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if they have either good nature or good breeding, | Continue, Heav'n, a grateful heart to bless,
they know not how to tell them of. But, how With faith in friendship, and in love success.
happy am I in such a friend as Hardy, such a
mistress as Harriot!

[Exit.

ACT IV.

Enter Boy.

SCENE İ.

Enter Widow and TRUSTY.

Wid. Mr Trusty, you have, I do assure you, the same place and power in the management of my lord Brumpton's estate, as in his lifetime. I am reduced to a necessity of trusting him. [Aside.] However Tattleaid dissembles the matter, she must be privy to Lady Harriot's escape; and Fardingale is as deep as them both, and, 1 fear, will be their ruin, which it is my care and duty to prevent. Be vigilant, and you shall be rewarded. I shall employ you wholly in Lady Charlotte's affairs: she is able to pay services done for both. You have sense, and understand [Exit Widow.

me.

Trusty. Yes, I do indeed understand you, and could wish another could, with as much detestation as I do ; but my poor old lord is so strangely, so bewitchedly enamoured of her, that, even after this discovery of her wickedness, I see he could be reconciled to her; and though he is ashamed to confess to me, I know he longs to speak with her. If I tell Lord Hardy all, to make his fortune, he would not let his father be dishonoured by a public way of separation: If things are acted privately, I know she will throw us all: There is no middle way :-I must expose her, to make a re-union impracticable. jexit

Boy. There is one Mr Trusty below, would
speak with my lord.

L. Hardy. Mr Trusty,-my father's steward!
What can he have to say to me?

Camp. He is very honest, to my knowledge.
L. Hardy. I remember, indeed, when I was
turned out of the house, he followed me to the
gate, and wept over me, for which, I have heard,
he had like to have lost his place. But, however,
I must advise with you a little, about my beha-
viour to him. Let us in. Boy, bring him up hi-
ther: tell him I'll wait on him presently.-[Exit
Boy.]—I shall want you, I believe, here, Trim.
[Exeunt.

Re-enter Boy and TRUSTY.
Boy. My lord will wait on you here immedi-
ately.
[Exit.

but homely for the Earl of Brumpton. Oh, that
Trusty. 'Tis very well. These lodgings are
damned strumpet! that I should ever know my
master's wife for such. How many thousand
things does my head run back to? After my poor
father's death, the good lord took me, because
he was a captain in his regiment, and gave me
education: I was, I think, three-and-twenty when
this young lord was christened-What ado
there was about calling him Francis! [Wipes his
eyes.] These are but poor lodgings for him. I
cannot bear the joy, to think that I shall save the
family from which I have had my bread.

Enter TRIM.

Trim. Sir, my lord will wait on you immedi

ately.

Enter Lord HARDY, CAMPLEY, and TRIM. L. Hardy. I forget my own misfortunes, dear Campley, when I reflect on your success. Camp. I assure you it moderates the swell of joy that I am in, to think of your difficulties. I Trusty. Sir, 'tis my duty to wait on himhope my felicity is previous to yours. My Lady[As TRIM is going.] But, sir, are not you the Harriot gives her service to you; and we both young man that attended him at Christ Church, think it but decent to suspend our marriage till in Oxford, and have followed him ever since? your and Lady Charlotte's affairs are in the same Trim. Yes, sir, I am. posture.

L. Hardy. Where is my lady?

Camp. She is at my aunt's, my lord. But, my lord, if you don't interpose, I don't know how I shall adjust matters with Mr Trim, for leaving his mistress behind me :-I fear he'll demand satisfaction of me.

Trim. No, sir. Alas! I can know no satisfaction while she is in jeopardy! therefore would rather be put in a way to recover her, by storming the castle, or other feat of arms, like a true enamoured swain, as I am.

Trusty. Nay, sir, no harm; but you'll thrive the better for it.

Trim. I like this old fellow :-I smell more money. [Aside.]

[Exit.

Trusty. I think it is now eight years since I saw him he was not then nineteen, when I followed him to the gate, and gave him fifty guineas, which I pretended his father sent after him.

Enter Lord HARDY.

L. Hardy. Mr Trusty, I am very glad to see

1

you: you look very hale and jolly; you wear well; I am glad to see it-But your commands to me, Mr Trusty?

