Cant. No, I tank you ma'am.

Mrs Heidel. Shall I go and shew you the apartments, sir. Cant. You do me great honeur, ma'am.

Mrs Heidel. Come then

-come, my dear! [To Miss.

Manet STERLING.

Sterling.]

[Exeunt.

Sterl. Pox on't, it's almost dark-It will be too late to go round the garden this evening. However, I will carry them to take a peep at my fine canal at least, I am determined.

ACT II. .

[Exit.

SCENE, an anti-chamber to lord OGLEBY's bed-chamber -Table with chocolate, and fmall cafe for medicines. Enter BRUSH, my lords valet-de-chambre, and STERLING's chamber-maid.

BRUSH.

shall stay, my dear, I insist upon it.

Ch. Maid. Nay, pray, sir, don't be so positive; I can't stay indeed.

Brush. You shall take one cup to our better acquaintance. Ch Maid. I seldom drinks chocolate; and if I did, one has no satisfaction, with such apprehensions about one-if my lord should wake, or the Swiss gentleman should see one, or madam Heidelberg should know of it, I should be frighted to death-besides, I have had my tea already this morning-I'm sure I hear my lord. [in a fright.

Brush. No, no, madam, don't flutter yourself-tie moment my lord wakes, he rings his bell, which I answer sooner, or later, as it suits my convenience.

Ch. Maid, But should he come upon us without ringingBrush. I'll forgive him if he does-This key [takes a pisial out of the case] locks him up till I please to let him out. Ch Maid. Law, Sir! that's a pothecary's-stuff.

Brush. It is so-but without this he can no more get out of bed, than he can read without spectacles [sips.] What with qualms, age, rheumatism, and a few surfeits in his youth, he must have a great deal of brushing, oy ling, screwing, and winding up to set him a going for the day.

Ch Maid

$7192

Ch Maid. [sips. That's prodigious indeed-sips,] My lord seems prodigiously in a decay,

Brush. Yes, he's quite a spectacle, (sips.) a mere corpse, till he is revived and refresh'd from our little magazine here When the restorative pills, and cordial waters warm his stomach, and get into his head, vanity frisks in his heart, isks in his heart, and then he sets up for the lover, the rake, and the fine gentleman. 19 dan sidies! Cb Maid (sips,) Poor gentleman!--but should the Swish gentleman come upon us.

72

frightened. Brush. Why then the English gentleman would be very angryNo foreigner must break in upon my privacy. sips. But I can assure you onsieur Canton is otherwise employ'd. He is obliged to skim the cream of half a score news-papers for my lords breakfast, ha, ha. Pray, madam, drink your cup peaceably My lord's chocolate is remarkably good, he won't touch a drop but what comes from Italy.les and pour tangan! 9H deyra Ch Maid. [sipping.] 'Tis very fine indeed (sips.) and charmingly perfum'd it smells for all the world like our young ladies dressing-boxes.-bb9. i 26 taut 25

Brush. You have an excellent taste, madam, and I must beg of you to accept of a few cakes for your own drinking, [Takes 'em out of a drawer in the table.] and in return, desire nothing but to taste the perfume of your lips-[kisses ber.A small return of favours, madam, will make, I hope, this country and retirement agreeable to both. [He bows, she curtsies. Your young ladies are fine girls, faith! (sips.) though upon my soul, I am quite of my lord's mind about them; and were I inclin' to matrimony, I should take the youngest. (sips.)

Ch Maid. Miss fanny's the most affablest and the most best natur'd creature!

Brush. And the eldest a little haughty or so

Ch Maid. More haughtier and prouder than Saturn himself-but this I sy quite confidential to you, for one would not hurt a young lady's marriage, you know. [sips.]

Brush. By no means, but you can't hurt it with us-we don't consider tempers-we want money, Mrs Nancygive us enough of that, we'll abate you a great deal in other particulars-ha, ha, ha.

Ch Maid. Bless me! here's somebody-( Bell rings. ) O! 'tis

O! 'tis my lord-Well, your servant, Mr Brush—I'll clean the cups in the next room.

Brush. Do so-but never mind the bell-I shan't go this half hour.-Will you drink tea with me in the afternoon? Ch Maid. Not for the world, Mr Brush- -I'll be here to set all things to rights---but I must not drink tea indeed-and so your servant. [Exit maid with tea board. [Bell rings again.]

Brush. It is impossible to stupify one's self in the country for a week without some little flirting with the Abigails:this is much the handsomest wench in the house, except the old citizen's youngest daughter, and I have not time enough to lay a plan for her (Bell rings.) And now I'll go to my lord, for I have nothing else to do. [going. Enter CANTON with news papers in his hand. Cant. Monsieur Brush-maister Brush-my lor stirra

yet?

