sufficient recommendation with it.—I thank Sneer. I should have thought now, that it might Sir Fret. O lud! no-never send a play there while [Whispers Sneer. 290 Sneer. Writes himself!-I know he does. Sir Fret. I say nothing-I take away from no man's merit—am hurt at no man's good fortune-I say nothing. But this I will say—through all Sneer. I believe you have reason for what you say, indeed. |