Humber. It's well we have got well clear of this humorous exceptious gentleman; but I was in terrible pain lest he should have observed your inclination to laugh. Let us not lose time, however, but go on to answer other persons. [Rings the bell.

Servant. Very many people, Sir; but the lady with her daughter says she has been here so often that she will be next admitted.

Severn. She will! she insists to see us all together, and makes a difficulty even to show her daughter's face. Now that is so preposterous and humorous, that I could not answer her civilly, and in general, and so put her off.

Humber. Let her come in, however, and have her answer from us all.

Enter Mrs. FENNELL with her DAUGHTER. Humber. Madam, what are your commands here?

Mrs. Fennell. Gentlemen, I am a gentlewoman of a very antient family.

Severn. Very likely, Madam; but indeed, Madam, we sit here to provide for the Stage, and not to hear pedigrees.-If you are of a house of yesterday-and please to-day-you'll pardon me, Madam-that is what we are to mind chiefly-but pray, Madam, break into business. your

Mrs.

Mrs. Fennell. Why, gentlemen, this young lady in a mask, with me, is my daughter; and I propose her for the Stage; for I am reduced, and starve or beg we must not.

Severn. But, Madam, please to show us how your daughter will help to keep us from wanting. Madam, we have a great charge already.

Mrs. Fennell. Why you see, gentlemen, her height is very well; she is neither tall nor short.

Severn. We allow it, Madam; but that is not all: she must speak with a good air and grace.Won't she unmask? Must not we see more than thus much of her?

Mrs. Fennell. No, no, gentlemen, we must come to some manner of agreement before you see any further. To be a maid of honour—a waiting lady on your Statiras and Roxannos, or any of your theatrical princesses, she'll deserve 20s. a week for mere dumb show;-and I'll have assurance of that in case you like her face; or else it sha'n't be said she was offer'd to the playhouse.

Severn. Well but, Madam, that is not all; let her be for dumb show only, her face is not all; she must be well limbed; [they whisper and confer] she may sometimes be in a boy's dress-a Cupid— a young heir to a great family—a page, or a gentleman-usher.

Mrs. Fennell. Why I was aware of the objection, and have had a model taken of her legs, which you

shall

shall see, Gentlemen. There they are; as fine a straight leg, and as proper a calf-you shall seldom see a woman's leg so well made. I don't question, Gentlemen, but you have seen great choice, Gentlemen, in your posts; are well acquainted with the symmetry of parts, and correspondence of limbs.

Severn. Well, Madam, you speak of your goods so advantageously, and set them off so reasonably, that if the lady pleases to show her face, we shall give twenty shillings a-week certain.

Mrs. Fennell. She is your servant, and shall constantly attend rehearsals. [Daughter unmasks. Severn. On my word, a very surprizing face.— Pray, Madam, may I beg the favour to see those pretty lips move?

Daughter. Yes, Sir.

Severn. Pray, Madam, raise your voice a note higher.

Mrs. Fennell. Gentlemen, I beg she may be kept wholly for Tragedy, for she takes prodigiously after me. She can act only a haughty part; I was prodigiously haughty in my youth. She will never act naturally any thing but what's cruel and unnatural, as the men call it.

Severn. But, Madam, can't she repeat any verses, any parts of a play? It is strange she should

have an inclination to the stage, and yet have learnt nothing by heart.

Mrs. Fennell. Oh, I have inured her to get as many things as possible to arm her against the wiles of men; as those concerning Sir Charles Sedley-Say on, good Betty.

Daughter. "Sedley has that prevailing gentle art, That can with a resistless charm impart

The loosest wishes to the chastest heart."

Severn. "The loosest wishes!"-I fancy somebody or other has seen her legs otherwise than by a model-she speaks so sensibly!

[Aside. Daughter. "Raise such a conflict, kindle such a fire,

Between declining virtue and desire,

Till the poor vanquish'd maid dissolves away,
In dreams all night, in sighs and tears all day.”

Severn. Well, Madam, pluck up a spirit ;-and let us hear you grace it, and do it with an air. Speak it politely, with a side face: you are to imagine an audience, tho' there is none; and pray speak it with courage

"Sedley has that prevailing," &c.

Humber. Madam, you may be sure of all the encouragement and care your beauty and merit deserve. Exeunt Mrs. FENNELL and Daughter.

Well, now let us look into some scenes that are under examination, whether proper to be exhibited,

or

or not. Let the Scene of Mr. Buskin come on.Trumpets sound, and Drums beat a March. Enter BUSKIN.

Buskin. "In vain has conquest waited on my

sword,

In vain th' obedient waves have wafted o'er
The bark in which I sail'd; as if the gods
Had order'd Nature to preserve her course
With gentle clime and season, to convey
In safety me, their instrument of fate."

Humber. Ho! brave, ho! brave. What's to come after that?

Buskin. "All this was vain, since Clidiamira's eyes Have met with mine-and stopt my race of glory. Oh, Clidiamira-Oh! oh! oh! let all

The elements break loose-"

Humber. Ay ay, to be sure, they can do no less, if Clidiamira's really angry; but not so fast, not so fast, if you please.

Buskin. Pray, Sir, give me leave-Oh, Mr. Humber, is it you? Your humble servant-I submit-I know you are a critick.

Humber. To be free, Sir, you must know this way of blustering is a stage legerdemain, a trick upon the eyes and ears of the audience. Look you, Sir, this is a time of licentiousness; and we must examine things, now we are setting up to strip you, to know whether what you say is good or not.