I

I am quite an other thing, when I am with him. don't fear the devil, bless us, almost, if he be by. Ah-had he been with me last night

Sharp. If he had, sir, what then? He could have done no more, nor perhaps have suffered so much— had he a hundred pound to lose? [Angrily.

Sir Jos. O lord, sir, by no means-but I might have saved a hundred pound. [Aside.] I meant innocently, as I hope to be saved, sir- -a damned hot fellow. [Aside.] Only as I was saying, I let him have all my ready money to redeem his great sword from limboBut, sir, I have a letter of credit to alderman Fondlewife, as far as two hundred pounds, and this afternoon you shall see I am a person, such a one as you would wish to have met with

Sharp. That you are, I'll be sworn. [Aside.] Why that's great, and like yourself.

Enter Captain BLUFF.

Sir Jos. O, here a' comes

Ay, my Hector of Troy! welcome, my bully, my back; agad, my heart has gone a pit-pat for thee.

Bluff. How now, my young knight! Not for fear, I hope; he that knows me, must be a stranger to fear. Sir Jos. Nay, agad, I hate fear, ever since I had like to have died of a fright-But

Bluff. But, look you here, boy, here's your antidote, here's your Jesuit's powder for a shaking fitBut who hast thou got with thee, is he of mettle.

[Laying his hand upon his sword.

Sir Jos. Ay, bully, a devilish smart fellow: a' will

fight like a cock.

Bluff. Say you so? then I honour him

-But

has he been abroad? for every cock will fight upon his own dunghill.

Sir Jos. I don't know, but I'll present you

Bluff. I'll recommend myself-Sir, I honour you: I understand you love fighting; I reverence a man that loves fighting, sir, I kiss your hilts.

Sharp. Sir, your servant, but you are misinformed; for unless it be to serve my particular friend, as Sir Joseph here, my country, or my religion, or in some very justifiable cause, I'm not for it.

Bluff. O lord, I beg your pardon, sir, I find you are not of my palate, you can't relish a dish of fighting, without sweet sauce. Now, I think-fighting for fighting sake's sufficient cause; fighting, to me 's religion and the laws.

Sir Jos. Ah, well said, my hero; was not that great, sir? By the Lord Harry he says true; fighting is meat, drink, and clothes to him. But, back, this gentleman is one of the best friends I have in the world, and saved my life last night-You know I told you. Bluff. Ay! Then I honour him again-Sir, may,

I crave your name?

Sharp. Ah, Sir, my name's Sharper.

Sir Jos. Pray, Mr. Sharper, embrace my backVéry well by the Lord Harry, Mr. Sharper, he's as brave as Cannibal, are not you, Bully-Back?

Sharp. Hannibal, I believe you mean, Sir Joseph,

Bluff. Undoubtedly he did, sir; faith, Hannibal was a very pretty fellow-but, Sir Joseph, comparisons are odious-Hannibal was a very pretty fellow in those days, it must be granted-Buc alas, sir! were he alive now, he would be nothing, nothing in the earth.

Sharp. How, sir! I make a doubt if there be at this day a greater general breathing.

Bluff. Oh, excuse me, sir; have you serv'd abroad, sir?

Sharp. Not I, really, sir.

Bluff. Oh, I thought so- -Why, then you can know nothing, sir; I am afraid you scarce know the history of the late war in Flanders, with all its particulars.

Sharp. Not I, sir, no more than public letters or Gazettes tell us.

Bluff. Gazette! Why there again, now-- -Why, sir, there are not three words of truth, the year round, put into the Gazette -I'll tell you a strange thing, now, as to that- -You must know, sir, I was

resident in Flanders the last campaign; had a small post there; but no matter for that-Perhaps, sir, there was scarce any thing of moment done, but an humble servant of your's, that shall be nameless, was an eye-witness of-I won't say had the greatest share in't: tho' I might say that too, since I name nobody, you know-Well, Mr. Sharper, would you think it? In all this time--as I hope for a truncheon

this rascally Gazette-writer never so much as once

mentioned me---Not once, by the wars !---Took no more notice, than as if Nol Bluff had not been in the land of the living.

Sharp. Strange!

Sir Jos. Yet, by the Lord Harry, 'tis true, Mr. Sharper; for I went every day to coffee-houses to read the Gazette myself.

Bluff. Ay, ay, no matter

-You see, Mr. Sharper,

after all I am content to retire-Live a private person ---Scipio and others have done it.

Sharp. Impudent rogue !

[Aside.

Sir Jos. Ay, this damn'd modesty of yoursAgad, if he would put in for't he might be made general himself yet.

Bluff. O, fy, no, Sir Joseph-You know I hate this. Sir Jos. Let me but tell Mr. Sharper a little, how you eat fire once out of the mouth of a cannonagad he did; those impenetrable whiskers of his have confronted flames

Bluff. Death, what do you mean, Sir Joseph ?

Sir Jos. Look you now, I tell you he's so modest he'll own nothing.

Bluff. Pish! you have put me out, I have forgot what I was about. Pray, hold your tongue, and give [Angrily.

me leave.

Sir Jos. I am dumb.

Bluff. This sword, I think, I was telling you of, Mr. Sharper-This sword, I'll maintain to be the best divine, anatomist, lawyer, or casuist in Europe; it shall divide a controversy or split a cause

Sir Jos. Nay, now I must speak; it will split a hair ; by the Lord Harry I have seen it.

Bluff. Zounds, sir, it's a lie, you have not seen it, nor shan't see it ;-Sir, I say you can't see; what d' ye say to that, now?

Sir Jos. I am blind.

Bluff. Death! had any other man interrupted me--Sir Jos. Good Mr. Sharper, speak to him; I dare not look that way.

Sharp. Captain, Sir Joseph's penitent.

Bluff. O, I am calm, sir, calm as a discharged cul. verin- -But 't was indiscreet, when you know what will provoke me-Nay, come, Sir Joseph, you know my heat's soon over.

Sir Jos. Well, I am a fool sometimes

I'm sorry.

Bluff. Enough.

-But

Sir Jos. Come, we 'll go take a glass to drown animosities. Mr. Sharper, will you partake?

Sharp. I wait on you, sir; nay, pray, captain

you are Sir Joseph's back.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Araminta's Apartment. ARAMINTA and BELINDA, BETTY waiting.

Bel. Ah! nay, dear- -pr’ythee good, dear,

sweet cousin, no more.

Oh, gad, I swear you'd make

one sick to hear you.