he will take a drubbing with as little noise as a pulpit cushion.

Sharp. His name, and I have done.

Bell. Why, that, to pass it current too, he has gilded with a title; he is called Captain Bluff.

Sharp. Well, I'll endeavour his acquaintance-you steer another course, are bound

For love's island; I for the golden coast.
May each succeed in what he wishes most.

[Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I.

Enter Sir JOSEPH WITTOL; SHARPER following.

Sharper.

SURE that's he, and alone.

Sir Jos. Um-Ay, this, this is the very damned place: the inhuman cannibals, the bloodyminded villains, would have butcher'd me last night. No doubt, they would have flea'd me alive, have sold my skin, and devoured me.

Sharp. How's this!

Sir Jos. An it hadn't been for a civil gentleman as came by and frighted 'em away-but, egad, I durst not stay to give him thanks.

Sharp. This must be Bellmour, he means- -Ha! I have a thought.

Sir Jos. Zook, would the captain would come the

very remembrance makes me quake; egad, I shall never be reconciled to this place heartily.

Sharp. 'Tis but trying, and being where I am at worst; now luck!-Curs'd fortune! this must be the place, this damn'd unlucky place

Sir Jos. Agad, and so 't is Why here has been more mischief done, I perceive.

Sharp. No, 'tis gone, 't is lost-ten thousand devils on that chance which drew me hither! Ay, here, just here; this spot to me is hell; nothing to be found, but the despair of what I 've lost.

Sir Jos. Poor gentleman

[Looking about as in search.

-By the lord Harry, I'll

stay no longer, for I have found too

Sharp. Ha! who's that has found? What have

found? restore it quickly, or by

you

Sir Jos. Not I, sir, not I, as I've a soul to be saved, I have found nothing but what has been to my loss, as I may say, and as you were saying, sir.

Sharp. O, your servant, sir, you are safe then it seems; 't is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Well, you may rejoice over my ill fortune, since it paid the price of your ransom.

Sir Jos. rejoice! agad, not I, sir. I'm very sorry for your loss, with all my heart, blood, and guts, sir, and if you did but know me, you'd ne'er say I were so ill-natur'd.

Sharp. Know you! Why, can you be so ungratefu! to forget me!

Sir Jos. O, lord, forget him! No, no, sir, I don't

forget you

because I never saw your face before,

agad. Ha, ha, ha.

Sharp. How!

Sir Jos. Stay, stay, sir, let me recollectdamn'd angry fellow

[Angrily. -he's a

-I believe I had better remember him, till I can get out of his sight; but out o' sight out o' mind.

Sharp. Methought the service I did you last night, sir, in preserving you from those ruffians, might have taken better root in your shallow memory.

Sir Jos. Gads-daggers-belts-blades and scabbards, this is the very gentleman! How shall I make him a return suitable to the greatness of his merit-I had a pretty thing to that purpose, if he han't frighted it out of my memory. Hem! hem! Sir, I most submissively implore your pardon for my transgression of ingratitude and omission; having my entire dependence, sir, upon the superfluity of your goodness, which, like an inundation, will, I hope, totally emerge the recollection of my error, and leave me floating in your sight, upon the full blown bladders of repentance-by the help of which, I shall once more hope to swim into your favour. [Bows. Sharp. So-h, O, sir, I am easily pacify'd; the acknowledgment of a gentleman

Sir Jos. Acknowledgment! Sir, I am all over acknowledgment, and will not stick to shew it in the greatest extremity, by night or by day, in sickness, or in health, winter or summer; all seasons and occa sions shall testify the reality and gratitude of your

superabundant humble servant, Sir Joseph Wittol, knight. Hem! hem!

Sharp. Sir Joseph Wittol!

Sir Jos. The same, sir, of Wittol-hall, in Comitatu, Bucks.

Sharp. Is it possible! Then I am happy to have obliged the mirror of knighthood and pink of courtesy in the age. Let me embrace you.

Sir Jos. O lord, sir!

Sharp. My loss I esteem as a trifle, repaid with interest, since it has purchas'd me the friendship and acquaintance of the person in the world whose character I admire.

Sir Jos. You are only pleased to say so, sirif I may be so bold, what is that loss you mentioned ?

But pray,

Sharp. O, term it no longer so, sir. In the scuffle, last night, I only dropt a bill of a hundred pound, which, I confess, I came half despairing to recover i but thanks to my better fortune

Sir Jos. You have found it, sir, then it seems; I profess I'm heartily glad

Sharp. Sir, your humble servant—I don't question but you are; that you have so cheap an opportunity of expressing your gratitude and generosity. Since the paying so trivial a sum, will wholly acquit you and doubly engage me.

Sir Jos. What a dickens does he mean by a trivial sum? [Aside.] But han't you found it, sir?

Sharp. No otherwise, I vow to God, but in my hopes in you, sir.

Sir Jos. Humh.

Sharp. But that's sufficient- ————’Twere injustice to doubt the honour of Sir Joseph Wittol.

Sir Jos. O, lord, Sir.

Sharp. You are above, I'm sure, a thought so low, to suffer me to lose what was ventured in your service. Nay, 't was in a manner— -paid down for your deliverance; 't was so much lent you-and you scorn, I'll say that for you

Sir Jos. Nay, I'll say that for myself, with your leave, sir, I do scorn a dirty thing. But, agad, I'm a little out of pocket at present,

Sharp, 'Pshaw, you can't want a hundred pound, Your word is sufficient any where. 'T is but borrowing so much dirt, you have large acres, and can soon repay it-Money is but dirt, Sir Joseph-mere dirt.

Sir Jos. But I profess, 'tis a dirt I have washed my hands of at present; I have laid it all out upon my back. Sharp. Are you so extravagant in clothes, Sir Joseph ? Sir Jos. Ha, ha, ha, a very good jest, I profess; ha, ha, ha, a very good jest, and I did not know that I had said it, and that's a better jest than t'other. 'Tis a sign you and I h'a'nt been long acquainted; you have lost a good jest for want of knowing me-I only mean a friend of mine, whom I call my back; he sticks as close to me, and follows me through all dangershe is indeed back, breast, and head-piece, as it were, to me-agad, he's a brave fellow-Pauh,