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Gib. He's safe enough; I have fairly entered him, and he's more than half seas over already-But such a parcel of scoundrels are got about him there, that, egad, I was asham'd to be seen in their company.

Bon. 'Tis now twelve, as the saying is gentlemen, you must set out at one.

Gib. Hounslow, do you and Bagshot see our arms fixed, and I'll come to you presently.

Houns, and Bag We will.

[Exeunt HOUNSLOW and BAGSHOT. Gib. Well, my dear Bonny, you assure me that Scrub is a coward.

Bon. A chicken, as the saying is-you'll have no creature to deal with but the ladies.

Gib. And I can assure you, friend, there's a great deal of address and good manners in robbing a lady: I am the most a gentleman that way that ever travelled the road.--But, my dear Bonny, this prize will be a galleon, a Vigo business—I warrant you, we shall bring off three or four thousand pounds.

Bon. In plate, jewels, and money, as the saying is, you may.

Gib. Why, then, Tyburn, I defy thee: I'll get up to town, sell off my horse and arms, buy myself some pretty employment in the law, and be as snug and as honest as e'er a long gown of them all.

Bon. And what think you, then, of my daughter Cherry for a wife?

Gib. Lookye, my dear Bonny, Cherry is the goddess I adore, as the song goes; but it is a maxim, that man and wife should never have it in their power to hang one another; for, if they should, the Lord have mercy upon them both.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.

The Inn.

Knocking without.

Enter BONIFACE.

Bon. Coming, coming-a coach and six foaming horses at this time o'night! some great man, as the saying is, for he scorns to travel with other people.

Enter SIR CHARLES FREEMAN.

Sir C. What, fellow! a public house, and abed when other people sleep?

Bon. Sir, I an't abed, as the saying is.

Sir C. I see that, as the saying is! Is Mr. Sullen's family abed, think ye?

is;

Bon. All but the 'squire himself, sir, as the saying he's in the house.

Sir C. What company has he?

Bon. Why, sir, there's the constable, Mr. Gage, the exciseman, the hunch-backed barber, and two or three other gentlemen.

Sir. C. I find my sister's letters gave me the true picture of her spouse.

Enter SULLEN, drunk.

Bon. Sir, here's the 'squire.

Sul. The puppies left me asleep-sir.

Sir C. Well, sir.

>

Sul. Sir, I am an unfortunate man-I have three thousand pounds a year, and I can't get a man to drink a cup of ale with me.

Sir C. That's very hard.

Sul. Ay, sir,-and unless you have pity upon me, and smoke one pipe with me, I must e'en go home to my wife, and i had rather go to the devil by half. Sir C. But I presume, sir, you won't see your wife to-night, she'll be gone to bed- -you don't use to

lie with your wife in that pickle.

Sul. What! not lie with my wife! Why, sir, do you take me for an atheist, or a rake?

Sir C. If you hate her, sir, I think you had better lie from her.

Sul. I think so too, friend

-but I am a justice of peace, and must do nothing against the law.

Sir C. Law! as I take it, Mr. Justice, nobody observes law for law's sake, only for the good of those for whom it was made.

Sul. But if the law orders me to send you to gaol, you must lie there, my friend.

Sir C. Not unless I commit a crime to deserve it. Sul. A crime! oons, an't I married?

Sir C. Nay, sir, if you call marriage a crime, you must disown it for a law.

Sul. Eh!-I must be acquainted with you, sir,but, sir, I should be very glad to know the truth of this matter.

Sir C. Truth, sir, is a profound sea, and few there be that dare wade deep enough to find out the bottom on't. Besides, sir, I am afraid the line of your understanding mayn't be long enough.

Sul. Lookye, sir, I have nothing to say to your sea of truth; but if a good parcel of land can entitle a man to a little truth, I have as much as any he in the county.

Bon. I never heard your worship, as the saying is, talk so much before.

Sul. Because I never met with a man that I liked before.

Bon. Pray, sir, as the saying is, let me ask question are not man and wife one flesh?

you one

Sir C. You and your wife, Mr. Guts, may be one flesh, because you are nothing else but rational creatures have minds that must be united.

Sul. Minds!

Sir C. Ay, minds, sir; don't you think that the mind takes place of the body?

Sui. In some people.

Sir C. Then the interest of the master must be consulted before that of his servant.

Sul. Sir, you shall dine with me to-morrow Oons, I always thought that we were naturally one.

Sir C. Sir, I know that my two hands are naturally one, because they love one another, kiss one another, help one another in all the actions of life; but I could not say so much if they were always at cuffs.

Sul. Then 'tis plain that we are two.

Sir C. Why don't you part with her, sir?

Sul. Will you take her, sir?

Sir C. With all my heart.

Sul. You shall have her to-morrow morning, and a venison pasty into the bargain.

Sir C. You'll let me have her fortune too?

Sul. Fortune! why, sir, I have no quarrel to her fortune--I only hate the woman, sir, and none but the woman shall go.

Sir C. But her fortune, sir

Sul. Can you play at whist, sir?

Sir C. No, truly, sir.

Sul. Not at all-fours?

Sir C. Neither.

Sul. Oons! where was this man bred? [Aside.] Burn me, sir, I can't go home; 'tis but two o'clock.

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Sir C. For half an hour, sir, if you please-but you must consider 'tis late.

Sul. Late! that is the reason I can't go to bedCome, sir[Exeunt. Enter CHERRY; she runs across the Stage, and knocks at AIMWELL'S Chamber Door. Enter AIMWELL.

Aim. What's the matter? you tremble, child; you are frighted!

Cher. No wonder, sir-but, in short, sir, this very minute a gang of rogues are gone to rob my Lady Bountiful's house.

Aim. How !

Cher. I dogged them to the very door, and left them breaking in.

Aim. Have you alarmed any body else with the news?

Cher. No, no, sir; I wanted to have discovered the whole plot, and twenty other things, to your man, Martin; but I have searched the whole house, and can't find him; where is he?

Aim. No matter, child; will you guide me immediately to the house?

Cher. With all my heart, sir: my Lady Bountiful is my godmother, and I love Mrs. Dorinda so well— Aim. Dorinda!, the name inspires me! the glory and the danger shall be all my own- -Come, my life, let me but get my sword. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Bedchamber in LADY BOUNTIFUL'S House.

MRS. SULLEN and DORINDA discovered; a Table and Lights.

Dor. 'Tis very late, sister; no news of your spouse

yet?

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