2nd Officer. Pray, be hanged quickly, Sir; for I am to go to a Fair hard by.

1st Officer. And I am to meet some friends to drink out a stand of ale by and by.

1st Woman. Nay, pray let him speak, and die like a Christian.

2nd Woman. O, I have heard brave speeches at this place before.

Footpad. Well, good people-if I may be bold to call you so this Pulpit was not of my chusing. I shall shortly preach mortality to you without speaking, therefore pray take example by me, and then I know what will become of ye. I will be, I say, your memento mori, hoping you will all follow me.

1st Fellow. O he speaks rarely.

2nd Fellow. Aye, does Latin it.

Footpad. I have been too covetous, and at last taken for it, and am very sorry for it. I have been a great sinner, and condemned for it, which grieves me not a little, that I made not my escape, and so I heartily repent it, and so I die with this true confession.

1st Woman (weeping). Mercy on him, for a better man was never hanged.

2nd Woman. So true and hearty repentance, and so pious. 2nd Fellow. Help him up higher on the ladder. Now you are above us all.

Footpad. Truly I desire you were all equal with me; I have no pride in this world.

1st Fellow. Will you not sing, Sir, before you are hanged?

Footpad. No, I thank you; I am not so merrily disposed.

Hangman. Come, are you ready?

Footpad. Yes, I have been preparing for you these many years.

1st Woman. Mercy on him and save his better part.
2nd Woman. You see what we must all come to.
(Horn blows a repriere.)

Officer. A reprieve! how came that?
Post. My Lady Haughty procured it.

Footpad. I will always say, while I live, that her Ladyship is a civil person.

1st Fellow. Pish, what must he not be hanged now? 2nd Fellow. What did we come all this way for this? 1st Woman. Take all this pains to see nothing? Footpad. Very pious good people, I shall shew you no sport this day.

MAMAMOUCHI: A COMEDY. BY EDWARD
RAVENSCROFT, 1675.

Foolish Lender.

Debtor. As to my affairs, you know I stand indebted

to you.

Creditor. A few dribbling sums, Sir.

Debt. You lent 'em me very frankly, and with a great deal of generosity, and much like a gentleman.

Cred. You are pleased to say so.

Debt. But I know how to receive kindnesses, and to make returns according to the merits of the person that obliges me.

Cred. No man better.

Debt. Therefore pray let's see how our accounts stand. Cred. They are down here in my table book.

Debt. I am a man that love to acquit myself of all obligations as soon

Cred. See the memorandum.

Debt. You have set it all down.

Cred. All.

Debt. Pray read

Cred. Lent, the second time I saw you, one hundred guineas.

Debt. Right.

Cred. Another time fifty.

Debt. Yes.

Cred. Lent for a certain occasion, which I did not tell you, one hundred and fifty.

Debt. Did I not? that I should conceal any thing from my friend!

Cred. No matter.

Debt. It looks like mistrust, which is a wrong to friendship

Cred. O Lord!

Debt. I am so ashamed!—for I dare trust my soul with you. I borrowed it, to lend a person of quality, whom I employed to introduce me to the King, and recommend to his particular favour, that I might be able to do you service in your affairs.

Cred. O did you so? then that debt is as it were paid; I'll cross it out.

Debt. By no means; you shall have it, or I vow-
Cred. Well, Sir, as you please.

Debt. I vow I would ne'er have borrowed of you again, as long as you lived-but proceed—

Cred. Another time one hundred

Debt. O, that was to send into France to my wife to

bring her over, but the Queen would not part with her

then ;

and since, she is fallen sick.

Cred. Alas!

Debt. But pretty well recovered—

Cred. These four sums make up four hundred gui

neas

Debt. Just as can be; a very good account.

Put

down two hundred more, which I will borrow of vo now; and then it will be just six hundred: that is, if will be no inconvenience to you—

Cred. Euh, not in the least

Debt. It is to make up a sum of two thousand pounds, which I am about to lay up in houses I have bought; but if it incommode you, I can have it elsewhere

Cred. O, by no means—

Debt. You need but tell me, if it will be any troubleCred. Lord, Sir, that you will think so

Debt. I know some will be glad of the occasion to serve me; but these are favours only to be asked of special friends. I thought you, being my most esteemed friend, would take it ill, if you should come to hear of it, that I did not ask you firstCred. It is a great honour.

LOVE'S METAMORPHOSIS: A COMEDY. BY JOHN LILY, M. A., 1601.

Love half-denied is Lore half-confest.

NISA. NIOBE, her maid.

Nisa. I fear Niobe is in love.

Niobe. Not I, madam; yet must I confess, that oftentimes I have had sweet thoughts, sometimes hard conceits; betwixt both, a kind of yielding; I know not what; but certainly I think it is not love: sigh I can, and find ease in melancholy smile I do, and take pleasure in imagination: I feel in myself a pleasing pain, a chill heat, a delicate bitterness; how to term it I know not; without doubt it may be Love; sure I am it is not Hate

SAPHO AND PHAO: A COMEDY. BY THE SAME AUTHOR, 1601.

Phao, a poor Ferryman, praises his condition.-He ferries over Venus; who inflames Sapho and him with a mutual passion.

Phao. Thou art a ferryman, Phao, yet a freeman ; possessing for riches content, and for honours quiet. Thy thoughts are no higher than thy fortunes, nor thy desires greater than thy calling. Who climbeth, standeth on glass, and falleth on thorn. Thy heart's thirst is satisfied with thy hand's thrift, and thy gentle labours in the day turn to sweet slumbers in the night. As much doth it delight thee to rule thy oar in a calm stream, as it doth Sapho to sway the sceptre in her brave court. Envy never casteth her eye low, ambition pointeth always upward, and revenge barketh only at stars. Thou farest delicately, if thou have a fare to buy any thing. Thine angle is ready, when thy oar is idle; and as sweet is the fish which thou gettest in the river, as the fowl which others buy in the market. Thou needest not fear poison in thy glass, nor treason in thy guard. The wind is thy greatest enemy, whose might is withstood by policy. O sweet life! seldom found under a golden covert, often under a thatcht cottage. But here cometh one; I will withdraw myself aside; it may be a passenger.

VENUS, PHAO: She, as a mortal.

Ven. Pretty youth, do you keep the ferry, that conducteth to Syracusa ?

Phao. The ferry, fair lady, that conducteth to Syra

cusa.