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shake off, as that obstinate, effeminate mischief, love.

Fide. Love, sir!-did you name love? Man. No, no! Prithee away! Begone!-I had almost discovered my shame, my weakness; which must draw on me the derision even of this boy.

Fide. There is something, sir, that makes you uneasy: am I not worthy to be acquainted with the cause?

Man. What cause, child? Nothing makes me uneasy; a little involuntary thoughtfulness, that's all. But you say you met somebody in the park just now; who was it?

Man. It concerns more than my life—my ho

nour.

Fide. Doubt me not, sir.

Man. And do not discover it by too much fear of discovering-Do ye mark?-But, above all things, take care, that Freeman find it not out. Fide. I warrant you, sir.

Man. Then, know, I love Olivia; doat on her: her ingratitude and disdain, like oil thrown into the flames, have made my passion burn the fier

cer.

Fide. Oh, Heavens !

Man. You say she met you just now, and wanted you to go home with her, in order to commuFide. Why, really, sir, on second thoughts, Inicate something: who knows what that might don't know how to mention her name to you; but it was that creature, that wretch, that

Man. That who? Who is it you are going to speak of now, that you preface your discourse with all this bitterness of invective?

Fide. Why, sir, that monster of ingratitude, Olivia !

Man. Olivia!

Fide. Yes, sir.

Man. Well, and how?

Fide. Nay, not much, sir; only she called me over to her as I was crossing the Mall, and would feign have had me gone home to her house, where she had something to communicate; but, for my part, I could hardly bear to look at her, much less afford her an opportunity for conversation. Pray, sir, don't you think she has a most forbidding countenance?

Man. I cannot say I ever observed it. Fide. Then her shape is by no means one of the best.

Man. Indeed!

Fide. But I hope, sir, your eyes are now as open to her deformities, as they must be to her perfidiousness; and that you will never think of her any more.- -But why do I mention that?— You never can think of her without bringing your good sense, nay, your reputation, in question: for after such unworthy, such infamous usage

Man. Confusion! Who told you, sir, she had used me ill?

Fide. Why, sir, was not I witness? Man. 'Sdeath, sirrah, if ever I hear you mutter such a word again, I'll shake you into atoms! How am I exposed and rendered contemptible? It is enough, that I think I have nothing to complain of. I am perfectly well satisfied with her conduct.-Do you mark!-perfectly well satisfied.

Fide. Very well, sir, I have done.

Man. Oh, the curse of being conscious of a weakness one is ashamed to divulge! Hold, sir! Come hither. Have you resolution enough to endure the torture of a secret; for such to some is insupportable.

Fide. I would keep it as safe as if your dear precious life depended upon it.

be?-Perhaps she hath repented her behaviour this morning-Perhaps it was the result of passion, of affectation, or was meant to try me: in short, I can assign a thousand reasons for it, besides that one of change in her affections; for, I am sure, once she loved me.

Fide. Hang her, dissembling creature! Love you! It was only for her interest, then.

Man. Well, well, no matter; but, I tell you, I know better: I am sure once she did love me. Fide. Indeed, sir, she never cared for you. Man. Will you have done, sir!

Fide. Besides, sir, did she not tell you, she was married?

Man. Well, well, but that might be artifice, too- -'Sdeath, sir! will you listen to me, or go about your business, and never let me see you more?

Fide. I beg pardon, sir.

Man. I say you shall go to her house, and hear what this business is.

Fide. I go to her house, sir? I would sooner go

Man. No hesitating, sir! I say you must: she lives but in the next street.

Fide. Indeed, sir, I cannot go there.
Man. No, sir!

Fide. Besides, sir, consider: you scorned her this morning.

Man. I know not what I did this morning: I dissembled this morning.What! are you not gone yet?

Fide. Well, sir, now I think on it, I will go: for, perhaps, this is a sting of conscience; and she hath a mind to make some recompense for her ill usage of you, by returning your money and jewels: methinks I feign would have them out of her hands.

Man. Stay, sir; if she drops the least hint of any such thing, I charge you, come away imme diately, and do not stay even to give her an an

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Mrs Black. Have you the Lawyer's Maga

SCENE II.-Westminster-hall—A crowd of peo-
ple, serjeants, counsellors, and attorneys, walk-zine?
ing busily about.

Enter MRS BLACKACRE in the middle of half a
dozen lawyers, JERRY following, with a green
bag.