Trusty. Why, my lord, I presume to wait upon your lordshipMy lord, you are strangely grown: you are your father's very picture; you are he, my lord: you are the very man that looked so pleased to see me look so fine in my laced livery, to go to court. I was his page, when he was just such another as you. He kissed me afore a great many lords, and said I was a brave man's son, that had taught him to exercise his arms. I remember he carried me to the great window, and bid me be sure to keep in your mother's sight, in all my finery. She was the finest young creature: the maids of honour hated to see her at court. My lord then courted my good lady. She was as kind to me on her death-bed:-She said to me, Mr Trusty, take care of my lord's second marriage, for that child's sake she pointed as well as she could to you: you fell a-crying, and said she should not die: but she did, my lord; she left the world, and no one like her in it. Forgive me, my honoured master. [Weeps, runs to my lord, and hugs him.] I've often carried you in these arms that grasp you; they were stronger then :—but if I die to-morrow, you're worth five thousand pounds, by my gift; 'tis what I've got in the family, and I return it to you with thanks- -But, alas! do I live to see you want it?

L. Hardy. You confound me with all this tenderness and generosity.

Trusty. I'll trouble you no longer, my lord— but

L. Hardy. Call it not a trouble, for

L. Hardy. I wholly understand you:-it shall be done.

Trusty. I'm sure I am wanted this moment for your interest at home. This ring shall be the passport of intelligence from whom you send to assault us, and the remittance of it, sealed with this, shall be authentic from within the house.

L. Hardy. 'Tis very well.

Trusty. Hope all you can wish, my lord, from a certain secret relating to the estate, which I'll acquaint you with next time I see you. [Erit. L. Hardy. Your servant-This fellow's strangely honest-Ha! Will.—

Enter CAMPLEY and TRIM.

Will, don't the recruits wait for me, to see them at their parade before this house?

Trim. Yes, and have waited these three hours. L. Hardy. Go to them; I'll be there myself immediately:-we must attack with them, if the rogues are sturdy, this very evening.

Trim. I guess where-I'm overjoy'd at it. I'll warrant you they'll do it, if I command in chief. L. Hardy. I design you shall.

[TRIM runs out, jumping Camp. You seem, my lord, to be in deep meditation.

L. Hardy. I am so, but not on any thing that you may not be acquainted with.

[Exit. Enter TRIM, with a Company of ragged Fellows, with a cane.

1st Sol. Why, then, I find, Mr Trim, we shall come to blows before we see the French.

Trim. Hark'e, friend, 'tis not your affair to guess or enquire what you are going to do; 'tis only for us commanders.

2d Sol. The French! Pox!-they are but a company of scratching civet cats-They fight! Trim. Hark'e, don't bluster-Were not you a little mistaken in your facings at Steenkirk?

2d Sol. I grant it :-You know I have an antipathy to the French-I hate to see the dogsLook you here, gentlemen; I was shot quite through the body--Look you.

Trim. Pry'thee, look where it entered at your back.

2d Sol. Look you, Mr Trim, you will have your joke; we know you are a wit-But what's that to a fighting man?

Trusty. My good lord, I will not, I say, indulge myself in talking fond tales, that melt me, and interrupt my story-My business to your lordship, in one word, is this: I am in good confidence, at present, with my lady dowager, and I know she has some fears upon her, which depend upon the nature of the settlement to your disfavour; and, under the rose- -be your self—I fear your father has not had fair play for his life-be composed, my lord. What is to be done in this?-We'll not apply to public justice in this case, till we see farther; 'twill make a noise, which we must not do, if I might advise. You shall, with a detachment of your company, seize the corpse, as it goes out of the house this evening, to be interred in the country; 'twill only look like taking the administration upon yourself, and commencing a suit for the estate. She has put off the lying in state: and Lady Harriot's escape with Mr Campley makes her fear he will prove a powerful friend, both to the young ladies and your lordship.-She cannot, with decency, be so busy as when the corpse is out of the house, therefore hastens it.-I know your whole affair.-Leave the care of Lady Char--[Drinks.] How-French-pray-nay, if I find lotte to me; I'll pre-acquaint her, that she may not be frightened, and dispose of her safety, to observe the issue.

Enter KATE.
Kate. Mr Trim! Mr Trim!

Trim. Things are not as they have been, Mrs Kate:-I now pay the company-and we that pay money expect a little more ceremony.

Kate. Will your honour please to taste some right French brandy ?

Trim. Art thou sure, good woman, 'tis right?

you deceive me, who pay the men— [Drinks. Kate. Pray, good master, have you spoke to my lord about me?

