term-Let me see-no matter how long-But I'll tell you one thing; it is a question that would puzzle an arithmetician, if I should ask him, whether the Bible saves more souls in Westminster Abbey, or damns more in Westminster Hall -For my part, I am Honesty, and can't tell; I have very few acquaintance. Sir S. Body o' me, he talks sensibly in his madness -Has he no intervals ?

Jer. Very short, sir.

Buck. Sir, can do you no service while he's in this condition. Here's your paper, sir.He may do me a mischief if I stay.The conveyance is ready, sir, if he recover his senses.

Sir S. Hold, hold, don't you go yet.

[Exit.

Scand. You'd better let him go, sir; and send for him if there be occasion: for I fancy his presence provokes him more.

Val. Is the lawyer gone? 'Tis well; then we may drink about without going together by the ears.— Heigh ho! what o'clock is it! My father here! your blessing, sir.

Sir S. He recovers!-Bless thee, Val!-How dost thou do, boy?

Val. Thank you, sir, pretty well.-I have been a little out of order. Won't you please to sit, sir? Sir S. Ay, boy.-Come, thou shalt sit down by me." Val. Sir, 'tis my duty to wait.

Sir S. No, no: come, come, sit thee down, honest Val. How dost thou do? let me feel thy pulse—Oh, pretty well now, Val. Body o'me, I was sorry to see

thee indisposed: but I am glad thou art better, honest Val.

Val. I thank you, sir.

Scand. Miracle! The monster grows loving.

[Aside.

Sir S. Let me feel thy hand again, Val. It does not shake-I believe thou canst write, Val. Ha, boy thou canst write thy name, Val-Jeremy, step and overtake Mr. Buckram? bid him make haste back with the conveyance,-quick!

[Exit Jeremy. Scand. That ever I should suspect such a heathen of any remorse. [Aside. Sir S. Dost thou know this paper, Val? I know thou'rt honest, and will perform articles.

[Shews him the paper, but holds it out of his reach. Val. Pray let me see it, sir; you hold it so far off, that I can't tell whether I know it or no.

Sir S. See it, boy? Ay, ay, why thou dost see it 'tis thy own hand, Vally. Why, let me see, I can read it as plain as can be: look you here [Reads.] The condition of this obligation-Look you, as plain as can be, so it begins-And then at the bottom-As witness my hand, VALENTINE LEGEND, in great letters. Why, 'tis as plain as the nose on one's face. What, are my eyes better than thine? I believe I can read it farther off yet-let me see.

[Stretches his arm as far as he can. Val. Will you please to let me hold it, sir?

Sir S. Let thee hold it, say'st thou -Ay, with all

my heart-What matter is it who holds it? What need any body hold it ?—I'll put it in my pocket, Val, and then nobody need hold it. [Puts the paper in his pocket ] There, Val: it's safe enough, boy.But thou shalt have it as soon as thou hast set thy hand to another paper, little Val.

Enter JEREMY and BUCKRAM.

Val. What, is my bad genius here again? Oh no, 'tis the lawyer with an itching palm; and he's come to be scratched.—My nails are not long enough.Let me have a pair of red-hot tongs quickly, quickly; and you shall see me act St. Dunstan, and lead the devil by the nose.

Buck. O Lord, let me be gone! I'll not venture myself with a madman. [Runs out. Val. Ha, ha, ha! you need not run so fast. Honesty will not overtake you.-Ha, ha, ha! the rogue found me out to be in forma pauperis presently.

Sir S. Oons! what a vexation is here! I know not what to do or say, or which way to go.

Val. Who's that, that's out of his way? I am Ho-nesty, and can set him right.-Harkee, friend, the strait road is the worst way you can go.-He that follows his nose always, will very often be led into a stink. Probatum est.-But what are you for? religion or politics? There's a couple of topics for you, no more like one another than oil and vinegar; and yet these two beaten together by a state cook, make sauce for the whole nation.

Sir S. What the devil had I to do, ever to beget

sons? why did I ever marry?

Val. Because thou wert a monster, old boy.

The

two greatest monsters in the world, are a man and a woman. What's thy opinion?

Sir S. Why my opinion is, that these two monsters joined together make yet a greater; that's a man and his wife.

Val. Aha, old Truepenny! say'st thou so? Thou hast nicked it. But it is wonderful strange, Jeremy. Jer. What is it, sir?

Val. That grey hairs should cover a green head— and I make a fool of my father. What's here? Erra Pater, or a bearded Sibyl? If Prophecy comes, Honesty must give place. [Exeunt Valentine and Jeremy.

Enter FORESIGHT, Mrs. FORESIGHT, and Mrs.
FRAIL.

For. What says he? What did he prophesy? Ha,
Sir Sampson! Bless us! how are we?

Sir S. Are we? A pox on your prognostications! Why, we are fools as we used to be.-Oons, that you could not foresee that the moon would predominate, and my son be mad!-Where's your oppositions, your trines, and your quadrates?" What did your "Cardan and your Ptolemy tell you? Your Messa"halah and your Longomontanus, your harmony of "chiromancy with astrology!" Ah! pox on't, that I who know the world, and men and manners, who don't believe a syllable in the sky and stars, and sun

and almanacks, and trash, should be directed by a dreamer, an omen-hunter, and defer business in expectation of a lucky hour! when, body o'me! there never was a lucky hour after the first opportunity. [Exit.

For. Ah, Sir Sampson, Heaven help your head!

-This is none of your lucky hour-Nemo omnibus horis sapit !- -What is he gone, and in contempt of science? Ill stars and unconvertible ignorance attend him!

Scand. You must excuse his passion, Mr. Foresight; for he has been heartily vexed.-His son is Non compos mentis, and thereby incapable of making any conveyance in law; so that all his measures are disappointed.

For. Ha! say you so?

Mrs. F. What, has my sea lover lost his anchor of hope then? [Aside to Mrs. Foresight. Mrs. For. O sister, what will you do with him?

Mrs. F. Do with him? Send him to sea again in the next foul weather.-He's used to an inconstant element, and won't be surprised to see the tide turned.

For. Wherein was I mistaken, not to foresee this? [Considers. Scand. Madam, you and I can tell him something else that he did not foresee, and more particularly relating to his own fortune! [Aside to Mrs. Foresight.

"Mrs. For. What do you mean? I don't under"stand you.