Mrs Black. Offer me a reference, you saucy blockhead! Do you know who you speak to? Are you a solicitor in chancery, and offer a reference? Mr Serjeant Plodden, here is a fellow has the impudence to offer me a reference!

Piod. Who is that has the impudence to offer a reference within these walls?

Mrs Black. Nay, for a splitter of causes to do it!

Plod. No, madam; to a lady, learned in the law as you are, the offer of a reference were to impose upon you.

Mrs Black. No, never fear me for a reference, Mr Serjeant-But come, have not you forgot your brief? Are you sure you shall not make the mistake of Hark you

Enter MAJOR OLDFOX and Bookseller,

-Come, Mr Splitcause, pray go see, when my cause in chancery comes ou; and go speak with Mr Quillet in the King's Bench, and Mr Quirk in the Common Pleas, and see how matters go there.

Old. Madam, I have the pleasure to bid you good-morrow once again; and may all your causes go as prosperously as if I myself was to be the judge of them!

Mrs Black. Sir, excuse me, I am busy, and cannot answer compliments in Westminster-hall. Go, Mr Splitcause, and come to me again at the bookseller's.

Old. No, sir, come to the lady at the other bookseller's. If you please, madam, I'll attend you thither.

Mrs Black. And why to the other bookseller's, major?

Öld. Because, madam, he is my bookseller. Mrs Black. To sell you lozenges for your cough, or salve for your corns? What else can a major deal with a bookseller for?

Old. Madam, he publishes for me.

Mrs Black. Publishes! oh, that is true, I forgot you are an author.

Old. Now and then, madam, now and thenthe good of one's country, you know.

Mrs Black. And pray, major, what are your books upon?

Old. Deign you, madam, to peruse one of them! There is a thing of mine lately come out; and I'll assure you, a certain great person, whom I presented it to, was pleased to pay me a compliment in the Court of Requests.

Book. Do you want any thing, madam? We have all the plays, magazines, and new pamphlets

Book. We have no law books at all, madam. Mrs Black. No! you are a pretty bookseller! Old. Come hither, young man-Has your mas→ ter got any of my last pamphlet left?

Book. Yes, sir, we have got enough of them; we never had above two or three called for, besides what you took away yourself.

Old. May be so, may be so; the thing is not sufficiently known yet. Well, let me see a couple. [Gets them.] It is entitled, madam, "A Letter to a certain great Man on the present Posture of Affairs;" and if you will please to accept of one ex dono auctoris

Jer. Hoh, hoh, hoh! [Laughing at a pamphlet behind.]

Mrs Black. Jerry, what have you got there?
Jer. Why-nothing-

Mrs Black. Nothing! Let me look at that book-Rochester's Jests! A very pretty study, truly. Give him the Young Clerk's Guide.

Oid. No, no; give the young gentleman my Treatise upon Military Discipline.

Mrs Black. Away with such trash! Do you want to send him to the devil headlong? I should have him teazing me, to-morrow or next day, to buy him an ensign's commission. I would as lief he should read a play!

Jer. Well, and what if I did! There's very good discourse to be got out of plays, for all you. Mrs Black. Sirrah, sirrah! Don't let me hear such a word out of your mouth. What has spoiled most of the attornies' clerks in London, but turning critics, and running every night to the playhouses at half price? and do you want to follow their example?-Stay, Jerry-Is not that Mr What d'ye call him goes yonder, he that offered to sell me a suit in chancery for five hundred pounds, for an hundred down, and only paying the clerk's fees?

Jer. Yes, that's he.

Mrs Black. It is the cheapest thing I ever heard of-Stay here, and have a care of the bags, while I go and talk with him. Have a care of the bags, I say[Exit.

Jer. Have a care of the fiddle's end, I say: Gad, I am sure I lead a dog's life with you.

Enter FREEMAN.

Free. So, here's a limb of my widow, that used to be inseparable from her: she can't be farHow now, major!

Old, What do you mean by that, sir! Who are you, sir? What are you, sir?

Free. Nay, my dear Don Choleric, don't snap

my nose off.

Old. Sir, you are a very impertinent fellow, sir!-And, sir-'squire, where's your mother?

Jer. Oh, what, you were so intent upon reading your works, you let her give you the slip, did you?

Well, yonder she is, talking to that weazle-faced man in the big wig-hobble after her.

