A SONG.

I.

'Gainst keepers we petition,

Who would inclose the common:
'Tis enough to raise sedition
In the free-born subject, woman.
Because for his gold,

I my body have sold,

He thinks I'm a slave for my life;

He rants, domineers,

He swaggers and swears,

And would keep me as bare as his wife.

II.

'Gainst keepers we petition, &c.

'Tis honest and fair,

That a feast I prepare;

But when his dull appetite's o'er,

I'll treat with the rest

Some welcomer guest,

For the reckoning was paid me before.

Wood. A song against keepers! this makes well for us lusty lovers.

Trick. [Above.] Father, father Aldo!

Aldo. Daughter Tricksy, are you there, child? your friends at Barnet are all well, and your dear master Limberham, that noble Hephestion, is returning with them.

Trick. And you are come upon the spur before, to acquaint me with the news.

Aldo. Well, thou art the happiest rogue in a kind keeper! He drank thy health five times, supernaculum,* to my son Brain-sick; and dipt my daugh

* The custom of drinking supernaculum, consisted in turning down the cup upon the thumb-nail of the drinker after his pledge,

ter Pleasance's little finger, to make it go down more glibly:* And, before George, I grew tory rory, as they say, and strained a brimmer through the lily-white smock, i'faith.

Trick. You will never leave these fumbling tricks, father, till you are taken up on suspicion of manhood, and have a bastard laid at your door: I am sure you would own it, for your credit.

Aldo. Before George, I should not see it starve, for the mother's sake: For, if she were a punk, she was good-natured, I warrant her.

Wood. [Aside.] Well, if ever son was blest with a hopeful father, I am.

Trick. Who is that gentleman with you?

Aldo. A young monsieur returned from travel; a lusty young rogue; a true-milled whoremaster, with the right stamp. He is a fellow-lodger, incorporate in our society: For whose sake he came hither, let him tell

you.

when, if duly quaffed off, no drop of liquor ought to appear upon

his nail.

With that she set it to her nose,
And off at once the rumkin goes ;
No drops beside her muzzle falling,
Until that she had supp'd it all in:
Then turning't topsey on her thumb,
Says-look, here's supernaculum.

Cotton's Virgil travestie.

This custom seems to have been derived from the Germans, who held, that if a drop appeared on the thumb, it presaged grief and misfortune to the person whose health was drunk.

*This piece of dirty gallantry seems to have been fashionable:

Come, Phyllis, thy finger, to begin the go round;

How the glass in thy hand with charms does abound!
You and the wine to each other lend arms,

And I find that my love

Does for either improve,

For that does redouble, as you double your charms.

Wood. [Aside.] Are you gloating already? then there's hopes, i'faith.

Trick. You seem to know him, father.

Aldo. Know him! from his cradle-What's your

name?

Wood. Woodall.

Aldo. Woodall of Woodall; I knew his father; we were contemporaries, and fellow-wenchers in our youth.

Wood. [Aside.] My honest father stumbles into truth, in spite of lying.

Trick. I was just coming down to the gardenhouse, before you came. [TRICKSY descends. Aldo. I am sorry I cannot stay to present my son, Woodall, to you; but I have set you together, that's enough for me.

[Exit.

Wood. [Alone.] 'Twas my study to avoid my father, and I have run full into his mouth; and yet I have a strong hank upon him too; for I am privy to as many of his virtues, as he is of mine. After all, if I had an ounce of discretion left, I should pursue this business no farther; but two fine women in a house! well, it is resolved, come what will on it, thou art answerable for all my sins, old Aldo

Enter TRICKSY, with a box of essences. Here she comes, this heir-apparent of a sempstress, and a cobler! and, yet, as she's adorned, she looks like any princess of the blood. [Salutes her.

Trick. [Aside.] What a difference there is between this gentleman and my feeble keeper, Mr Limberham! he's to my wish, if he would but make the least advances to me.-Father Aldo tells me, sir, you are a traveller: What adventures have you had in foreign countries?

Wood. I have no adventures of my own, can deserve your curiosity; but, now I think on it, I can

tell you one that happened to a French cavalier, a friend of mine, at Tripoli.

Trick. No wars, I beseech you: I am so weary of father Aldo's Loraine and Crequi.

Wood. Then this is as you would desire it, a loveadventure. This French gentleman was made a slave to the Dey of Tripoli; by his good qualities, gained his master's favour; and after, by corrupting an eunuch, was brought into the seraglio privately, to see the Dey's mistress..

Trick. This is somewhat.; proceed, sweet sir. Wood. He was so much amazed, when he first beheld her leaning over a balcony, that he scarcely dared to lift his eyes, or speak to her.

Trick. [Aside.] I find him now. But what fol

lowed of this dumb interview?

Wood. The nymph was gracious, and came down to him; but with so goddess-like a presence, that the poor gentleman was thunder-struck again.

Trick. That savoured little of the monsieur's gal. lantry, especially when the lady gave him encouragement.

Wood. The gentleman was not so dull, but he understood the favour, and was presuming enough to try if she was mortal. He advanced with more assurance, and took her fair hands; was he not too bold, madam? and would not you have drawn back yours, had you been in the sultana's place?

Trick. If the sultana liked him well enough to come down into the garden to him, I suppose she came not thither to gather nosegays.

Wood. Give me leave, madam, to thank you, in my friend's behalf, for your favourable judgment. [Kisses her hand.] He kissed her hand with an exceeding transport; and finding that she prest his at the same instant, he proceeded with a greater eagerness to her lips-but, madam, the story would be

without life, unless you give me leave to act the circumstances. [Kisses her. Trick. Well, I'll swear you are the most natural historian!

Wood. But now, madam, my heart beats with joy, when I come to tell you the sweetest part of his adventure. Opportunity was favourable, and love was on his side; he told her the chamber was more private, and a fitter scene for pleasure. Then, looking on her eyes, he found them languishing; he saw her cheeks blushing, and heard her voice faultering in a half-denial; he seized her hand with an amorous ecstacy, and [Takes her hand.

Trick. Hold, sir, you act your part too far. Your friend was unconscionable, if he desired more fa vours at the first interview.

Wood. He both desired and obtained them, madam, and so will.

Trick. [A noise within.] Heavens! I hear Mr Limberham's voice; he's returned from Barnet. Wood. I'll avoid him.

Trick. That's impossible; he'll meet you. Let me think a moment:-Mrs Saintly is abroad, and cannot discover you: have any of the servants seen you? Wood. None.

Trick. Then you shall pass for my Italian merchant of essences; here's a little box of them just ready.

Wood. But I speak no Italian; only a few broken scraps, which I picked from Scaramouch and Harlequin at Paris.

Trick. You must venture that: When we are rid of Limberham, 'tis but slipping into your chamber, throwing off your black periwig, and riding suit, and you come out an Englishman. No more; he's

here.