there was when Prince Edward went through it. All the ladies are as much in the fidgets to see the conjurer, as they were to see him.

Think. It is much easier to account for these things than to justify them. We shall always act beneath ourselves, while we look up to such worthless wretches as our superiors. Prince Edward was certainly no more than a man. This conjurer in my opinion, is much less: I consider him beneath contempt. I am as great a friend to mirth as yourself; but it is really mortifying that my friends should be so anxious to make themselves the objects of ridicule.

Rich. This is your old strain, Master Think well. I know you are apt to get round me in your arguments; but I believe the conjurer knows much more than both of us. I might go to you to learn grammar, arithmetic, and the common branches that are taught at school; but I shall go to him to have my fortune told.

me,

Think. Have patience; and time, the only true fortune-teller, will disclose the future, without any pay, fast enough for your happiness or profit. Let me advise you to lay out your money for more valuable commodities than such gross imposition. Believe Richard, this man was never admitted into the cabinet of futurity any more than you or I, and knows no more of the events of to-morrow, next day, or next year, than the orang outang.

Rich. All our neighbours think very differently. He has told Mrs. Primble where she may find her silver spoon; and Sam Hodkins, the very day he is to be married; and the very first moment he cast his eyes 'on Bill Blunder's face, he saw the scar on his foot, and told him he had been wounded with an ax.

Think. Depend on it, Richard, it is all gross imposition. What careless lad is there, who uses an axe, that has not a scar on his feet?

Rich. If a man of common learning can foretel what is past, I don't see, for my part, why a conjurer may

not foretel what is to come. [Knocking at the door.] Ah! Aunt Betty Wrinkle, I know by her rap.

Enter BETTY WRINKLE.

Betty. How do you do, Richard? a word with you, if you please cousin. [To Richard. They go to the other side of the room.] Is the fortune teller at your house, Richard?

Rich. He is casting a figure in the back room.

Betty. Can I see him? I wish to ask him a few questions in private.

Enter Mrs. CREDULOUS and JACK, in haste. Mrs. Credulous. Law, sister Betty! I am glad to see you! I am half frighted out of my senses!

Betty. What is the matter, sister?

Mrs. Cred. I have been looking through the keyhole to see the conjurer. I believe there is a spell of enchantment on him! The room will be full of spirits in five minutes!

Betty. O, don't be frighted, sister; if he can conjure them up, he can conjure them down again. He won't let them hurt you. I shouldn't be afraid to go right into the room among them, not I.

Rich. If they were to come in the shape of widowers or old bachelors, perhaps you would not.

Betty. Law, how you joke, cousin. [Cuffing his ears. Mrs. Cred. This is no jesting matter, I assure you. I could see plainly the candle burnt blue; there was a circle of fire round his head, and it began to smoke out of his mouth and nose.

Betty, Poh! nothing more than his breath, I dare say. fack. And I thought I saw the shadow of a spirit. The cat saw it too; for she looked as wild as though *she would fly out of the window.

Betty. Well you won't frighten me. I am determined to see him, if he breathes nothing but fire and smoke.

Conj. [Speaking loud in the other room.] Horum quorum spiritorum, veniunto!

Mrs. Cred. Law, me! the very ghosts are come now! he is talking to them.

Think. They will never understand him, unless he uses better Latin.

Mrs. Cred. O, good master Thinkwell! you can talk Latin; do go and pray them, for mercy's sake! beseech them to leave the house. Do, quick!

Think. Do compose yourself, Mrs. Credulous: there are no worse spirits here than ignorance and folly; and they, of all others, are the most incorrigible. If you please, I will go and turn this scape-gallows out of your house, and put an end to your fears. [Going.

Mrs. Cred. O, stop! don't think of such a thing for the world. If we should affront him, he would raise a tempest and carry the house away in a minute. Mercy on me! he knows what you have said now! How dark it grows! O, the wind begins to rise! I will leave the house! we shall all be flying in the air in an instant!

