made a fright of you, and it is as yellow as old lady Crowfoot's neck. When we are settled, I'll dress your heads

myself.

Bid. Pray read the verses to me, Mr Fribble.

Frib. I obey-Hem !-William Fribble, Esq; to miss Biddy Bellair-greeting.

No ice so bard, so cold as I,

'Till warm'd and soften'd by your eyes
And now my beart dissolves away
In dreams by night, in sigbs by day;
No brutal passions fire my breast,
Which loaths the object when possess'd;
But one of barmless, gentle kind,
Whose joys are center'd-

-in the mind;

Then take with me Love's better part,
His downy wing, but not bis dart.

How do you like 'em?

Bid. Ha, ha, ha! I swear they are very pretty-but I don't quite understand 'em.

Frib. These light pieces are never so well understood in reading as singing; I have set 'em myself, and will endeavour to give 'em you La-la-1 have an abominable cold, and can't sing a note: however the tune's nothing, the manner's all.

No ice so hard, &c.

Enter TAG, running..

[Sings.]

Tag. Your aunt, your aunt, your aunt, madam!
Frib. What's the matter?

Bid. Hide, hide Mr Fribble, Tag, or we are ruin'd. Frib. Oh! for heaven's sake, put me any where, so I don't dirty my cloths.

Bid. Put him into the store-room Tag, this moment. Frib. Is it a damp place, Mrs Tag? The floor is boarded, I hope ?

Tag. Indeed it is not, Sir.

Frib. What shall I do? I shall certainly catch my death! where's my cambric handkerchief, and my salts? I shall certainly have my hysterics! [Runs out. -So now let the other come as soon

Bid. In, in, in

as he will; I do not care if I had twenty of 'em, so they would but come one after another.

Enter TAG.

Was my aunt coming?

Tag. No, 'twas Mr Flash, I suppose, by the length of his stride, and the cock of his hat. He'll be here this minute-What shall we do with him?

Bid. I'll manage him, I warrant you, and try his courage; be sure you are ready to second me-we shall have pure sport.

Tag. Hush! here he comes.

Enter FLASH, singing.

Flash. Well, my blossom, here am I! what hopes for a poor dog, eh? how! the maid here! then I've lost the town, dammee! not a shilling to bribe the governor; she'll spring a mine, and 1 shall be blown to the devil.

Bid. Don't be asham'd, Mr Flash; I have told Tag the whole affair, and she's my friend I can assure you.

Flasb. Is she? then she won't be mine, I am certain. [Aside.] Well, Mrs Tag, you know, I suppose, what's to be done this young lady and I have contracted ourselves; and so, if you please to stand bride-maid, why, we'll fix the wedding-day directly.

Tag. The wedding-day, Sir?

Flash. The wedding-day, Sir? Ay, Sir, the weddingday, Sir; what have you to say to that, Sir?

Bid. My dear Captain Flash, don't make such a noise you'll wake my aunt.

Flash. And suppose I did, Child, what then?

Bid. She'd be frighten'd out of her wits.

Flash. At me, Miss! frighten'd at me? Tout au contraire, I assure you; you mistake the thing, child; I have some reason to believe, I am not quite so shocking.

[Affectedly.

Tag. Indeed, Sir, you flatter yourself-But pray, Sir, what are your pretensions?

Flash. The lady's promises, my own passion, and the best mounted blade in the three kingdoms. If any man can produce a better title, let him take her; if not, the d-l mince me if I give up an atom of her.

Bid, He's in a fine passion, if he would but hold it.

Tag.

Tag. Pray, Sir, hear reason a little. Flash. I never do, Madam; it is not my method of proceeding; here is my logic! [Draws his sword.] Sa, sa,

-my best argument is cart over arm, madam, ha, ha, [lunges.] and if he answers that, madam, through my small guts, my breath, blood, and mistress, are all at his service-Nothing more, madam.

Bid. This 'll do, this 'll do.

Tag. But Sir, Sir, Sir?

Flash. But madam, madam, madam: I profess blood, madam, I was bred up to it from a child; I study the book of fate, and the camp is my university; I have attended the lectures of Prince Charles upon the Rhine, and Bathiani upon the Po, and have extracted knowledge from the mouth of a cannon; I'm not to be frighten'd with squibs, madam, no, no.

Bid. Pray, dear Sir, don't mind her, but let me prevail with you to go away this time-Your passion is very fine to be sure, and when my aunt and Tag are out of the way, I'll let you know when I'd have you come again.

Flash. When you'd have me come again, child? And suppose I never would come again, what do you think of that now, ha? You pretend to be afraid of your aunt; your aunt knows what's what, too well to refuse a good match when 'tis offer'd-Lookee, miss, I'm a man of honour, glory is my aim, I have told you the road I am in, and do you see here, child, [Shewing bis sword.] no tricks upon travellers.

