Enter Watchman. Watch. Past two o'clock ! Cutlas. Peace, you noisy rascal, or you'll wake your sleeping conrades. Watch. You're more afraid, that I should wake the persons in the house which you're going to rob. Cutlas. Well, and won't you play booty? Watch. I've no relish for hemp. Cutlas. You've no taste then-it's all the wear! I've had my own picture drawn in a hempen neckcloth. Watch. Properly eno', perhaps; for as my friend Pat Flanagan gives the toast:- "May every rogue be drawn at full length, and the gallows be his picture frame!" Cutlas. Why, you rascal, do you dare to call me a rogue- (He knocks him down, and beats him with his own lanthorn: The Watch man springs his rattle.) Come, let's be off, or the other rascals will be about our ears in a minute. Squire. What the devil can we do ?—Dickey can't stand alone, and if we leave him, we shall be discovered. (To the Watchman.) Fellow, get up-make no more noise, and here are a couple of guineas for you. Watch. (Aside.) A couple of guineas- they bleed freely.-A plague on't! here come some of my comrades. I wish I'd not been in such a d-d hurry to spring my rattle; they'll come in for shares now. Enter several Watchmen. 2 Watch. What's the matter, Dennis ? 1 Watch. Why, these here prisoners have knocked me down, and very civilly beat me with my own lanthorn. 3 Watch. Very civilly done, indeed! a very pretty assault and battery for the next Quarter Sessions. Come along to the watch-house for the night, and in the morning we'll teach you the consequence of enlightening the heads of people. Squire. Well, use us as gentlemen, and we'll VOL. I. go quietly to the watch-house and settle mat ters. 2 Watch. Settle matters indeed! Such matters as these may not be so easily settled as you may imagine. But come along—if there be reason in you, we shan't be unreasonable.[Exeunt. SCENE. — Inside of a Watch-house. The Captain of the Watch discovered, in his Elbow Chair, smoking his Pipe before a Fire. Cap. This is a bad night—not a single prisoner worth a poor pot of beer! What the devil can all the watch be about? - If the rest sleep, that Dennis is generally pretty wakeful, and he's a lucky fellow at getting himself assaulted; but we've all been out of luck these two or three nights last past. (A great noise without.) Oh, here's some business stirring! none of your poor rogues, I hope. Enter the Watch with the Squire and his Party. Merryman hiccoughs, and repeats as well as he can speak: "So have you seen, with dire affright Seated aloft in elbow chair, Command the pris'ners to appear; Harangue an hour on watchman's praise, Then cry, You'll suffer for your daring, I sit to represent the king.' Capt. Why, Dennis, what a cargo have you brought here—they're either madmen, or private players. 1 Watch. I don't know what the devil they are; but I know that they have knocked me down, and beat me afterwards with my own lanthorn. Here's my witness: (holding up the shattered lanthorn.) Capt. Oh, is that all! and a very pretty all too-Well; what have the prisoners to say for themselves? I sits here for justice, and shall not receive the charge till I hears what they have to offer for so violent a breach of the peace. Squire. I wish to say two or three words to Dennis. Capt. Well, well, Dennis is a good-natured fellow, and if you can make up this here heavy charge, why I've no objection. (The Squire and Dennis go aside.) I know my duty, and don't wish to expose gemmen, who are unfortunately overtaken with liquor. Merryman. Have you got any thing to drink? Capt. No, and you don't seem to want it. Dennis. (coming forwards.) I believe, Captain we may as well release these gemmen; they have been merry-making, and for the matter of damage they've done to me, they've expressed their sorrow very handsomely. Capt. Oh! have they so? Well, if you are satisfied Dennis. (whispers the Captain.)—We should |