Trim. I have, but you shall speak to him yourself-thou hast been a true campaigner, Kate, and we must not neglect thee-Do you sell grey pease yet of an evening, Mrs Matchlock? [Drinks again. Kate. Any thing to turn the penny; but I got more money by crying pamphlets this year, than by any thing I have done a great while-Now I am married into the company again, I design to cross the seas next year. But, master, my husband, a Temple porter, and a parliament-man's footman, last night by their talk made me think there was danger of a peace; why, they said all the prime people were against a war.

Trim. No, no, Kate, never fear, you know I keep great company; all men are for war, but some would have it abroad, and some would have it at home in their own country.

Kate. Ay, say you so?-Drink about, gentlemen, not a farthing to pay; a war is a war, be it where it will--But pray, Mr Trim, speak to my lord, that when these gentlemen have shirts I may wash for them.

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much as his honour.

L. Hardy, reading.] Gentlemen soldiers quartered in and about Guy-Court in Vinegar-Yard, in Russel-Court in Drury-Lane; belonging to the honourable Captain Hardy's company of footSo, answer to your names, and march off from the left-Corporal Swagger, march easy, that I may view you as you pass by me; drums, Simon Rule, Darby Tatoo-there's a shilling for you- -Tatoo, be always so tight: how does he keep himself so clean?

Trim. Sir, he is a tragedy-drum to one of the play-houses.

-Alexander
L. Hardy. Private gentlemen-
Cowitch, Humphrey Mundungus, William Fag-
got, Nicholas Scab, Timothy Megrim, Philip
Scratch, Nehemiah Dust, Humphrey Garbage,
Nathaniel Matchlock.

Camp. What, is Matchlock come back to the company? that's the fellow that brought me off at Steenkirk.

Trim. I tell you, if you behave well to-night, L. Hardy. No, sir, 'tis I am obliged to him you shall have a fortnight's pay each man as a for that [Offering to give him money;] there, give thee reward; but there's none of you industrious friend: you shall want for nothing, I'll there's a thousand things you might do to help out a halbert too. about this town-as to cry- -puff-puff pies. Kate. O brave me! shall I be a serjeant's lady Have you any knives or scissars to grind-or-i'faith I'll make the drums, and the corporals late in an evening, whip from Grub-street, strange wives, and company-keepers know their distance. and bloody news from Flanders-votes from Match. I was whipt from constable to conthe house of commons-buns, rare buns-stableold silver lace, cloaks, suits, or coats--old shoes, boots, or hats.--But here, here, here's my lord a-coming-here's the captain; fall back into the rank-There, move up in the centre.

Enter Lord HARDY and CAMPLEY.

L. Hardy. Let me see whether my ragged friends are ready and about me.

Kate. Ensign Campley, Ensign Campley, I am overjoyed to see your honour-ha! the world's surely altered, ha!

Camp. It is so, 'faith, Kate; why, art thou true to the cause, with the company still, honest amazon!

1

Kate. Dear soul, not a bit of pride in him; but won't your honour help me in my business with my lord?-Speak for me, noble eusign, do. Camp. Speak to him yourself, I'll second you. Kate. Noble captain, my lord, I suppose Mr Trim has told your honour about my petition: I have been a great sufferer in the service; 'tis hard for a poor woman to lose nine husbands in a war, and no notice taken; nay, three of them, alas! in the same campaign: here the woman stands that says it. I never stripped a man 'till I first tried if he could stand on his legs, and if not, I think 'twas fair plunder, except our adjutant, and he was a puppy that made my eighth husband run the gauntlet for not turning his toes

out.

L. Hardy. Well, we'll consider thec, Kate; but fall back into the rear. A roll of what? gentlemen soldiers

VOL. IV.

Trim. Ay, my lord, that's due by the courtesy of England to all that want in red coats; besides, there's an act that makes us free of all corpora tions, and that's the ceremony of it.

Camp. But what pretence had they for using you so ill, you did not pilfer?

Match. I was found guilty of being poor.
Camp. Poor devil!

L. Hardy. Timothy Ragg--Oh, Ragg! I thought when I gave you your discharge, just before the peace, we should never have had you again; how came you to list now?

Ragg. To pull down the French king.

L. Hardy. Bravely resolved-but pull your shirt into your breeches, in the mean timeJeoffrey Tatter-what's become of the skirts and buttons of your coat?

Tutter. In our last clothing, in the regiment I served in before, the colonel had one skirt before, the agent one behind, and every captain of the regiment a button.

