me so calm, when I tell you he had the insolence to intrude into my very dressing-room here, with a story without a head or tail.-You know, Trusty, we could not understand one word he said, but when he swore-good Lord! how the wretch did swear! Trus. I never heard the like, for my part. Lord Love. And all this for nothing? Lady Ara. So it proved, my lord, for he got nothing by it. Lord Love. His swearing I suppose was for his money, madam. Who can blame him? Lady Ara. If he swore for money he should be put in the pillory. Lord Love. Madam, I won't be bantered, nor sued by this man for your extravagances. Do you owe him the money or not? Lady Ara. He says I do, but such fellows will say anything. Lord Love. [Aside.] Provoking!-[Aloud.] Did not I desire an account from you, of all your debts, but six months since, and give you money to clear them? Lady Ara. My lord, you can't imagine how accounts make my head ache. Lord Love. That won't do. The steward gave you two hundred pounds besides but last week; where's that? Lady Ara. Gone. Lord Love. Gone! where ? Lady Ara. Half the town over I believe by this time. Lord Love. Madam, madam, this can be endured no longer! and before a month passes expect to find me Lady Ara. Hist, my lord, here's company. Enter Captain TOUPEE. Captain Toupee, your servant; what, nobody with you? do you come quite alone? Capt. 'Slife, I thought to find company enough here. My lord, your servant.—What a deuse, you look as if you had been up all night. I'm sure I was in bed but three hours; I would vou'd give me some coffee. Lady Ara. Some coffee there, tea too, and chocolate. [Exit TRUSTY. Capt. [Singing a minuet and dancing.] Well, what a strange fellow am I to be thus brisk, after losing all my money last night!-But upon my soul you look sadly. Lady Ara. No matter for that, if you'll let me win a little of your money this morning. Capt. What, with that face? Go, go wash it, go wash it, and put on some handsome things; you looked a good likely woman last night; I would not much have cared if you had run five hundred pounds in my debt; but if I play with you this morning, egad I'd advise you to win, for I won't take your personal security at present for a guinea. Lord Love. [Aside.] To what a nauseous freedom do women of quality of late admit these trifling fops? and there's a morning exercise will give 'em claim to greater freedoms still.-[ Points to the hazard-table.] Some course must be taken. ¡Exit. Capt. What, is my lord gone? He looked methought as if he did not delight much in my company. Well, peace and plenty attend him for your ladyship's sake, and those who have now and then the honour to win a hundred pounds of you. [Goes to the table singing and throws. Lady Ara. [Twitching the box from him.] What, do you intend to win all the money upon the table?-Seven's the main-set me a million, Toupee. Capt. I set you two, my queen-six to seven! Lady Ara. Oh, that my lord had but spirit enough about him to let me play for a thousand pounds a night-but here comes country company. Enter Lady HEADPIECE, Miss BETTY, Mrs. MOTHER.Y, and Colonel COURTLY. Your servant, madam, good morrow to you. Lady Head. And to you, madam, we are come to breakfast with you. Lord, are you got to those pretty things already! [Points to the dice. Lady Ara. You see we are not such idle folks in town as you country ladies take us to be; we are no sooner out of our beds, but we are at our work. Miss Bet. Will dear lady Arabella give us leave, mother, to do a stitch or two with her? Lady Head. She says, she don't love to sit with her hands before her, when other people's are employed. Capt. And this is the prettiest little sociable work, men and women can all do together at it. Lady Head. Colonel, you are one with us, are you not? Lady Ara. O, I'll answer for him, he'll be out at nothing. Capt. In a facetious way; he is the politest person; he will lose his money to the ladies so civilly, and will win theirs with so much good breeding; and he will be so modest to 'em before company, and so impudent to 'em in a dark corner. colonel ! Ha! Lady Head. So I found him, I'm sure, last mgnt.-Mercy on me, an ounce of virtue less than I had, and sir Francis had been undone. Capt. Colonel, I smoke you. Col. And a fine character you give the ladies of me, to help me. Capt. I give 'em just the character of you they like, modest and brave.