(MIST and STOPGAP pass by Mrs. DAZZLE and come close to Lavish.)

Mift. Royal Mr. Squib-fee your authority, and humbly

Mrs. Dazzle (turning him round). Why, Mr. Mift, I'm on this fide.

Mift. I know! but I am on the other fide: a good Manager always goes with the ruling party:any reparation to you or the heiress, Mr. Squib! would the choose the freedom? or you take a benefit?-play myself, and give you first night of new pantomimė.

Lavish. You fee, Signora, you fee!-why if you're in earneft, Mr. Mift, Mifs Sutherland's father is in prifon, and as this Will gives him no ready money

Mift. I take-what's the debt?

Lavish. A trifle !-but a thousand pounds, which in the course of a month I can fave and repay you!-or if that fecurity don't content you, you shall have a mortgage on the theatre.

Mift. That's it; that's the best security on earth! far better than meadows and corn fields !-people will go without bread, but, blefs 'em! never without plays! Come along, Stop-prifon only next door gaoler take my word:-re-enter with Sir Hervey inftantly.

Mrs. Dazzle. Why, are you mad, Sir ?-will you again disappoint and deceive me?

Mift. Deceive you !-hem!-who concealed will?-paffed off for Manager, and turns out only author?-who under falfe pretences would have pocketed all my fcenes, drefles, and decorations?-No, no-you deceived me; and therefore, "Mary, "once more I follow thee! and fo, Good morrow, good Queen Elizabeth!" [Exit with STOPGAP.

Mrs.

Mrs. Dazzle. Barbarian! Savage !-this is the third time he has made a dupe of me, Mr. Lavish! (Burfts into tears).-I'll fign the agreement, Mr. Lavish!

Lavish. Excufe me !--I'm above being a party in fo infamous a tranfaction.

Mrs. Dazzle. Nay: when you confider the fmallness of the fum, and that I bind myself to give up all claim under my hufband's will.

Lavish. Why, that's true; and seriously speaking two hundred a-year is no object; and therefore, I'll indulge you?-fign directly, and I'll indulge you!

Mrs. Dazzle. The fooner the better !-1 long to be out of the monster's house !—here's pen and ink. Lavish. And here's the agreement! (they go to the table).

Enter MIST, Sir HERVEY, and JULIANA.

Mift. Take care-confider you're a new performer, Sir Hervey-you alfo, Mifs M. P. mind the traps.

Sir Hervey. Sir, I know not how to express my thanks or my astonishment.

Lavish (coming from table-agreement in his band). Huzza! Sir Hervey, I give you joy-Mifs Sutherland, I give you joy-here it is, figned and fealed.-Mrs. Dazzle generously takes two hundred a-year, and gives up all claim under her hufband's will-there! there's a bargain maker for you!

Sir Hervey. Is this true, Madam?

Mrs. Dazzle. True!-you know I've been tricked into it.

Lavish. You have-you trick'd yourself into it.
Mrs. Dazzle. Myself!

Lavish. Ay! you would be indulged; and as. here is now no longer any bar to our union, with

this lady's (taking JULIANA's band) and her father's leave allow me to introduce you to Mrs. Lavish elect.

Mrs. Dazzle. How! your wife!

Lavish. Ay; you thought I'd call her by another name; but I am still old fashioned enough to think the word "wife," heightens happiness and gives a zeft to love!-(Mrs. DAZZLE is going to Speak)-Nay, don't blame me !-you have to thank yourself for the whole transaction; and when any body makes falfe charges, I hope I fhall be al-: ways too good an economift not to make them pay for them.

Mift (to Mrs. DAZZLE). You take the hint!you take the hint!

Mrs Dazzle. Oh, I fhall go wild-I—(Stamping violently).

Mift. Gently-you'll be down the trap.

Mrs. Dazzle. So, Mifs, you mean to allow me only this paltry

Juliana. No, Madam!-with my husband's permiffion the annuity shall be doubled.-The widow of my benefactor must be more amply provided

for.

Lavif. Certainly!-I can fave it a thoufand ways! And now, Mr. Miit, as we shall certainly difpofe of our theatrical property, you fhall be the purchafer-Only mind, I make the bargain-never was fuch a fellow at making bargains!

Mist. Name your own terms-only let me be London Manager!-Oh, for the opening!-Oh, for the first night !-After Hamlet, what an addrefs will I make to them?

Lavish. Addrefs! why what will you say? Mift. Tell you-" Ladies and Gentlemen-on "the part of the company in general, and myselt

"as proprietor, author, actor, and manager in "particular-confefs faults-acknowledge obliga❝tions and humbly entreat your ufual candour "and indulgence."-Then getting nearer the lamps- Ladies and Gentlemen, to-morrow and "following evening, with your permission, this play, "will be repeated!"

THE END OF THE COMEDY.

EPILOGUE,

WRITTEN BY GEORGE COLMAN, ESQ.

Spoken by Mr. FAWCETT in the Character of MIST.

A London Manager of high degree,

I, Peter Mist, now enter here O. P. ;
My country playhouse, e'er I came to town
Almost knock'd up, has been in lots knock'd down.
A fturdy farmer bought the walls-why then,
What was a barn will be a barn again.

Corn on the stage, not mummers will be seen ;,
And oats be thresh'd where actors should have been ;
Wheat ftrew the boards where erst did heroes tread,
To make what heroes never made there-bread.
Stage-ftruck, but hen-peck'd, honeft Juftice Dunder
Has all my clouds,—his lady has my thunder.
Dick Drench, the fnug apothecary, means
To give a private play, fo buys my scenes:
Drench, "fmelling of the shop," and idem femper,
Could not refift fcenes painted in diftemper.

The Member for the town bought all my coats;
There he was wife-for I command two votes ;
And playhouse coats (again he fhew'd difcerning)
Will fuit a Member, for they're us'd to turning.
My wigs the women quarrell'd for, fweet fouls!
My daggers ftack in felling; but my bowls
Mine hoft of the Red Lion clapp'd his eyes on,
And bought 'em, as I did, to serve up poison.
Thus all my country ftock, as Shakspeare fays,
"My cloud-capt towers, my gorgeous palaces,
"Yea, my great globe," (the barn,) fo much involv'd,
And all it did inherit, have diffolv'd."

But