sently, and gives such a charming confusion to the such a delightful and pleasant satisfaction to thepsha! what the devil's the matter with me?

Enter CONSTANT.

Cons. So, I have found you at last, scoundrel. Tod. Found me, scoundrel! Sir, you have the advantage of me.

Cons. Don't you know me, villain?

Tod. Know you, villain!

Sir, I despise insinuations; stand off; familiarity corrupts contempt and evil communications breed good manners.

Cons Why, you impudent drunken rascal! do you know me now, (beats him) sirrah ?

Tod. Oh, yes; mercy! yes, sir; I think I can feel the knowledge of you.

Cons. As you hope to keep a whole bone in your skin, tell me what you did with the letter.

Tod. The letter, sir? What letter?

Cons. No prevarication, villain: what did you with the letter?

Tod. Lost it, sir.

Cons. Where, sir?

Tod. That's the very thing I wanted to find out.
Cons. No jesting, sir answer me immediately.

Tod. You must know, then, sir, I took the letter, and put it into my pocket, and walking steadily and soberly on, as I do now, sir, I came to the Blackamoor's Head

Cons. Well, sir?

Tod. There, as the devil would have it, I met with a friend I shouldn't have met with him if the wind hadn't been south-west-so feeling presently for the letter, as I wanted a lady for a toast

Cons. Impudent rascal!

Tod. I found it was gone, sir.

Cons. Well, sir?

Tod. But my friend being an excellent grammarian, and a sort of a poet, I got him to write another.

Cons. And he did it?

Tod. Touch'd it off presently: Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! I beg pardon, sir; but-Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! I told him, that simile of the ass would never do.

Cons. And this is the whole truth?

Tod. As I hope for mercy, sir.

Cons. Well, sir, get you gone, and wait for me at the inn and if ever I catch you at these tricks again, I'll cure you, for the rest of your life, of getting drunk.

[Exit.

Tod. (solus.) Cure me of getting drunk? I defy you. I defy the whole college of physicians. I defy apothecaries' hall: for though I'm cur'd every morning, I'm sure to have a relapse before night. If drunkenness be a virtue, thank heaven, I'm incorrigible. My friends have sometimes endeavoured to debauch me into sobriety, but it wouldn't do,

Enter the Justice behind, and followers. Just. F. He's drunk. Stand back, and leave me alone with him. (Servants retire.) Your servant, sir,

Tod. Sir, I am your servant.

great house, yonder?

Do

you see that

Just. F. Mercy on us! my house. Well, sir?
Tod. Perhaps you're acquainted there?

Just. F. Oh, yes, I dine there most days in the week,

Tod. Then, perhaps, you know Robin, the butler? If not, let me introduce you to the cellar.

Just. F. I thank you; but I generally contrive to introduce myself into the parlour.

Tod. Then you are an ignoramus, for the best wine never goes there.

Just. F. Indeed. (Aside.) Why you seem to be tolerably intimate in the family?

Tod. Hand and glove, from the garret to the cellar: I romp with the maids, and tipple with the butler.

Just. F. Then you don't know the master?

Tod, I wouldn't be seen in his company: he hasn't the soul of a tom-tit, nor the spirit of a dried herring; he's duller than a water drinker, and worse company than an empty bottle. No, no, Robin's the lad: I shall never forget him. some of my master's very old port; none but his particular friends ever drink it; therefore, says he, if you and I drink it, we shall be his particular friends, Pretty good logic! Your opinion, sir?

Now, says he, I'll give you

Just. F. Excellent. The fellow has put me into a cold sweat. (Aside:)

Tod. Out it came-for you know there may be two keys to one lock: out it came; but we were both so comical, we could neither of us draw the cork. Now you know there are two ways of getting wine out of a bottle-imprimis, drawing the cork; that, I presume, is your way.

Just. F. You are right, sir.

Tod. Secundo-knocking off the neck of the bottle.

Just, F. That, I presume, was your way,
Tod. You are right, sir.

Just. F. However, at present, I'd recommend you to take care of your own neck. Here, Walter ! John! and the rest of you, seize this fellow, and bring him along.

AIR 19th. (Duet.)

Just. F. Take him away!

Tod.

Your reason, I pray?

Just. F. To be brief, you're a thief,

Tod.

And you'll certainly hang,

Unless you impeach

The rest of the gang.

We are but two, as I told you but now,

And each an honest fellow;

For Robin, he's as drunk as a sow,

And I'm a little mellow;

Therefore let me be liberated.

I'm not drunk, as you see,

Tho' perhaps I may be

A little elevated.

Just. F. No, you must not be liberated.

Tho' when brought before me,

In due time you shall be

A little elevated.

[Exeunt.