Enter Poft Obit.

Poft Obit. Mr. Curfitor-my dear Mr. Curfitor! do you wish to die?

Curfitor. Not I, upon my honour.

Poft Obit. That's a good fellow-and I've inquired, and there's no occafion. The barbarians of old used to fhed blood, but the moderns-Hark ye-We certainly don't fight to please our elves, you know.

Curfitor. No-As Sir Paddy fays, 'tis to please the

town.

Poft Obit. Yes-we fight to fupport our credit with Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Tomkins, and other bufy neighbours, who will turn up their nofes if they don't fee us act like men of honour-for this you may depend on, Mr. Curfitor, many a great hero would take a kick quietly, if he thought nobody faw it. At leaft I know I would-wou'dn't you?

Curfitor. No-not a kick-I might put up with the lie. But go on-What are your intentions?

Poft Obit. Liften-Calling in conftables would be useless,-for our fanguinary feconds would fmuggle us abroad. Fighting without ball is hopeless, for they load the pistols. But there is a third way-mark-measure ground-eight paces-tofs up for firtl fire-I win

hoot at random-twenty yards over your head-you fire in the air feconds interfere-shake hands-Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Tomkins are completely fatisfied, and Jerry Curfitor and Peter Obit are both men of honour as long as they live.

Curfiter. So we are-'Sblood, who's afraid?

Poft Obit. Ay, dam'me, I'll fight you directly. Oh, I thought I fhou'd get rid of my good nature at last !— Come along.

Curfitor. Ay-let's fhew them what we're made of.But I fay, I don't like your having the first fire.

Poft Obit. Nonfenfe! If I hit you, upon my honour I'll make you any apology you think proper. Comeand we'll fpur like game-cocks. [Exeunt at door in flat.

Enter

Enter Georgiana (baftily.)

Georgiana. Not here either! no where to be found! heavens! what a moment of anxiety! By my advice the generous Leonard disobeyed Sir Herbert, and, now, as he left the house, was grateful for my counfel, and fwore he felt fuch pleasure in obeying me, that he almost forgot the anger of his father.-And this friend I am to lofe! Nay, if my guardian, Mr. Poft Obit, will not have the courage to protect me, I fhall be torn from him I love, to marry him I hate.

Enter Shenkin.

Shenkin. Inteed, and upon my life so you will, Mifs Georgiana; and therefore I do come to offer to run away with you myfelf, or to find Mr. Leonard, and bring him to run away with you.

Georgiana. Generous fellow! There is no hope but one. Yet go to Mr. Poft Obit.

Shenkin. Do, and make you hafte; for if he do not get you out of the house before Sir Herbert do return with the Parfon, and the Doctor with the licenceTear! tear! why not go home with me? Tho' we be poor in fortune, we be rich in kindness, and Dame Shenkin will be a mother, and Caractacus a father to you.

Georgiana. It is in vain-My guardian only can protect me-I'll once more befeech, implore him. Oh! this it is to be deprived of parents-to be left a helplefs orphan to the fport of those who have no feeling or compunction.

Shenkin. Go you-and quick, quick-for, look you, -here is the enemy.

Georgiana. Farewell, thou honeft creature! And if you fee Mr. Leonard, tell him I am gone to entreat the protection of him who can beft afford it. And if I am fuccessful, we may ftill meet, and ftill be happy. But if I fail, and this detefted marriage be the confequence,

tell

tell him to banish from his mind all memory of her who died regretting and adoring him! Farewell! (weeping.) [Exit at door in back scene.

Enter Dr. Infallible.

Shenkin. (Weeping.) Good b'w'ye!How you to do, Doctor? I do want you to do fomething for me. I do want you not to marry Mifs Georgiana, and fhe, too, do want you not to marry her; because, look you, fhe do love an Officer and a Gentleman.

Doctor. Very likely; but she must love a Doctor and a Gentleman-and fo I'll inform her.

Shenkin. Stop you-She is with Mr. Post Obit.

Doctor. With him! With that coward! What!Does the hope he'll be her champion? Ha! ha! See how I'll cool his courage. Come forth, my little Legacy Hunter-deliver up my prize this moment, or by

the laws of honour

Shenkin. Look-I do think it is the duty of your profeffion to take away pain, not to give it; and no medicine can do fo much good as relieving a helpless woman. Therefore I'll be your Doctor. Take you the phyfic that is good for you, or by the beard of St. Taffy I must force it down your throat.

Doctor. Stand off, Sir! I fee you are fet on to harrafs and infult me; and, therefore, let me feize my victim, and chaftife this daftardly

[As he is trying to fake off Shenkin, two pistols are fired off in the adjoining room.-Then,

Enter Poft Obit, with Georgiana under his arm, from door in flat.

Poft Obit." See the "See the conquering hero comes !(going.) Doctor. 'Sdeath, Sir, where are you going? Dare you at fuch a moment remove her from Sir Herbert's power?

Poft

Poft Obit (napping his finger.) That for Sir Her bert and his fhabby legacies!-That for you and your paltry Radix Rheno! And if either of you want fatisfaction-there's my card-Hyde Park-eight paces→→→→ and talk of five pounds, curfe me if I wou'dn't give five hundred for an affront! Open the door, Taffy.(to Shenkin, who obeys.) You see, brother Alexander, honour is the true love-powder, and we heroes are elixir vitæ to the ladies. "None but the brave deferve the

fair."

[Exit, banding out Georgiana, Shenkin going before, and Dr. Infallible.

END OF THE SECOND ACT,

ACT III.

SCENE 1.-An Apartment at Pinchwell's-smallpoorly furnished, &c.

Dame Shenkin discovered, fitting in an arm-chair, weeping. Pinchwell rifing from another to go.-Shenkin Stopping him.

Shenkin.

COME

OME, you-do not leave us till you be more tender-hearted, Mr. PinchwellWait you now but a day.

Pinchwell. I fay, my rent-that's all-pay me my

rent.

Shenkin. Nay, look you, I have just come away from my place, and how can I pay you for my poor. mother's lodgings here, till Sir Herbert do pay me my wages?He do put me off, and bid me call again when he be at home-and do you-do you the fame, will you? Call you again when I be at home.

·

Pinchwell. No trifling-but in an hour's time pay me down the fum of eleven pounds, or her next lodging is a prifon.

Shenkin. Plefs my foul-you cannot

Pinchwell. Yes-that is my final determination. And now I'll go down to my lodger on the first floor. Now to the shuffling Mr. Thomas Tick. Plague on ye I don't know. which is the worst of ye; for, what with his duns, bailiffs, notaries, and attorneys, I and the knocker are fo continually going, that, curfe me, if we ar'n't both become thin in the fervice. And, then, there's no moving the rafcal-for, amidft all his difficulties, he contrives to pay his rentand here he'll