Enter HARDCASTLE.

HARDCASTLE.

Gentlemen, once more you are heartily welcome. Which is Mr. Marlow? Sir, you are heartily welcome. It's not my way, you fee, to receive my friends with my back to the fire. I like to give them a hearty reception in the old style at my gate. I like to fee their horfes and trunks taken care of.

MARLOW (afide.)

He has got our names from the fervants already. (To him) We approve your caution and hospitality, Sir. (To Haftings) I have been thinking, George, of changing our travelling dresses in the morning. I am grown confoundedly afhamed of mine.

HARDCASTLE.

I beg, Mr. Marlow, you'll ufe no ceremony in this house,

HASTINGS.

I fancy, George, you're right: the first blow is half the battle. I intend opening the campaign with the white and gold.

HARDCASTLE.

Mr. Marlow-Mr. Haftings-gentlemen-pray be under no reftraint in this houfe. This is Liberty-hall, gentlemen. You may do just as you please here.

MARLOW.

Yet, George, if we open the campaign too fiercely at first, we may want ammunition before it

M 3

is

f

is over. I think to reserve the embroidery to fecure

a retreat.

HARDCASTLE.

Your talking of a retreat, Mr. Marlow, puts me in mind of the duke of Marlborough, when we went to befiege Denain. He firft fummoned the garrifon.

MARLOW.

Don't you think the ventre dór waistcoat will do with the plain brown?

HARDCASTLE.

He first fummoned the garrifon, which might confift of about five thoufand men

HASTINGS.

I think not: brown and yellow mix but very poorly.

HARDCASTLE.

I fay, gentlemen, as I was telling you, he fummoned the garrifon, which might confift of about five thousand men

MARLOW.

The girls like finery.

HARDCASTLE.

Which might confift of about five thousand men, well appointed with flores, ammunition, and other implements of war. Now, fays the duke of Marlborough to George Brooks, that ftood next to him. -You must have heard of George Brooks-I'll

pawn

pawn my dukedom, fays he, but I take that garrifon without fpilling a drop of blood. So

MARLOW.

What, my good friend, if you gave us a glass of punch in the mean time, it would help us to carry on the fiege with vigour.

HARDCASTLE.

Punch, Sir! (Afide.) This is the most unaccountable kind of modefty I ever met with.

MARLOW.

Yes, Sir, punch. A glafs of warm punch, after our journey, will be comfortable. This is Libertyhall, you know.

HARDCASTLE.

Here's a cup, Sir.

MARLOW.

(Afide.) So this fellow, in his Liberty-hall, will only let us have just what he pleases.

HARDCASTLE.

(Taking the cup) I hope you'll find it to your mind. I have prepared it with my own hands, and I believe you'll own the ingredients are tolerable. Will you be fo good as to pledge me, Sir? Here, Mr. Marlow, here is to our better acquaintance. (Drinks.)

MARLOW.

(Afide.) A very impudent fellow this! but he's a character, and I'll humour him a little. Sir, my fervice to you. (Drinks.)

HASTINGS.

(Afide) I fee this fellow wants to give us his company, and forgets that he's an innkeeper, before he has learned to be a gentleman.

MARLOW.

From the excellence of your cup, my old friend, I fuppofe you have a good deal of bufinefs in this part of the country. Warm work, now and then, at elections, I fuppofe.

HARDCASTLE.

No, Sir, I have long given that work over. Since our betters have hit upon the expedient of electing each other, there is no bufinefs for us that fell ale.'

HASTINGS.

So, then, you have no turn for politics I find.

HARDCASTLE.

Not in the leaft. There was a time, indeed, I fretted myself about the mistakes of government, like other people; but finding myfelf every day grow more angry, and the government growing no better, I left it to mend itfelf. Since that, I no more trouble my head about Heyder Ally or Ally. Cawn, than about Ally Croaker. Sir, my fervice to you.

HASTINGS.

So that with eating above stairs, and drinking below, with receiving your friends within, and amuíing them without, you lead a good pleasant bustling life of it.

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

I do ftir about a great deal, that's certain. Half the differences of the parish are adjusted in this very parlour.

MARLOW.

(After drinking) And you have an argument in your cup, old gentleman, better than any in Westminsterhall.

HARDCASTLE.

Aye, young gentleman, that, and a little philofophy.

MARLOW.

(Afide) Well, this is the firft time I ever heard of an innkeeper's philofophy.

HASTINGS.

So then, like an experienced general, you attack them on every quarter. If you find their reafon manageable, you attack it with your philofophy; if you find they have no reason, you attack them with this. Here's your health, my philofopher.

HARDCASTLE.

(Drinks.)

Good, very good, thank you; ha! ha! Your generalfhip puts me in mind of prince Eugene, when he fought the Turks at the battle of Belgrade. You shall hear.

MARLOW.

Inftead of the battle of Belgrade, I believe it's almoft time to talk about fupper.

What has your

philosophy got in the house for fupper?

HARD