Rich. Don't be terrified, ma'am. I dont hear any wind.

Jack. I do; and see it too, [Looking out at the window.] Dear me! how black it is!

Betty. You are very much frighted, sister. For my part, I am not afraid of the conjurer or any other man. Rich. You were never quite so shy of them as they are of you.

Betty. Shy of me!

Mrs. Cred. Well, you must all take care of yourselves. I will run over to Mr. Rector's the minister. He may save the house; he is a good man. What would I give if I had never seen this wicked conjurer! [Going out of the door.] Mercy! the ground rises up under my feet; I can almost hear it thunder! Dear me, I shall meet a spirit! Master Thinkwell, you are not apt to be frighted; do go with me to the minister's. Think. At your request I will. For your credit's sake, compose yourselves, and let not this shameful affair be related abroad. [Exit Thinkwell.

Betty. I'm sure I don't see any cause for all this flutteration.

Jack. I believe I was more scared than hurt. The cat, I see, has got over her fright: she is playing in the entry as sprightly as you, aunt Betty.

Betty. Well said, Jack. [Patting his cheeks.] Do you think I could speak with the conjurer now,

ard?

Rich

Rich. I see nothing of any spirits yet. We will venture to go and see what he is about.

[They go out of the room. SCENE changes and discovers the Conjurer sitting at a table and making characters in a large book. He rises, takes his wand, and moves it slowly round a large circle, drawn on the floor, and filled with char

acters.

Betty. [Advancing slowly.] Law me, my heart is in my mouth! I dare not speak to him. [She stands and looks at him, and on Richard and Fack at the other side of the room, alternately.

Conj. Horum charactarius in hoc circulum omnes planetorum atque eorum inhabitantibusque recto representur; et atque genii spiritorumque.

Betty. Bless me! what a world of learning he has! I can't understand a word he says.

Fack. [To Richard.] That circle is full of spirits, I suppose he has made them put on their coats of air that we might not see them.

Conj. I perceive, lady, by the mystic characters of this circle, you approach this way to inquire into the occult mysteries of fate, and to know of me your future destiny.

Betty. He knows my very thoughts. [Aside.] Learned Sir, be so good as to take this, and answer me a few questions I shall ask you.

[Offering him a piece of money. Conj. You must first answer me a few questions. Your name, madam?

Betty. Elizabeth Wrinkle, at your service, Sir. Conj. [Writing her name in his book.] Do you recollect whether the day that Burgoyne was captured was clear or cloudy?

Betty. That was quite before my remembrance, Sir, [Looking in a glass.] I am sure no body could take me for more than twenty-five.

Conj. I am not to be deceived, madam.

[Looking out at the window through his glass. Jack. [To Richard.] Hark! we shall know her age now. He looks clear through time, with that glass, as easy as you can look through a key-hole.

Betty. Good Sir, don't expose me! pray speak low. Conj. Young men, withdraw, and shut that door. [Richard and Fack leave the room. I told you I was not to be deceived. You were born, Anno Domini, one thousand, seven hundred and

Betty. Law me! how should he know I was born. in fifty-five? The treacherous stars must have betrayed me; not my looks, I am sure.

[Aside. Conj. I tell you furthermore, the very man, whom the fates had singled out for your husband, by the fatal destiny of the stars, was slain at the taking of Burgoyne.

Betty. Dear me! O cruel stars, and more cruel Britons! how many husbands and wives have ye separated! Were it not for you, I should have been married twenty years ago. But since the fates have been so very cruel, don't you think they will be so kind as to provide me -you know what I mean, Mr. Con

jurer.

Conj. Another husband. I will inquire..

[Moving his wand round the circle.

Enter Mr. CREDULOUS and BLUSTER.

Betty. Law, Brother, you have come in the very nick of time. I was just going to ask the Conjurer about your horse.

Conj. By the mysterious numbers of this circle,

Q