ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE I.

LADY AMARANTH'S House.

Enter LADY AMARANTH, reading.

Lady Am. The fanciful flights of my pleasant cousin enchant my senses. This book he gave me to read containeth good moral. The man Shakspeare, that did write it, they call immortal; he must indeed have been filled with a divine spirit. I understand, from my cousin, the origin of plays were religious mysteries; that, freed from the superstition of early, and the grossness of latter, ages, the stage is now the vehicle of delight and morality. If so, to hear a good play, is taking the wholesome draught of precept from a golden cup, embossed with gems; yet, my giving countenance to have one in my house, and even to act in it myself, prove the ascendancy, that my dear Harry hath over my heart-Ephraim Smooth is much scandalized at these doings.

Enter EPHRAIM.

Eph. This mansion is now the tabernacle of Baal.
Lady Am. Then abide not in it.

Eph. "Tis full of the wicked ones.

Lady Am. Stay not amongst the wicked ones.

Eph. I must shut mine ears.

[Loud laughing without.

Lady Am. And thy mouth also, good Ephraim. I have bidden my cousin Henry to my house, and I

will not set bounds to his mirth to gratify thy spleen, and show mine own inhospitality.

Eph. Why dost thou suffer him to put into the hands of thy servants books of tragedies, and books of comedies, prelude, interlude, yea, all lewd. My spirit doth wax wrath. I say unto thee a playhouse is the school for the old dragon, and a playbook the primer of Belzebub.

Lady Am. This is one; mark! [Reads.] "Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, the marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, become them with one half so good a grace as mercy doth. Oh, think on that, and mercy then will breathe within your lips like man new made !"-Doth Belzebub speak such words?

Eph. Thy kinsman has made all the servants

actors.

Lady Am. To act well is good service.

Eph. Here cometh the damsel for whom my heart yearneth.

Enter JANE, reading a paper joyfully.

Jane. Oh, ma'am, his honour the 'squire says the play's to be "As you like it."

Eph. I like it not.

Jane. He's given me my character. I'm to be Miss Audrey, and brother Sim's to be William of the forest, as it were. But how am I to get my part

by heart?

Lady Am. By often reading it.

Jane. Well, I don't know but that's as good as any other. But I must study my part.

us joy."

"The gods give

[Exit.

Eph. Thy maidens skip like young kids.

Lady Am. Then do thou go skip with them.

Eph. Mary, thou shou'd'st be obey'd in thine own house, and I will do thy bidding.

Lady Am. Ah, thou hypocrite! To obey is easy when the heart commands.

Enter ROVER, pushing by EPHRAIM.

Rover. Oh, my charming cousin, how agree you and Rosalind? Are you almost perfect? "Eh, what, all a-mort, old Clytus?" "Why, you're like an angry fiend broke in among the laughing gods."Come, come, I'll have nothing here, but "Quips and cranks, and wreathed smiles, such as dwell on Hebe's cheek." [Looking at LADY AMARANTH. Lady Am. He says we mustn't have this amuse

ment.

Rover." But I'm a voice potential, double as the Duke's, and I say we must."

Eph. Nay.

Rover. Yea: " By Jupiter, I swear, aye."

Eph. I must shut my ears.

[Music without.

The man of sin rub

beth the hair of the horse to the bowels of the cat.

Enter LAMP, with a Violin.

Lamp. Now, if agreeable to your ladyship, we'll go over your song.

Eph. I will go over it.

[Snatches the book from LADY AMARANTH, throws it on the ground, and steps on it. Rover. Trample on Shakspeare!

"You sacri

legious thief, that, from a shelf the precious diadem stole, and put it in thy pocket!" [Takes up the book and presents it again to LADY AMARANTH.] Silence, "thou owl of Crete," and hear the "Cuckoo's song." Lady Am. To practise it I'm content.

[LAMP begins to play. EPHRAIM jostles

him, and puts him out of tune.

Lamp. Why, what's that for, my dear sir?

Eph. Friend, this is a land of freedom, and I've

as much right to move my elbow as thou hast to move thine. [ROVER pushes him.] Why dost thou so friend?

Rover. Friend, this is a land of freedom, and I have as much right to move my elbow, as thou hast to move thine.

[Mimicking, shoves EPHRAIM out. Lady Am. But, Harry, do your people of fashion act these follies themselves.

Rover. Ay, and scramble for the top parts as eager as for star, ribband, place, or pension. Lamp, decorate the seats out smart and theatrical, and drill the servants that I've given the small parts to

[Exit LAMP. Lady Am. I wished for some entertainment, (in which gay people now take delight,) to please those I have invited; but we'll convert these follies into a charitable purpose. Tickets for this day shall be delivered unto my friends gratis; but money to their amount, I will, from my own purse (after rewarding our assistants) distribute amongst the indigent of the village. Thus, whilst we please ourselves, and perhaps amuse our friends, we shall make the poor happy. [Exit.

Rover. An angel! If Sir George doesn't soon arrive, to blow me, I may, I think, marry her angelic ladyship; but will that be honest? She's nobly born, though I suspect I had ancestors too, if I knew who they were. I certainly entered this house the poorest wight in England, and what must she imagine when I am discovered? That I am a scoundrel; and, consequently, though I should possess her hand and fortune, instead of loving, she'll despise me [Sits down.] I want a friend now, to consult-deceive her I will not. Poor Dick Buskin wants money more than myself, yet this is a measure I'm sure he'd scorn. No, no, I must not.—

Enter HARRY.

Harry. Now I hope my passionate father will be convinced that this is the first time I was ever under this roof. Eh, what beau is here? Astonishing! My old strolling friend!

[Unperceived, sits by ROVER. Rover. Heigho! I don't know what to do.

Harry. [In the same tone.] " Nor what to say." Rover. [Turns.] Dick Buskin! My dear fellow! Ha, ha, ha! Talk of the devil, and-I was just thinking of you-'pon my soul, Dick, I'm so happy to see you. [Shakes hands cordially. Harry. But, Jack, eh, how came you to find me out?

Rover. Found you ! I'm sure I wonder how the deuce you found me out. Ah, the news of my intended play has brought you.

Harry. He doesn't know as yet who I am, so I'll carry it on. [Aside.] Then you too have broke your engagement with Truncheon, at Winchester; figuring it away in your stage clothes too. Really, tell us what you are at here, Jack?

Rover. Will you be quiet with your Jacking? I'm now 'Squire Harry.

Harry. What?

Rover. I've been pressed into this service by an old man of war, who found me at the inn, and, insisting I'm son to a Sir George Thunder, here, in that character, I flatter myself I have won the heart of the charming lady of this house.

Harry. Now the mystery's out. Then it's my friend Jack has been brought here for me. [Aside.] Do you know the young gentleman they take you for? Rover. No; but I flatter myself he is honoured in his representative.

Harry. Upon my soul, Jack, you're a very high fellow.