most? if so, egad I'm for him; my gold, as you say, shall be subservient to my pleasure.

Cha. To deal ingenuously with you, sir George, I know very little of her or home; for since my uncle's death and my return from travel I have never been weil with my father; he thinks my expences too great, and I his allowance too little; he never sees me but he quarrels, and to avoid that I shun his house as much as possible. The report is he intends to marry her himself.

Sir Geo, Can she consent to it?

Cha. Yes faith, so they say: but I tell you I am wholly ignorant of the matter. "Miranda and I are "like two violent members of a contrary party; I can "scarce allow her beauty, though all the world does, r nor she me civility for that contempt." I fancy she plays the mother-in-law already, and sets the old gentleman on to do mischief.

Sir Geo. Then I have your free consent to get her? Cha. Ay, and my helping hand if occasion be. Sir Geo. Poh! yonder's a fool coming this way, let's avoid him.

Cha. What, Marplot? No, no, he's my instrument; there's a thousand conveniencies in him; he'll lend me his money when he has any, run of my errands, and be proud on it; in short, he'll pimp for me, lie for me, drink for me, do any thing but fight for me, and that I trust to my own arm for.

Sir Geo. Nay, then he's to be endured; I never knew his qualifications before.

Enter MARPLOT with a patch cross his face.

Mar. Dear Charles your's-Ha! Sir George Airy! the man in the world I have an ambition to be known to. [Aside.] Give me thy hand, dear boy.

Cha. A good assurance! But hark ye, how came your beautiful countenance clouded in the wrong place?

Mar. I must confess 'tis a little mal-a-propos; but no matter for that. A word with you Charles. Pr'ythee introduce me to sir George-he is a man of wit, and I'd give ten guineas to

Cha. When you have 'em, you mean.

Mar. Ay, when I have 'em; pugh, pox, you cut the thread of my discourse -I would give ten guineas I say to be rank'd in his acquaintance. "Well, " 'tis a vast addition to a man's fortune, according to "the rout of the world, to be seen in the company of 66 leading men, for then we are all thought to be poli"ticians, or whigs, or jacks, or highflyers, or lowflyers,

66

or levellers-and so forth; for you must know we “all herd in parties now.

"Cha. Then a fool for diversion is out of fashion I "find.

Mar. "Yes, without it be a mimicking fool, and "they are darlings every where." But pr'ythee introduce me.

Cha. Well, on condition you'll give us a true account how you came by that mourning nose, I will. Mar. I'll do it.

Cha. Sir George, here's a gentleman has a passionate desire to kiss

your

hand.

Sir Geo. Oh, I honour men of the sword! and I presume this gentleman is lately come from Spain or Portugal-by his scars.

Mar. No, really, Sir George, mine sprung from civil fury. Happening last night into the groom por ter's-I had a strong inclination to go ten guineas with a sort of a, sort of a-kind of a milksop, as I thought. A pox of the dice! he flung out, and my pockets being empty, as Charles knows they often are, he proved a surly North Briton, and broke my face for my deficiency.

Sir Geo. Ha, ha! and did not you draw?

Mar. Draw, sir! why I did but lay my hand upon my sword to make a swift retreat, and he roar'd out, Now the deel ha ma sal, sir, gin ye touch yer steel Ise whip mine through yer wem.

Sir Geo. Ha, ha, hal

Cha. Ha, ha, ha, ha! Safe was the word. So you walk'd off, I suppose.

Mar. Yes, for I avoid fighting, purely to be serviceable to my friends, you know

Sir Geo. Your friends are much obliged to you, sir: I hope you'll rank me in that number.

Mar. Sir George, a bow from the side box, or to be seen in your chariot, binds me ever your's.

Sir Geo. Trifles; you may command 'em when you please.

1

Cha. Provided he command you.

may

Mar. Me! why I live for no other purpose-Sir George, I have the honour to be caress'd by most of the reigning toasts of the town: I'll tell 'em you are the finest gentleman

Sir Geo. No, no, pr'ythee let me alone to tell the ladies-my parts-Can you convey a letter upon occasion, or deliver a message with an air of business, ha? Mar. With the assurance of a page and the gravity of a statesman.

Sir Geo. You know Miranda.

Mar. What! my sister ward? why, her guardian is mine; we are fellow sufferers. Ah, he is a covetous, cheating, sanctified, curmudgeon: that sir Francis Gripe is a damn'd old-hypocritical

Cha. Hold, hold; I suppose, friend, you forgot that he is my father.

Mar. Egad and so I did Charles-I ask your pardon, Charles, but it is for your sake I hate him. Well, I say the world is mistaken in him; his outside piety makes him every man's executor, and his inside cunning makes him every heir's gaoler. Egad, Charles, I'm half persuaded that thou'rt some ward too, and never of his getting-for never were two things so unlike as you and your father; he scrapes up every thing, and thou spend'st every thing; every body is indebted to him, and thou art indebted to every body.

Cha. You are very free, Mr. Marplot.

Mar. Ay, I give and take, Charles-you may be as free with me you know.

Cha. Sir George, here's a gentleman has a passionate desire to kiss

your

hand.

Sir Geo. Oh, I honour men of the sword! and I presume this gentleman is lately come from Spain or Portugal-by his scars.

Mar. No, really, Sir George, mine sprung from civil fury. Happening last night into the groom por.. ter's-I had a strong inclination to go ten guineas with a sort of a, sort of a-kind of a milksop, as I thought. A pox of the dice! he flung out, and my pockets being empty, as Charles knows they often are, he proved a surly North Briton, and broke my face for my deficiency.

Sir Geo. Ha, ha! and did not you draw?

Mar. Draw, sir! why I did but lay my hand upon my sword to make a swift retreat, and he roar'd out, Now the deel ha ma sal, sir, gin ye touch yer steel Ise whip mine through yer wem.

Sir Geo. Ha, ha, hal

Cha. Ha, ha, ha, ha! Safe was the word. walk'd off, I suppose.

So you

Mar. Yes, for I avoid fighting, purely to be serviceable to my friends, you know

Sir Geo. Your friends are much obliged to you,

I hope you'll rank me in that number.

sir:

Mar. Sir George, a bow from the side box, or to be seen in your chariot, binds me ever your's.

Sir Geo. Trifles; you may command 'em when you please.