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. Capt. This is a bad night—not a single pri soner 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, And, damn you, you shall payfor swearing.'- 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 be very well satisfied with such customers very night. Five guineas for the assault, and another to drink their healths. They must be great men, and if we stand out for more, they will be discharged to-morrow for nothing. Capt. Hem!-Well, gemmen, you may depart, and I would advise you to go home quietly, as you may not get out of such another affair very easily. But here's one of you that can't go far, it seems. Squire. No-poor Dickey's head is too heavy for his heels, or, perhaps, we should not have been done. Do, Captain, let him have your chair till morning. Capt. Why I don't mind being so civil as that to gemmen who can be civil to me. Squire. Well-take care of him, and here's another guinea for your trouble. [Exeunt Squire and the rest of the party. SCENE.-A Street. Enter an old Woman, with a Candle and Lanthorn, going to her daily Labour. Woman. The Lord help poor folks-the rich can help themselves; as we rise to work, they lie down to rest. Well for the matter o'that, things are pretty even, as their work begins when ours is done. But what sort of work is theirs?-One such day's washing as I'm now going to do, would make a whole score of them lie a-bed for a month afterwards: (a noise behind.) Lord help us - there are some rakehells stirring yet; but they'll hardly do a mischief to such a poor old woman. Enter Squire and Party. Squire. It's now young-eye'd morn, and time to retire. Cutlas. You may sneak to bed, if you like; but de if I do, till I have refreshed my |