Old. An unmannerly, insignificant, ignorantI shall take notice of you, Mr Sea-Lieutenant, I shall take notice of you! [Exit. Jer. Look you, master, I'll tell you what it is -I'll buy that book of choice sayings from you, if so be you'll take half a crown for it, and stay till lawyer Splitcause comes to lend me the money to pay you.

Free. Lend you! Here, I'll pay him-I am sorry, squire, a man of your estate should want money.

Jer. Why, I am not at age yet, you must understand.

Free. At age! You are at age already, man. to have spent a fortune: there are younger than you, who, to my knowledge, have kept their girls these three years; ruined half a dozen tradesmen, and lost as many thousand pounds at play. But what is the reason, 'squire, that you will not give your consent to my marrying your mother? Jer. Why you would not be such a fool, would you?

Free. Why I would not be a fool, if I could help it but has not she a good jointure?

:

Jer. A good jointure! If she has, she knows what to do with it: she will let no body have a finger in the pie but herself, I can tell you that. Come a little this way-Why, you would not believe what an old plague my mother is; she'll never allow me sixpence in my pocket; so that I am ashamed to go into company, because I have not wherewithal to call for a glass of wine, and do as the rest do. And, for a wench!-I was but making a little fun with our laundress's daughter upon the staircase, the other night, and she threatened to send the poor girl to Bridewell. Free. Sure!

Jer. Upon my word she did! Oh, you don't know what a woman she is.

Free. Well, but 'squire, methinks this might easily be remedied: if I was you, I would go to law with her.

Jer. Law! Lord help your head! Why she is as big a lawyer as any in our inn; and would not desire better sport-Besides, I would not care to do that, for fear she should marry out of spite, and cut down my trees. I should hate to see my father's wife kissed and slopped by another man -and our trees are the purest, nice, shady, even twigs!

Free. Come, 'squire, let your mother and your trees fall, as she pleases, rather than go of this fashion all your life-But you shall be able to deal with her the right way.

Jer. Nay, if I had any friend to stand by me, I would shew her a trick worth two of it, I can tell you that.

Jer. Oh, Lord, Sir! two guineas! Do you lend me this? Is there no trick in it? Well, sir, I'll give you my bond for security.

Free. No, no, you have given me your face for security; any one would swear you do not look like a cheat: and come to me whenever you will, and you shall have what money you please of me.

Jer. By my soul he's a curious fine gentleman! but may I depend upon you? Will you stand by me?

Free. Here's my hand.

Jer. That's enough. Never stir, but the next cross word my mother gives me, but I'll leave her directly, and come off to you-But now I have got money, I'll go pay the man at the gate two shillings I owe him, for I believe the poor soul wants it; and his wife has been two or three times at chambers to dun me. [Exit. Enter MANLY, Mrs BLACKACRE, and Masor

OLDFOX.

Man. Confound your cause! Can't you lose it without me? which you are like enough to do, if it be, as you say, an honest one: I'll suffer for it no longer.

Mrs Black. Nay, but, captain, you are my chief witness-And Mr Splitcanse tells me we are pricked down for the next hearing. Lord! methinks you should take pleasure in walking here, as half you see now do: for they have no business here, I assure you.

Man. Yes, but I assure you, then, their business is to persecute meSdeath! I can't turn but one puppy or other has me by the sleeve, with impertinent inquiries or fulsome compliments: I have been acting the sign of the salutation this half hour, with a bowed body and my hat off, to one of your law serjeants yonder; while he was loading me with professions of service and friendship, though, in all probability, he cared not if I was at the devil; and I was wishing him hanged out of my way.

Mrs Black. Well, well, sir, compose yourself a little, and every thing shall be made agreeable. Jerry, why, Jerry !-Mercy on me, major, did not you leave my son here?

Old. Yes, madam, but perhaps the young gentleman is stepped aside.

Mrs Black. Jerry Blackacre!

Free. Your son will be here in a minute, madam; he's only just gone out of the hall about a little business.

Mrs Black. Out of the hall! Gads my life!

Out of the hall!

Free. Don't make yourself uneasy, madam; I'll answer for it he'll come to no mischief.

Mrs Black. Sir, I don't direct my discourse to you-But I'll so rate this careless jackanapesCome along, major, and help me to look for

Free. Suppose I was to be your friend! Look you, 'squire, I don't use to profess much; how-him. ever, there's a trifle for your present occasions.

