LUCKY

THE

ESCAPE.

O'

ACT I.

SCENE 1.

Enter BRISK. Poorly dreft.

H! dear London, how the fight of thee de

lights me! Thy favory fmells and tastes this nofe and mouth of mine have long been unacquainted with. But now I hope to make up for the long faft I've been forc'd to keep; and meat and pleasure be once more familiar to me. But whether my Mafter can get admittance into his own house and eftate, is a query. For to be fure he is thought dead, and his uncle has quiet poffeffion, which may be fuch an obftacle, if fome damn'd rogue of a Lawyer has it in hand, that I may be quite starv'd, before he can prove himself to be alive. Two years abfence and poor living,

may have put him out of the knowledge of hist friends, and all our hopes depend on my finding his old fchool-fellow, and particular intimate, SIR CHARLES FRIENDLY. But where to feek for him, heaven knows.Ha! By all my hopes of better living, this is he who comes this way.

An old and faithful fervant of yours, begs you would behold this weather-beaten face.

Enter SIR CHARLES FRIENDLY.

SIR CHARLES.

What Brifk? Where haft thou hid thyself fince Trueman's death.

BRISK.

My Master's death then, I find, is univerfally believ'd.

SIR CHARLES.

What do'ft thou mean? His Uncle has had an account of his death, and enjoys his eftate.

BRISK.

Ay but, I hope, he will not long; for thank providence, my Mafter is as well as I am; I left him not ten minutes ago, to endeavour to find your worship out.

SIR CHARLES.

Trueman living! thou haft reviv'd a joy, which long has been a ftranger here! Where is he? Tell ine, that I may fly to him.

BRISK.

So the fear of ftarving, thank God, is over.Why, Sir, my Mafter is juft come poft from Cornwall, and is now at the White-Bear, and is likely to stay there, till you go to him.

Why?

SIR CHARLES.

BRISK.

Because he has not money to pay for the horses that brought us to town.

SIR CHARLES.

Poor Trueman!-Be quick, fhew me to him.

BRISK.

Pray, Sir Charles, be fo good as to excufe me; you'll be fure to find him there. I muft to the Taylor's, for both Mafter and Man are in a difhabile at prefent. Exit. Sir Charles.

Enter FAITHFUL.

BRISK.

What my dear Faithful? as gay and as welllooking as ever. What, I suppose you won't remember your old lover Brifk, in this poor drefs. Why do you eye one fo?

FAITHFUL.

I am endeavouring to reconcile the sprightly, airy Mr Brifk, to the ragged skeleton that ftands before me: Why, prythee tell me, what occafions

this metamorphofis? What have you been dangling after fome coy inconftant, fome tempting madam, who, finding your purfe and person not worth her having, has at laft difcarded you ?→ or, what is most likely, 'your fweet worship, has been caught in the woeful trap of matrimony; and thro' the increafe of family, and extravagance of spouse, you are brought to your prefent droll fituation. Ha! ah! ah!

BRISK,

You are very merry with me, you jade you! and I am not forry to find that time has had no effect on your facetious humour.

FAITHFUL.

Nor ever fhall, I hope; tho' I confess the thought of your being wedded or dead, gave me first a shock. But time, wander working time, has given me leifure to reflect; and fcorn you as much for your inconftancy as you deserve.

BRISK.

Come don't condemn me unheard-I am still the fame, tho' I confefs, appearances are against

me.

FAITHFUL.

What do you mean by appearances? Would a man, really in love, and who had affurances that his love would be return'd, be two years without feeing or writing to his mistress? 'Tis totally improbable! And all you can fay, to convince me, will be in vain; nor will I liften to any more of your deceiving tales. BRISK.

BRISK.

Nay, but you shall not leave me fo. Pray hear

me.

FAITHFUL.

I don't defire to be undeceiv'd-Sir, you are mafter of your own actions, I won't be twice cheated-Your humble fervant.

BRISK.

So, I find you will be judge, jury, and all; and poor Dismal muft not be allow'd a hearing! Or rather 'tis my prefent appearance, which is the grand obftacle to your Ladyship's attention! If that's the cafe, Madam, I am your humble fervant-I do not defire you to hear me,

FAITHFUL.

You have taken the only method to detain me, I would not be thought mercenary. So if you can give me a proof of your honor and conftancy, I believe you will find me as little changed in my inclinations as my humor; but I infift on the real fact,

BRISK.

If I lie to thee, may I be never fatter or better cloathed.

I still attend the fame Gentleman I went to Oxford with, who fell in love with a young lady that had been vifiting the Colleges, and as foon as he heard fhe was gone for London, took horse and follow'd