implements of war. Now, says the Duke of Marlborough to George Brooks, that stood next to him-you must have heard of George Brooks—“ I'll pawn my dukedom," says he, "but I take that garrison without spilling a drop of blood." So

Mar. What? My good friend, if you give us a glass of punch in the meantime, it would help us to carry on the siege with vigour.

Hard. Punch, sir!-This is the most unaccountable kind of modesty I ever met with.5 [Aside.]

Mar. Yes, sir, punch. A glass of warm punch after our journey will be comfortable."

[Enter Servant, with a tankard.]

This is Liberty-hall, you know.

Hard. Here's a cup, sir.

Mar. So this fellow, in his Liberty-hall, will only let us have just what he pleases.8 [Aside to HAST.]

Hard. [Taking the cup.] I hope you'll find it to your mind. I have prepared it with my own hands, and I believe you'll own the ingredients are tolerable. Will you be so good as to pledge me,10 sir? Here, Mr. Marlow, here is to our better acquaintance.12 [Drinks and gives the cup to MARLOW.]

Mar. A very impudent fellow this ;13 but he's a character, 14 and I'll humour him a little. [Aside.] Sir, my service to you.

ta

de.

15

Hast. I see this fellow wants to give us 16 his company,

1 et de tout ce qui est nécessaire à querre.

3

To hear of,' entendre parler

que;

take.'

and the future, 'shall

and forgets that he's an innkeeper, before he has learned to be a gentleman.1 [Aside.]

Mar. From the excellence of your cup, my old friend, I suppose you have a good deal of business in this part of the country.2 Warm work, now and then, at elections, I suppose. [Gives the tankard to HARDCASTLE.]

Hard. No, sir, I have long given that work over. Since our betters have hit upon the expedient of electing each other, there's no business for us that sell ale.5 [Gives the tankard to HASTINGS.]

Hast. So you have no turn for politics, I find.

Hard. Not in the least. There was a time, indeed, I fretted myself about the mistakes of government, like other people; but finding myself every day grow more angry, and the government growing no better,7 I left it to mend itself. Since that, I no more trouble my head about who's in or who's out,10 than I do about John Nokes or Tom Stiles. So my service to

you.

Hast. So that, with eating above stairs and drinking below, with receiving your friends within, and amusing 12 them without, you lead a good, pleasant, bustling life of

it, 13

Hard. I do stir about a good deal,14 that's certain. Half the differences of the parish are adjusted in this very parlour.

Mar. [After drinking.] And you have an argument in

1 les manières d'un homme comme il faut.

2 je m'imagine que vous devez avoir beaucoup à faire (or, beaucoup de besogne) dans cet endroit.

Sans doute (or, Je suppose) que vous travaillez chaudement aux élections de temps en temps?

4 See page 48, note 13.

5 Turn, there is nothing more to do for us (page 65, note 2) landlords (propriétaires, here), who sell

our ale.'

6 Ainsi donc, ce que je vois, vous n'avez aucun goût pour la politique.

7 sans que le gouvernement en allat mieux.

8 s'amender tout seul.

9 je ne me mets plus en peine de savoir.

10 qui est au pouvoir et qui n'y est pas.

11 avec ceux qui mangent au premier, et ceux qui boivent au rez-dechaussée.

12 between the occupation of receiving and that of amusing.'

13 Leave these two words out. 14 I give myself much movement.'

your cup, old gentleman, better than any in Westminster-hall.2

Hard. Ay, young gentleman, that, and a little philosophy.

Mar. Well, that is the first time I ever heard of an innkeeper's philosophy. [Aside.]

Hast. So then, like an experienced general, you attack them on every quarter. If you find their reason manageable, you attack them with your philosophy; if you find they have no reason, you attack them with this. Here's your health, my philosopher. [Drinks.]

Hard. Good, very good; thank you; ha! ha! Your generalship puts me in mind of Prince Eugene, when he fought the Turks at the battle of Belgrade. You shall hear.5

Mar. Instead of the battle of Belgrade, I think it's almost time to talk about supper. What has your philosophy got in the house for supper?

Hard. For supper, sir?-Was ever such a request to a man in his own house? [Aside.]

Mar. Yes, sir, supper, sir ;7 I begin to feel an appetite.8 I shall make devilish work to-night in 10 the larder, I promise you.

Hard. Such a brazen dog sure never my eyes beheld.11 [Aside.] Why, really, 12 sir, as for supper, I can't well tell.13 My Dorothy and the cookmaid settle these things between I leave these kind of things entirely to them. Mar. You do, do Hard. Entirely. By-the-by,15 I believe they are in

them.

you

214

actual conversation upon what's for supper this moment in the kitchen.

Mar. Then I beg they'll admit me as one of their privycouncil. It's a way I have got.1 When I travel, I

always choose to regulate my own supper.

be called. No offence, I hope, sir.2

Let the cook

Hard. O no, sir, none in the least:3 yet, I don't know how, our Bridget, the cookmaid, is not very communicative upon these occasions. Should we send for her, she might scold us all out of the house.5

6

Hast. Let's see the list of the larder, then. I always match my appetite to my bill of fare.7

Mar. [To HARDCASTLE, who looks at them with surprise.] Sir, he's very right, and it's my way too.

Hard. Sir, you have a right to command here. Here,9 Roger, bring us the bill of fare 10 for to-night's supper: I believe it's drawn out. Your manner, Mr. Hastings, puts me in mind of my uncle, Colonel Wallop. It was a saying of his, that no man was sure of his supper till he had eaten it. [Servant brings in the bill of fare, and exit.]

Hast. All upon the high ropes !11 His uncle a12 colonel ! We shall soon hear of his mother being a justice 13 of peace. [Aside.] But let's hear the bill of fare.

Mar. [Perusing.] What's here? For the first course; for the second course; for the dessert.-The devil,14 sir! Do you think we have brought down the whole Joiners' Company, or the corporation 15 of Bedford, to eat up such

a supper? Two or three little things, clean and comfortable, will do.

Hast. But let's hear it.

Mar. [Reading.] For the first course: at the top, a pig and1 prune sauce.

Mar. And d- your prune sauce, say I.

Hard. And yet, gentlemen, to men that are hungry pig, with prune sauce, is very good eating.3-Their impudence confounds me. [Aside.] Gentlemen, you are my guests, make what alterations you please.* Is there anything else you wish to retrench or alter, gentlemen?

Mar. Item: a pork pie, a boiled rabbit and 5 sausages, a florentine, a shaking pudding, and a dish of tiff—tafftaffety cream.6

Hast. Confound your made dishes! I shall be as much at a loss 8 in this house, as at a green and yellow dinner at the French ambassador's table. I'm for plain eating.

Hard. I'm sorry, gentlemen, that I have nothing you like; but if there be anything you have a particular fancy to

12

Mar. Why, really,10 sir, your bill of fare is so exquisite, that any one part of it is full as good as another. Send us what you please. So much for supper: 11 and now to see that our beds are aired, and properly taken care of. Hard. I entreat you'll leave all that to me.1 You shall not stir a step.

13

Mar. Leave that to you! I protest, sir, you must excuse me, I always look to these things myself.14