L. Hardy. Hush, you rogue, you talk mutiny. [Smiling.

Trim. Ay, sirrah, what have you to do with more knowledge than that of your right hand from your left? [Hits him a blow on the head.

L. Hardy, Hugh Clump--Clump, thou growest a little too heavy for marching.

Trim. Ay, my lord, but if we don't allow him the pay, he'll starve, for he's too lame to get into the hospital.

L. Hardy. Richard Bumpkin: Ha! a perfect country hick-how came you, friend, to be a soldier?

M

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be a monosyllable! But the foreign news will write me, I suppose, Monsieur or Chevalier Trimont. Seigneur Trimoni, or Count Trimuntz, in the German army, I shall perhaps be called; ay, that's all the plague and comfort of us great men, they do so toss our names about-But, gentlemen, you are now under my commandHuzza! thrice-faith, this is very pleasing, this grandeur! why, after all, it is upon the neck of such scoundrels as these gentlemen, that we great captains build our renown--A million or two of these fellows make an Alexander, and as that my predecessor said in the tragedy of him on the very same occasion, going to storm for his Statira, so do I for my dear sempstress, Madam d'Epingle.

When I rush on, sure none will dare to stay; 'Tis beauty calls, and glory leads the way.

[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.

Enter TRUSTY and Lord BRUMPTON. Trusty. She knows no moderation in her good fortune--You may hear her and Tattleaid laugh aloud-She is so wantonly merry.

L. Brump. But this of Lady Charlotte is the very utmost of all ill-Pray read-but I must sit-my late fit of the gout makes me act with pain and constraint-let me see

L. Brump. I am glad he has my pretty tattlerthe cheerful innocent--Harriot- -I hope he'll be good to her--he's good-natured, and well-bred

Trusty. But, my lord, she was very punctual in ordering the funeral- -she bade Sable be sure to lay you deep enough- -she had heard such stories of the wicked sextons taking up people-but I wish, my lord, you would please to hear her and Tattleaid once more.

L. Brump. I know to what thy zeal tendsTrusty. She writ it by the page, who brought But I tell you, since you cannot be convinced but it me, as I had wheedled him to do all their pas-that I have still a softness for her behold sages. her now with the same eyes that you doshe has a great wit, but a little mind-something ever wanting to make her appear my lady Brumpton- -she has nothing natively great. You see I love her not talk with judgment of

L. Brump. [Reads.]- You must watch the occasion of the servants being gone out of the house with the corpse: Tattleaid shall conduct you to my lady Charlotte's apartmentaway with her, and be sure you bed herYour affectionate sister,

MARY BRUMPTON.' Brumpton! The creature-She called as Frank's mother was!-This is to forget her very humanity-her very sex.-Where is my poor boy? where's Frank?-does not he want?-how has he lived all this time?--not a servant, I warrant, to attend him--what company can he keep?-what can he say of his father?"

Trusty. Though you made him not your heir, he is still your son and has all the duty and tenderness in the world for your memory

L. Brump. It is impossible, Trusty, it is impossible- I will not rack myself with the thought. That one I have injured can be so very good!-Keep me in countenance-tell me he hates my very name would not assume my title, because it descends from me. What's his company?

Trusty. Young Tom Campley: they are never

asunder.

|

her

Trusty. I see it, my good lord, with joy I see it- --nor care how few things I see more in this world--my satisfaction is completewelcome old age--welcome decay-'tis not decay, but growth to a later being.

[Exit, leading L. BRUMPTON. Re-enter TRUSTY, meeting CABINET. Trusty. I have your letter, Mr Cabinet.

Cab. I hope, sir, you'll believe it was not in my nature to be guilty of so much baseness; but being born a gentleman, and bred out of all road of industry, in that idle manner too many are, I soon spent a small patrimony; and being debauched by luxury I fell into the narrow mind to dread no infamy like poverty-which made me guilty, as that paper tells you-and had I not writ to you, I am sure I never could have told you of it.

Trusty. It is an ingenuous, pious penitence in you-my Lord Hardy-(to whom this secret is inestimable) is a noble natured man-and you shall find him such-I give you my word

Tat. Ha ha ha! I swear to you, madam your ladyship's wit will choke me one time or other--I had like to have swallowed all the pins in my mouth

Wid. [A noise within.]-Ha! what noise is

Cab. I know, sir, your integrityTrusty. But pray be there-all that you have to do is to ask for the gentlewoman at the house, at my Lord Hardy's-she'll take care of youAnd pray have patience, where she places you, 'till you see me.[Erit CAB.] My lord Har-that-that noise of fighting-Run, I say-Whidy's being at an house where they receive lodgers, has allowed me convenience to place every body I think necessary to be by at her discoveryThis prodigious welcome secret! I see, however impracticable honest actions may appear, we may go on with just hope,

All that is ours, is to be justly bent,

event.