Brush. He has just rung his bell-I am going to him. Cant. Depechez vous donc. [Exit Brush. (Puts on spectacles.) I wish de devil had all dese papiersI forget, as fast as I read-de advertise put out of my head de gazette, de gazette de chronique, and so dey all go l'un apres l'autre I must get some nouvelle for my lor, or he'll be enrage contremo voyons ! [Reads in the papers.] Here is nothing but Anti-Sejanus and advertise

Enter maid with chocolate things.

Vat you, yant, child ?.—

Ch Maid. Only the chocolate things, sir.

Cant. O ver well-dat is good girl and ver prit too!

Lord OGLEBY within.

L Cgle. Canton hee~(coughs. )—Canton !

[Exit Maid.

Cant. I come my lor-vat shall I do?—I have no news -He vill make great tintamarre,!

LOgle. (within.) Canton, I say, Canton! where are

you?

Enter Lord CCLEBY leaning on BRUSH.

Cant. Here my lor, I ask pardon my lor, I have not finish de papiers

L Ogle.

L Ogle. Dem your pardon, and your papers; I want you here, Canton.

Cant Den I run, dat is all (shuffles along. )-lord Ogleby leans upon Canton too, and comes forward.

L Ogle. You Swiss are the most unaccountable mixture you have the language and the impertinence of the French, with the laziness of Dutchmen..

4

Cant. 'Tis very true, my lor--l can't help→→

L Ogle. (cries out ) O diavolo !

Cant. You are not in pain, I hope, my lor,

LOgle. Indeed but I am, my lorthat vulgar fellow Sterling, with his city politeness, would force me down his slope last night to see a clay coloured ditch, which he calls a canal; and what with the dew, and the east-wind, my hips and shoulders are absolutely screwed to my body, Cant. A littel veritable cau'd, a quibusade vil set all to right again [My lord sits down, Brush gives chocolate. L Ogle. Where are the palsy drops, Brush? Brush. Here, my lord!

[Pouring out. L Ogle Quelle nouvelle avez vouz, Canton? Cant. A great deal of papier but no news at all. L Ogle. What! nothing at all, you stupid fellow? Cant. Yes, my lor, I have littel advertise here vil give you more plaisir den all de lyes about nothing at all. La voila! [Puts on his spectacles. L Ogle. Come read it, Canton, with good emphasis, and discretion.

Cant. I vil, my lor (Cant reads. ) Dere is no question, but dat de cosmetique royale vil utterlie take away all heats, pimps, frecks, and oder eruptions of de skin, and likewise de winque of old age, etc. etc.- A great deal more, my Jor-be sure for to ask de cosmetique royale, signed by de docteur own hand Dere is more reason for dis-caution dan good men vil tink-En bein, my lor!

L Ogle. En bien, Canton !will you purchase any?
Cant. For you, my lor?

LCgle For me, you old puppy! For what?

Cant. My lor?

L Ogle. Do I want cosmeticks?

Cant. My lor!

L Ogle. Look in my face come, be sincere.

want the assistance of art?

-Does it

Cant.

Cant. (with his spectacles) En verite, non-'Tis very smooth and brillian-but i tote dat you might take a little by way of prevention.

L Ogle. You thought like an old fool, monsieur, as you generally do The surfeit-water, Brush! (Brush pours out.) What do you think, Brush, of this family, we are going to be connected with ? Eh ! C

Brush. Very well to marry in, my lord! but it would not do to live with.

L Ogle. You are right, Brush-There is no washing the Blackamoor white Mr Sterling will never get rid of Black-Fryars, always taste of the Borachio-and the poor woman his sister' r is so busy, and so notable, to make one welcome, that I have not yet got over her first reception; it almost amounted to suffocation! I think the daughters are tolerable Where's my cephalic snuff?

asand aa d[Brush gives him a box. Cant. Dey tine so of you, my lor, for de look at nothing else, ma foi.

L Ogle. Did they Why, I think they did a little Where's my glass? (Brush puts one on the table.) The youngest is delectable. [Takes snuff. Cant. O, ouy, my lor very delect, inteed; she made doux yeux at you, my lor.

LOgle. She was particular-the eldest, my nephew's lady, will be a most valuable wife; she has all the vulgar spirits of her father and aunt, happily blended with the térmigant qualities of her diseased mother. Some peppermint water, Brush how happy is it, Cant, for young la dies in general, that people of quality overlook every thing in a marriage-contract but their fortune.

Cant. C'est bien heureux, et commode aussi.

L Ogle. Brush, give me that pamphlet by my bed-side(Bush goes for it.) Canton, do you wait in the anti-chamber, and let nobody interrupt me till I call you.

Cant. Mush goot may do your lordship!

LOgle. (To Brush, who brings the pamphlet.) And now, Brush, leave me a little to my studies. [Exit Brush,

Lord OGLEBY alone.

What can I possibly do among these women here, with this confounded theumatism! It is a most grievous enemy to

gallantry