characters are all great people—I have laid my under plot in low life-and as the former is to end in deep diftrefs, I make the other end as happy as a farce.-Now Mr. Hopkins, as foon as you please. Enter UNDER PROMPTER. UNDER PROMPTER. Sir, the carpenter fays it is impoffible you can go to the Park scene yet. PUFF. The Park scene! No-I mean the defcription fcene here, in the wood. UNDER PROMPTER. Sir, the performers have cut it out. PUFF. So, fo, this is very fine indeed! Mr. Hopkins, how the plague could you fuffer this? HOPKINS, from within. Sir, indeed the pruning knife PUFF. The pruning knife-zounds the axe! why, here has been fuch lopping and topping, I shan't have the bare trunk of my play left presently.Very well, Sir-the performers must do as they pleafe, but upon my foul, I'll print it every word. SNEER. That I would indeed. PUFF. Very well-Sir-then we must go on—zounds! I would not have parted with the description of the horse!-Well, Sir, go on-Sir, it was one of the finest and most laboured things--Very well, Sir, let them go on-there you had him and his accoutrements from the bit to the crupper-very well, Sir, we must go to the Park fcene. UNDER PROMPTER. Sir, there is the point, the carpenters fay, that unless there is fome business put in here before the drop, they fhan't have time to clear away the fort, or fink Gravefend and the river. PUFF. PUFF. So this is a pretty dilemma truly !-Gentlemen-you muft excufe me, thefe fellows will never be ready, unless I go and look after them myself. SNEER. O dear Sir-thefe little things will happen PUFF. To cut out this fcene!-but I'll print itegad, I'll print it every word! [Exeunt, END OF ACT II ACT WELL, we are ready-now then for the justices. Curtain rifes; fuftices, Conftables,&c. difcovered. SNEER. This, I fuppofe, is a fort of fenate scene PUFF. To be fure-there has not been one yet. DANGLE. It is the under plot, isn't it? PUFF. Yes. What, gentlemen, do you mean to ge at once to the discovery scene? JUSTICE. If you please, Sir. PUFF. very well-harkee, I don't chufe to say any thing more, but efaith, they have mangled my play in a moft shocking manner! DANGLE. f DANGLE. It's a great pity! PUFF. Now then, Mr. Juftice, if you please. "JUSTICE. "Are all the volunteers without? "CONSTABLE. 66 They are. "Some ten in fetters, and fome twenty drunk. 66 JUSTICE. "Attends the youth, whose most opprobrious fame "And clear convicted crimes have ftampt him foldier? "He waits your pleafure; eager to repay "The bleft reprieve that fends him to the fields "Of glory, there to raise his branded hand "In honor's caufe. JUSTICE. ""Tis well-'tis Juftice arms him! "O! may he now defend his country's laws "CONSTABLE. "I fly, the herald of your will. [Exit Conftable. . PUFF. Quick, Sir! SNEER. But, Mr. Puff, I think not only the Justice, but the clown feems to talk in as high a ftyle as the first hero among them. |