[Exeunt all but MANLY and FREEMAN.

Free. Well, sir, how have you past your time, since you came here? You have had a great deal of patience, sure.

Man. Patience, indeed! for I have drawn but one quarrel and two law-suits upon me.

Free. The devil! How could you quarrel here?
Man. How could I refrain?-But let's get off,
for I see another quarrel coming upon me.
Free. What do you mean?

Man. Ask no questions, but walk this way.

Enter NOVEL.

Nov. Hey! captain! captain Manly!
Man. What now?

Nov. I beg pardon; but I thought it was you. Have you been in the house hearing the debates? What are they upon to-day?

Man. Considering what passed between you and me at our last interview, sir, I cannot help being a little astonished at the familiarity of this salutation.

Nov. Pho, pho! a mere trifle. Don't mention it-It has been a very fine morning, sir. Free. Yes, sir, the weather has been tolerable. Nov. It was very cold yesterday. Free. I believe it might, sir.

Nov. Captain, what do you think brings me to Westminster-hall?

Man. Why, I suppose somebody has thrashed you lately for being impertinent, and you are come to take the law of them.

Nov. No, that's not it. But I suppose you have heard

Man. Heard what?

Nov. Why, that I am to be played the devil with; costs and damages, and the Lord knows what.

Man. No, really, I have heard nothing about the matter; but what is it? though I am sure you are in the wrong before you tell me.

Nov. Why, you must know, sir-Ha, ha, ha! Upon my soul it is so ridiculous a circumstance, that I can hardly think of it without laughing. You must know, sir, I was some time ago at the house of a considerable merchant in the city, where a certain lady's name was brought up; and, in the course of the conversation, I happened to mention some things which I had heard, and which all the world believe to be fact, egad! However, as you may guess, I did not imagine the discourse would have gone any further. Free. But I suppose the lady had a friend in company, sir.

Man. And pray, sir, what was it you said of the lady?

Nov. Nothing, nothing!--some story that I heard about her cuckolding her husband; that was all.

Man. I hope she may trounce you severely; nay, and I hope what you said of her was true; that you may be made the more glaring example.

Nov. Well, but my dear creature! how can you be so inhuman to any person, that never did you any injury?

Man. Because I would have such mischievous triflers as you are punished for your tattling and effeminacy: I would have you taught the difference between satire and defamation; and learn some other topic for your nonsensical conversations, besides the character and conduct of the absent: you male members of the tea-table, who are, if possible, worse enemies to women, than they are to one another.

Nov. Well upon my honour, this is pleasant! especially from you, who are remarkable for a busing all the world.

Man. Do you hear him, Freeman? Plaindealing may well be in disrepute, when 'tis confounded with impudence and scandal: but if I stay here any longer, I find I shall be tempted to beat him.

Free. Nay, prithee don't leave us.

Man. Yes, yes, I must; I shall bring myself into another scrape else: besides, I see a person just now come into the hall, that looks for meStand out of the way. [Exit.

Nov. This is a sad brutish fellow, sir; I wonder you will keep him company.

Free. Why, faith, sir, I don't know how it is; I think I am bewitched to him, for my part-and yet, hang him! he has some good qualities, too, when one comes to be thoroughly acquainted with him.

Nov. Ay, sir! Pray, what may they be, for I never could find them out?

Free. Why, I think 'tis generally agreed, sir, that he has a tolerable good understanding.

Nov. Why, really, I have heard people say so; and yet, to me, he has always appeared the stupidest animal breathing.

Free. Then as to courage. It must be allowed he is brave.

Nov. He is quarrelsome, if you please; but his bravery, I fancy, will admit of some dispute. You have heard, no doubt, of his late affair with the French?

Free. Ay, sir; what of that?

Nov. Why, I should not care to have my name mentioned as the author of such a thing; but I assure you there are some very odd reports fly about; and this, I believe, you may depend upon, that he will be brought to a court-martial for his behaviour on that occasion.

Nov. Oh, sir! I know how the matter came about now-Yes, yes, the woman of the house was her sister-in-law, which I never dreamt of: the intolerable Jezebel went and told her every thing that passed: an attorney came the next morning to serve me with a copy of a writ; and Free. I am glad to hear this, sir, with all my now they have brought me here to make me proveheart; for, you must know, I happened to be a my words, as they call it. partner in the action you mention, U

VOL. II.

