SQUIRE.. Ay, thanks to Barnaby's Sunday clothes; but call me Thomas Filbert, as I am in the Play. STEWARD. Chear up, daughter, and make Kitty Carrot the fhining part: Squire Thomas is to be in love with you to night, girl. KITTY. Ay, I have felt Squire Thomas's love to my coft. I have little ftomach to play, in the condition he hath put me into. STEWARD. DOCK. Jonas Dock, doft thou remember thy name? My name? Jo---Fo--- Jonas. [Afide, No- that was the name my Godfathers gave me. My play name is Timothy Pea-Pea- Peafcod; ay, Peafcod- and am to be fhot for a deferter STEWARD. And you, Dolly? DOLLY. An't pleafe ye, I am Dorcas, Peafcod's fifter, and am to be with child, as it were. 1 COUNTRYMAN. And I am to take her up, as it were- I am the Conftable. 2 COUNTRYMAN. And I am to fee Tim fhot, as it were Corporal. STEWARD. But what is become of our fergeant? DORCAS. Why Peter Nettle, Peter, Peter. I am the [Enter Nettle. NETTLE. NETT LE. These stockings of Sufan's coft a woundy deal of pains the pulling on: But what's a fergeant without red ftockings? DOCK. I'll dress thee, Peter, I'll dress thee. Here, ftand still, I must twift thy neckcloth; I would make thee hold up thy head, and have a ruddy complexion; but pr'ythee don't look black in the face, man. [Rolling his Neckcloth. Thou must look fierce and dreadful. [Making whiskers with a burnt cork.] But what shall we do for a grenadier's cap? STEW ARD. Fetch the leathern bucket that hangs in the belfry; that is curiously painted before, and will make a figure.. NETTLE. No, no, I have what's worth twenty on't: the Pope's mitre, that my master Sir Roger feiz'd, when they would' have burnt him at our market town.. STEWARD. So, now let ev'ry body withdraw, and prepare to begin the play. [Exeunt Actors.] My daughter debauch'd! and by that booby Squire ! well, perhaps the conduct of this play may retrieve her folly, and preferve her repu tation. Poor girl! I cannot forget thy tears. Enter Sir ROGER. Sir ROGER. Look ye, Steward, don't tell me you can't bring them in. I will have a ghoft; nay, I will have a competence of ghofts. What, fhall our neighbours think we are not able to make a ghoft? A play without a ghost is like, is like i'gad it is like nothing. - STEWARD. Sir, be fatisfied; you fhall have ghofts. Sin Sir ROGER. And is the play as I order'd it, both a Tragedy and a Comedy? I would have it a Paftoral too; and if you could make it a Farce, fo much the better-and what if you crown'd all with a fpice of your Opera? You know my Neighbours never faw a Play before; and d'ye fee, I would fhew them all forts of Plays under one. STEWARD. Sir Rager, it is contrived for that very purpose. [Enter two Juftices. Sir ROGER. Neighbours, you are welcome. Is not this Steward of mine a pure ingenious fellow now, to make fuch a Play for us thefe Chrifimas holydays? [Exit Steward bowing.] A rare headpiece! he has it here i'faith. [Pointing to his own head.] But indeed, I gave him the hint. To fee now. what contrivance fome folks have ! We have fo fitted the parts to my tenants, that every Man talks in his own way! and then we have made juft three juftices in the play, to be play'd by us three, juftices of the Quorum. 1 JUSTICE. Zooks! fo it is ;-main ingenious-and can we fit and fmoke at the fame time we act? Ay, ay, - Sir ROGER.. we have but three or four words to fayand may drink and be good company in peace and filence all the while after. 2 JUSTICE. But how fhall we know when we are to fay the fe fame Words? Sir ROGER. This fhall be the fignal when I fet down the tankard, then speak you, Sir Humphry, and whe” Sir Sir Humphry fets down the Tankard, fpeak you, Squire Statute. 1 JUSTICE. Ah, Sir Roger, You are an old dog at these things. 2 JUSTICE. To be fure. Sir ROGER. Why neighbours, you know, experience, experience I remember your Harts and your Bettertons- But to fee your Othello, neighbours how he would rave and roar, about a foolish flower'd handkerchief!and then he would groul fo manfully—and he would put out the light, and put the light out fo cleverly! but hufh the Prologue, the Prologue. [They feat themselves with much ceremony at the table,com which are pipes and tobacco, and a large filver tankard, THE PROLOGUE, Spoken by Mr. Pinkethman HE entertainment of this night or day, ΤΗ This fomething, or this nothing of a Play, Which frives to please all palates at a time, May make you laugh, or cry, as you like beft ;. ACT |