Bid. But pray, Sir, hear me.

Flash. No, no, no, I know the world, madam: I am as well known at Covent-Garden as the dail, madam: I'll break a lamp, bully a constable, bam a justice, or bilk a box-keeper, with any man in the liberties of Westminster; what do you think of me now, madam?

Bid. But pray, Sir, hear me.

Flash. Come, come, come, few words are best, somebody's happier than somebody, and I'm a poor silly fellow; ha, ha,- That's all-Look you, child, to be short, (for I'm a man of reflection) I have but a bagatelle to say to you: I am in love with you up to hell and desperation; may the sky crush me if I am not- -But since there is another more fortunate than I, adieu, Biddy! prosperity to the happy rival, patience to poor Flash; but the first

time we meet, gun powder be my perdition, but I'll have the honour of cutting a throat with him. [Going. Bid. [Stopping bim.] You may meet with him now, if you please.

Flash. Now, may I-Where is he, I'll sacrifice the villain. [Aloud.

Tag. Hush! he's but in, the next room.

Flash. Is he! Ram me [Low.] into a mortar piece, but I'll have vengeance; my blood boils to be at him-Don't be frighten'd, miss?

Bid. No Sir, I never was better pleas'd, I assure you.
Flash. I shall soon do his business.

Bid. As soon as you please, take your own time.
Tag. I'll fetch the gentlemen to you immediately.

[Going. Flash. (Stopping ber.) Stay, stay, a little; what a passion I am in!-are you sure he is in the next room?—I shall certainly tear him to pieces-I would fain murder him like a gentleman too-Besides, this family shan't be brought into trouble upon my account.I have it—I'll watch for him in the street, and mix his blood with the puddle of the next kennel. [Going. Bid. (Stopping him. ) No, pray, Mr Flash, let me see the hattie, l'shall be glad to see you fight for me, you shan't go, indeed. [Holding him.

Tag. (Holding him.) Oh, pray let me see you fight; there were two gentlemen fit yesterday, and my mistress was never so diverted in her life-I'll fetch him out. [Exit. Bid. Do, stick him, stick him, captain Flash; I shall love you the better for it.

Flash. D-n your love, I wish I was out of the house.

[Aside. Bid. Here he is-Now speak some of your hard words, and run him through

Flash. Don't be in fits now.

Bid. Never fear me.

-[Aside to Biddy.

Enter TAG and FRIBBLE.

Tag. (To Fribble.) Take it on my word, Sir, he is a bully and nothing else.

Frib. (Frighten'd.) I know you are my good friend, but perhaps you don't know his disposition.

Tag. I am confident he is a coward.

Frib. Is he? Nay then, I'm his man..

Flash. I like his looks, but I'll not venture too far at first. Tag. Speak to him, Sir.

Frib. I will I understand, Sir,-hem-that you-byMrs Tag here,Sir,-who has inform'd ine-hem-that you have sent her, to inform me-Sir-that you would be glad to speak with me-Demmee[Turns off Flash. I can speak to you Sir,- or to any body Siror I can let it alone and hold my tongue,-if I see occasion, Sir, dammeeTurns off.

Bid. Well said, Mr Flash, be in a passion. Tag. (To Fribble.) Don't mind his looks, he changes colour already; to him, to him. Pushes him.

Frib. Don't hurry me, Mrs Tag, for heaven's sake, I shall be out of breath before I begin, if you do,-Sir,— (To Flash.) If you can't speak to a gentleman in another manner, Sir,why then I'll venture to say you had better hold your tongue- -Oons.

that.

Flash. Sir, you and I are of different opinions. Frib. You and your opinion may go to the devil-Take [Turns off to Tag. Tag. Well said, Sir, the day's your own. Bid. What's the matter, Mr Flash? is all your fury gone? do you give me up?

Frib. 1 have done his business.

[Struts about.

Flash. Give you up, madam! No, madam; when I am determined in my resolutions, I am always calm; 'tis our way, madam; and now I shall proceed to business.-Sir, I beg to say a word to you in private.

Frib Keep your distance, fellow, and I'll answer you. -That lady has confess'd a passion for me, and as she has deliver'd up her heart into my keeping, nothing but my 'arts blood will-purchase it. Damnation !

Tag. Bravo! Bravo!

Flash. If those are the conditions, I'll give you earnest for it directly. Draws.) Now, villain, renounce all right and title this minute, or the torrent of my rage will overflow my reason, and I shall annihilate the nothingness of your soul and body in an instant.

Frib. I wish there was a constable at hand to take us both up; we shall certainly do one another a prejudice. Tag. No, you won't indeed, Sir; pray bear up to him;