Nov. Were you, sir?

Free. Yes, faith; but I was ignorant, till now, of the dangerous situation we were in; however, I am extremely obliged to you for your intelligence, as I dare swear the captain will beNov. Yonder goes my attorney-I'll just speak two or three words to him, and be back with you again in an instant.

Free. Hold, sir! we must not part so. You must go along with me, sir, and tell this story to captain Manly.

Nov. Sir, I have not time at present-I-there's a gentleman beckons me, owes a thousand pounds, and goes out of town to-morrow morning-Mr[Exit. Free. Ha, ha, ha! Well, we shall meet again. Enter JERRY BLACKACRE.

How now, 'squire, what's the matter? Jer. Nothing: I don't care; nothing's the matter: but if ever I go home again with her, I wish may never stir! You said you would stand by

me.

Free. Well, and so I will. Who has injured you?

Jer. Why, my mother: she caught me at the place there, changing the money you gave me, and flew at me like any mad, and pulled my hair, and called me all the names that ever she could think of-But if I don't be up with her! you will see! and if you won't take me with you, I'll go for a soldier.

Free. Take you with me, 'squire! do you desire to go with me?

Jer. Yes, 'tis all my desire.

Free. How shall I act in this affair? 'gad, 'twill be a good stroke towards making something of the widow in earnest; at least, of getting my right out of her hands.-[Aside.]—Well, 'squire, I'll tell you what, if you are really serious

Jer. Oh, Lord! yonder she is coming in at the gate with that old fellow: if you will come, come away; for I won't stay any longer to be beat and abused by her.

Free. Nay, since that's the case, have with you, my boy.

Jer. Ay, and now let's see how she'll be able to help herself. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.---Changes to the gate of Westminster-hall.

Enter, from within, MANLY and FIDELIA, and on the opposite side, MRS BLACKACRE and MAJOR OLDFOX.

Mrs Black. A villain! a rascal! I'll teach him better manners than to talk saucily to his mother!-These are pretty doings, are they not? My son flies in my face; and when I go to correct him for it, he tells me, truly, he'll leave me, and go to the mate of your ship, who has offered to take him.

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Man. Well, and what's that to me? You must tie your calf up, if you are afraid of his being stolen.

Mrs Black. But which way did he run, major? May be he is gone to that seducing villain already; and he has got my writings with him, all that concerns my estate, my jointure, my husband's deed of gift, and the evidences for all my suits now depending.

Man. I am glad of that; for, if you have lost your evidence, your cause can't go on, and I am at liberty.

Old. Mr Jerry went off in a great passion, madam; I hope he won't commit any rash action, to do himself a mischief.

Mrs Black. No, no, I know him better than so; he will never be felo de se that way: but he may go and chuse a guardian of his own head, and so be felo de ses beins; for he has not chosen

one vet.

Man. Which I hope he may, with all my heart!

Mrs Black. Oh, do you so, sir? then it seems you are in the plot.-Well, look to it; I'll play fast and loose with you all yet, if there be law, and my minor and writings are not forthcoming. I'll bring my action of delinue or trover—but I'll first go and seek

Man. Well, I shall not stay here any longer. Mrs Black. Stir a step, stir a step, at your peril, till the courts are broke up, and I'll serve you with a rule of contempt.

[Exeunt MRS BLACK ACRE and MAJOR OLDFOX. Man. Now, sir, go on.-You have been with Olivia, you say.

Fide. Yes, sir, I have seen and spoke with

her.

Man. Well, and she received you kindly? Fide. Kinder than you would think, sir. Man. That's well-come, now, let me hear what she said to you.

Fide. Said to me, sir?

Man. Ay, what was her business with you? Come, come! Why don't you speak? You are so tedious! What was it she had to communicate?

Fide. Modesty, sir, prevents my entering into particulars; I need only tell you, that her business with me has proved of the most extraordinary kind; I am so shocked at the thoughts of her behaviour, I cannot say more.

Man. Confusion!

Fide. I assure you, sir, I would not impose upon you by the forgery of a falsehood, and cannot wrong her by any report of her, she is so wicked.

Man. Wicked! 'Sdeath, had she the impu dence!

Fide. Impudence! Oh, sir!

Man. But what! How did she accost you? Fide. When I came to the house, sir, I was

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