time we meet, gun powder be my perdition, but I'll have the honour of cutting a throat with him. [Going. Bid. Stopping bim. You may meet with him now, if you please.

Flash. Now, may I!—Where is he, I'll sacrifice the villain. [Aloud.

Tug. Hush! he's but in the next roam.

Flash. Is he! Ram me [Low.] into a mortar piece, but I'll have vengeance; my blood boils to be at him—Don't be frighten'd, miss?

Bid. No Sir, I never was better pleas'd, I assure you.
Flash. I shall soon do his business.

Bid. As soon as you please, take your own time.
Tag. I'll fetch the gentlemen to you immediately.

[Going. Flash. (Stopping ber.) Stay, stay, a little; what a passion I am in!-are you sure he is in the next room?—I shall certainly tear him to pieces--I would fain murder him like a gentleman too———Besides, this family shan't. be baroght into trouble upon my account.I have it--I'll for him in the street, and mix his blood with the of the next kennel. [Going. 1/3. (Stopping bim.) No, pray, Mr Flash, let me see the Fate, I shall be glad to see you fight for me, you shan't £9, indeed. [Holding bim.

Tag. (Holding him.) Oh, pray let me see you fight; there were two gentlemen fit yesterday, and my mistress was never so diverted in her life—I'll fetch him out. [Exit. Bid. Do, stick him, stick him, captain Flash; I shall love you the better for it.

Flash. D-n your love, I wish I was out of the house.

[Aside. Bid. Here he is-Now speak some of your hard words, and run him through

Flash. Don't be in fits now.
Bid. Never fear me.

[Aside to Biddy.

Enter TAG and FRIBBLE.

Tug. (To Fribble.) Take it on my word, Sir, he is a bully and nothing else.

Frib. (Frighten'd.) I know you are my good friend, but perhaps you don't know his disposition.

Tag. I am confident he is a coward.

Frib. Is he? Nay then, I'm his man.

Flush. I like his looks, but I'll not venture too far at first. Tag. Speak to him, Sir.

Frib. i will-I understand, Sir,-hem-that you-by Mrs Tag here,-Sir,--who has inform'd me-hem-that you have sent her, to inform me-Sir-that you would be glad to speak with me-Demmee[Turns off. Flash. I can speak to you Sir,- or to any body Siror I can let it alone and hold my tongue,-if I see occasion, Sir, dammeeTurns off.

Bid. Well said, Mr Flash, be in a passion.

Tag. (To Fribble.) Don't mind his looks, he changes. colour already; to him, to him. - Pushes bim. Frib. Don't hurry me, Mrs Tag, for heaven's sake, I shall be out of breath before I begin, if you do,-Sir,— (To Flash.) If you can't speak to a gentleman in another manner, Sir,why then I'll venture to say you had better hold your tongueOons.

Flash. Sir, you and I are of different opinions.
Frib. You and your opinion may go to the devil-Take
Turns off to Tag..
Tug. Well said, Sir, the day's your own.

that.

Bid. What's the matter, Mr Flash? is all your fury gone? do you give me up?

Frib. I have done his business.

[Struts about

Flash. Give you up, madam! No, madam; when I am determined in my resolutions, I am always calm; 'tis our way, madam; and now I shall proceed to business.-Sir, F beg to say a word to you in private.

Frib. Keep your distance, fellow, and I'll answer you. -That lady has confess'd a passion for me, and as she has deliver'd up her heart into my keeping, nothing but my 'arts blood will purchase it. Damnation!

Tag. Bravo! Bravo!

Flash. If those are the conditions, I'll give you earnest for it directly. (Draws.) Now, villain, renounce all right and title this minute, or the torrent of my rage will overflow my reason, and I shall annihilate the nothingness of your soul and body in an instant.

Frib. I wish there was a constable at hand to take us both up; we shall certainly do one another a prejudice. Tag. No, you won't indeed, Sir; pray bear up to him;

D.4

if

if you wou'd but draw your sword, and be in a passion, he would run away directly.

Frib. Will he? (Draws his sword.) Then I can no longer contain myself.-Hell and the furies! Come on, thou savage brute.

Tag. Go, on Sir.

Here they stand in fighting postures, while Biddy and Tag push 'em forward.

Flash. Come on.

Bid. Go on.

Frib. Come on, rascal.

Tag. Go on, Sir.

Enter Captain LOVEIT and PUFF.

Capt. What's the matter, my dear?

Bid. If you won't fight, here's one that will. Oh, Rhodophil, these two sparks are your rivals, and have pester'd me these two months with their addresses; they forc'd themselves into the house, and have been quarrelling about me, and disturbing the family; they won't fight, pray kick them out of the house.