-Come ladies, to business; look to your money, every woman her hand upon her purse. Miss Bet. Here's mine, captain. Capt. Oh, the little soft velvet one !-and it's as full.-Come, lady Blowze, rattle your dice and away wich 'em. Lady Ara. Six-at all-five to six-five-eight -at all again-nine to eight-nine. Enter Sir FRANCIS, and stands gazing at them. Seven's the main-at all for ever! [Throws out. Miss Bet. Now, mama, let's see what you can do. [Lady HEADPIECE takes the boz Lady Head. Well, I'll warrant you, daughter Miss Bet. If you do, I'll follow a good example. Lady Head. Eight's the main-don't spare me, gentlemen, I fear you not-have at you all-seven to eight-seven. I I Miss Bet. Undone! undone ! Capt. Eight, lady, eight.-Five pounds if you please. Lady Ara. Three, kinswoman. Col. Two, madam. Miss Bet. And one for miss, mama.-And now let's see what I can do―[Aside.] If I should win enough this morning to buy me another new gown -O bless me! there they go !-Seven!-Come captain, set me boldly, I want to be at a hand ful. Capt. There's two for you, miss. Miss Bet. I'll at 'em, though I die for't. Sir Fran. Ah my poor child, take care! [Runs to stop the throw. Miss Bet. There. Capt. Out-twenty pounds, young lady. Capt. False dice, sir! I scorn your words.Twenty pounds, madam. Sir Fran. She shan't pay you a farthing, sir; I won't have miss cheated. Capt. Cheated, sir! Lady Head. What do you mean, sir Francis, to disturb the company, and abuse the gentleman thus? Sir Fran. I mean to be in a passion. Lady Head. And why will you be in a passion, sir Francis? Sir Fran. Because I came here to breakfast with my lady there, before I went down to the House, expecting to find my family set round a civil table with her, upon some plumcake, hot rolls, and a cup of strong beer; instead of which, I find these good women staying their stomachs with a box and dice, and that man there, with the strange periwig, making a good hearty meal upon my wife and daughter LOVE AND A BOTTLE. A Comedy. Vade, sed incultus, qualem docet exulis esse. OVID. Trist. i. 1. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PEREGRINE, LORD MARQUIS OF CARMARTHEN, &c. MY LORD,-Being equally a stranger to your Lordship, and the whole nobility of this kingdom, something of a natural impulse and aspiring motion in my inclinations has prompted me, though I hazard a presumption, to declare my respect. And be the success how it will, I am vain of nothing in this piece but the choice of my patron; I shall be so far thought a judicious author, whose principal business is to design his works an offering to the greatest honour and merit. I cannot here, my Lord, stand accused of any sort of adulation but to myself, because compliments due to merit return upon the giver, and the only flattery is to myself, whilst I attempt your Lordship's praise. I dare make no essay on your Lordship's youthful bravery and courage, because such is always guarded with modesty, but shall venture to present you some lines on this subject, which the world will undoubtedly apply to your Lordship. Courage the highest gift, that scorns to bend To mean devices for a sordid end. Courage-an independent spark from Heaven's bright throne, By which the soul stands raised, triumphant, high, alone. Above all vice, it stoops not to be proud. Courage, the mighty attribute of powers above, By which those great in war, are great in love. The spring of all brave acts is seated here, As falsehoods draw their sordid birth from fear. The best and noblest part of mankind pay homage to royalty, what veneration then is due to those virtues and endowments which even engaged the respect of royalty itself, in the person of one of the greatest emperors in the world, who chose your Lordship not only as a companion, but a conductor! He wanted the fire of such a Britor to animate his cold Russians, and would therefore choose you his leader in war, as in travel. He knew the fury of the Turk could be only stopped by an English nobleman, as the power of France was by an English king. A sense of this greatness which might deter others, animates me to address your lordship; resolved that my first muse should take a high and daring flight, I aspired to your Lordship's protection for this trifle, which I must own myself now proud of, affording me this opportunity of humbly declaring myself, my Lord, your Lordship's most devoted servant, G. FARQUHAR, |