And Heaven in its own cause will bless th' [Exit. Enter Widow in deep mourning, with a dead squirrel on her arm, and TATTLEAID. Wid. It must be so-It must be your carelessness-What had the page to do in my bedchamber?

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Tut. Indeed, madam, I cann't tell-But I came in and catch'd him wringing round his neck—Wid. Tell the rascal from me, he shall romp with the footmen no more-No-I'll send the rogue in a frock to learn Latin among the dirty boys that come to good-I will-Poor harmless animal-pretty ev'n in death.

Death might have overlook'd thy little lifeHow could'st thou, Robin, leave thy nuts and me?

Cheerfully didst bear thy little chain,

Content-So I but fed thee with this hand. Tat. Alas! alas! we are all mortal: consider, madam, my lord's dead too.

Wid. Ay, but our animal friends do wholly die; an husband or relation, after death, is rewarded or tormented-that's some consolationI know her tears are false, for she hated Robin always. [Aside.] But she's a well-bred dishonest servant, that never speaks a painful truth-But I'll resolve to conquer my affliction-Never speak more of Robin- -Hide him thereBut to my dress-How soberly magnificent is black-and the train- wonder how widows came to wear such long tails?

Tat. Why, madam, the stateliest of all creatures has the longest tail, the peacock; nay, it has of all creatures the finest mien too-except your ladyship, who are a phœnix

Wid. Ho! brave Tattleaid—But did not you observe what a whining my lady Sly made, when she had drank a little? Did you believe her? Do you think there are really people sorry for their husbands?

Tut. Really, madam, some men do leave their fortunes in such distraction, that I believe it may be[Speaks with pins in her mouth. Wid. But, I swear I wonder how it came up to dress us thus--But I protest I wonder how two of us thus clad can meet with a grave face-methinks they should laugh out like two fortuneteilers, or two opponent lawyers that know each other for cheats.

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ther are you going-What, are you mad-Will you leave me alone-Cann't you stir-What, you cann't take your message with you-Whatever 'tis, I suppose you are not in the plot ; not you!-Nor that now they're breaking open my house for Charlotte-Not you-Go see what's the matter, I say I have nobody I can trust -One [Exit TATTLEAID] minute I think this wretch honest, and the next false-Whither shall I turn me! [Re-entering.

Tat. Madam!--Madam! Wid. Madam, madam, will you swallow me gaping?—

Tat. Pray, good my lady, be not so out of humour-But there is a company of rogues have set upon our servants and the burial man's, while others ran away with the corpse

Wid. How, what can this mean! what can they do with it! Well, 'twill save the charge of interment-But to what end?

Enter TRUSTY, and a Servant bloody and dirty,

hauling in CLUMP and BUMPKIN.

Serv. I'll teach you better manners-I'll poor soldier you-you dog you, I will-Madam, here are two of the rascals that were in the gang of rogues that carried away the corpse.

Wid. We'll examine them apart-Well, sirrah, what are you? whence came you? what's your name, sirrah?

(CLUMP makes signs as a dumb man. Serv. O, you dog, you could speak loud enough just now, sirrah, when your brother rogues mauled Mr Sable- -we'll make you speak, sirrah.

Wid. Bring the other fellow hither-I suppose you will own you knew that man before you saw him at my door?

face.

Clump. I think I have seen the gentleman's [Bowing to BUMPKIN, Wid. The gentleman's? the villain mocks me -But, friend, you look like an honest man, what are you? whence came you? What are you, friend?

Bump. I'se at present but a private gentleman, but I was listed to be a serjeant in my lord Har dy's company- -I'se not ashamed of my name, nor of my koptin

Wid. Leave the room all. [Exeunt all but TRUSTY and TATTLEAID.]—Mr Trusty-Lord Hardy! O that impious young man-thus, with the sacrilegious hands of ruffians to divert his father's ashes from their urn, and rest-I suspect this fellow. [Aside.] Mr Trusty, I must desire you to be still near me-I'll know the bottom of this, and go to Lord Hardy's lodgings, as I am, instantly-Tis but the backside of this street, Í think-Let a coach be called-Tattleaid, as soon as I am gone, conduct my brother and his friends

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