Capt. What's the matter, gentlemen?

[They both keep their fencing posture. Flash. Don't part us, Sir.

Frib. No, pray, Sir, don't part us, we shall do you a mischief.

Capt. Puff, look to the other gentleman, and call a surgeon?

זיךך

!

Puff. Bless me! how can you stand under your wounds, Sir?

Frib. Am I hurt, Sir?

Puff. Hurt, Sir! why you have let me see-pray stand in the light-one, two, three, thro' the heart; and let me see- -hum-eight thro' the small guts! come, Sir, make it up the round dozen, and then we'll part you.

All. Ha, ha, ha!

Capt. Come here, Puff

[Whispers and looks at Flash.

Puff. 'Tis the very same, Sir.

Capt. (To Flash.) Pray, Sir, have I not had the plea

sure of seeing you abroad?

Flash. I have serv'd abroad.

Capt.

Capt. Had not you the misfortune Sir, to be missing at the last engagement in Flanders?

Flash. I was found amongst the dead in the field of battle.

Puff. He was the first that fell, Sir; the wind of a cannon-ball struck him flat upon his face; he had just strength: enough to creep into a ditch, and there he was found after the battle in a most deplorable condition.

Capt. Pray, Sir, what advancement did you get by the service of that day? ·

Flash. My wounds render'd me unfit for service, and I' sold out.

Puff. Stole out, you mean.-We hunted him by scent, to the water-side, thence he took shipping for England, and, taking the advantage of my master's absence, has attack'd the citadel, which we are luckily come to relieve,, and drive his honour into the ditch again,

All. Ha, ha, ha!

Frib. He, he, he!`

Capt. And now, Sir, how have you dar'd to shew your face again in open day, or wear even the outside of a profession you have so much scandaliz'd by your behaviour? I honour the name of a soldier, and as a party concerned' am bound not to see it disgrac'd. As you have forfeited your title to honour, deliver up your sword this instant. Flash. Nay, good captain

Capt. No words, Sir.

[Takes bis sword. Frib. He's a sad scoundrel; I wish I had kick'd him. Capt. The next thing L command-leave this house, change the colour of your cloths and fierceness of your looks, appear from top to toe the wretch thou art; if e'er I meet thee in the military dress again, or if thou put on locks that belye the native baseness of thy heart, be it where it will, this shall be the reward of thy impudence and disobedience.. [Kicks him, he runs off.

Bid. Oh, my dear Rhodophil! Frib. What an infamous rascal it is! I thank you, Sir, for this favour, but I must after and cane him.

[Going. is stopt by the Captain.

Capt. One word with you too, Sir.

Frib. With me, Sir?

Capt. You need not tremble, I shan't use you roughly.

Frib. I am certain of that, Sir; but I am sadly troubled with weak herves.

Capt. Thou art of a species too despicable for correction; therefore be gone, and if I see you here again, your insignificancy shan't protect you.

Frib. I am oblig'd to you for your kindness; well, if ever I have any thing to do with intrigues again!-[Exit. All. Ha, ha, ha!

Puff Shall I ease you of your trophy, Sir?

Capt. Take it, Puff, as some small recompence for thy fidelity, thou canst better use it than its owner.

Puff. I wish your honour had a patent to take such trifles from every pretty gentlemen that could spare 'em; I would set up the largest cutler's shop in the kingdom. Capt. Well said, Puff.

Bid. But pray, Mr Fox, how did you get out of your hole? I thought you was lock'd in ?

Capt. I shot the bolt back when I heard a noise; and thinking you were in danger I broke my confinement without any other consideration than your safety.

[Kisses her band. Sir Simon. (Without.) Biddy, Biddy, why Tag, Tag. Bid. There's the old gentleman; run in, run in.

[Exeunt. Captain and Puff. Tag opens the door.

Enter Sir SIMON and JASPER.

Sir Sim. Where have you been, Biddy? Jasper and I have knock'd and call'd as loud and as long as we were able; what were you doing, child?

Bid. I was reading part of a play to Tag, and we came as soon as we heard you.

Sir Sim. What play, Moppet?

Bid. The Old Batchelor; and we were just got to old Nykyn as you knock'd at the door.

Sir Sim. I must have you burn your plays and romances now you are mine; they corrupt your innocence; and what can you learn from 'em?

Bid. What, you can't teach me, I'm sure.

Sir Sim. Fy, fy, child; I never heard you talk at this rate before; I'm afraid, Tag, you put these things into her

head.

Tag. I Sir? I vow, Sir Simon, she knows more than you can conceive; she surprises me, I assure you, though