tence! But pray, Sir, don't you think this kind of freedom with your customers detrimental to your trade?

Maft. No, no, Sir; the odd character I have acquired by this rough kind of fincerity and plain-dealing, together with the whimsical humour of moralizing upon every trifle I fell, are the things which, by raising people's curiofity, furnish me with all my customers: and it is only fools and coxcombs I am fo free with.

i La. And, in my opinion, you are in the right of it. Folly and impertinence ought always to be the objects of fatire and ridicule.

Gent. Nay, upon fecond thoughts, I don't know but this odd turn of mind, which you have given yourself may not only be entertaining to feveral of your cuftomers, but perhaps very much fo to yourself.

Maft. Vaftly fo, Sir. It very often helps me to fpeculations infinitely agreeable. I can fit behind this counter, and fancy my little fhop, and the tranfactions of it, an agreeable representation of the grand theatre of the world.When I fee a fool come in here, and throw away fifty or an hundred guineas for a trifle that is not really worth a fhilling, I am furprifed. But when I look out into the world, and fee lordships and manors barter'd away for gilt coaches and equipage; an estate for a title; and an eafy freedom in retirement for a fervile attendance in a crowd; when I fee health with eagerness exchanged for difeafes, and happiness for a game at hazard; my wonder ceafes. Surely the world is a great toy-shop, and all its inhabitants run mad for rattles.Nay, even the very wifest of us, however we may ourfelves, have fome failing or weakness, fome toy or trifle, that we are ridiculously fond of. Yet, fo very partial are we to our own dear felves, that we overlook those mifcarriages in our own conduct which we loudly ex claim against in that of others, and though the fame fool's turbant fits us all.

You fay that I, I fay that you are he;

flatter

And each man fwears, "The cap's not made for me." Gent. Ha, ha! 'tis very true indeed. But I imagine now you begin to think it time to shut up shop. Ladies, do you want any thing else?

i La. No, I think not.-If you please to put up that looking

looking-glafs, and the perspective, I will pay you for them.

*

Gent. Well, Madam, how do you like this whimfical humourift?

1 La. Why, really in my opinion, the man's as great a curiofity himself as any thing he has got in his shop. Gent. He is fo, indeed.

In this gay, thoughtless age, h'as found a way,
In trifling things juft morals to convey;
'Tis his at once to please, and to reform,
And give old fatire a new pow'r to charm.
And, wou'd you guide your lives and actions right,
Think on the maxims you have heard to-night.

EPILOGUE.

WELL, Heav'n be prais'd, this dull, grave fermon's done ¿

(For faith our author might have call'd it one.)

I wonder who the devil he thought to please!
Is this a time o' the day for things like these?
Good fenfe and honeft fatire now offend ;
We're grown too wife to learn, too proud to mend,
And fo divinely wrapt in fongs and tunes,
The next wife age will all be---fiddlers fons.
And did he think plain truth would favour find?
Ab! 'tis a fign be little knows mankind.
To pleafe, he ought to have a fong or dance,
The tune from Italy, the caper France :

Thefe, thefe might charm---But hope to do't with sense !
Alas! alas! bow vain is the pretence?

But though we told him,---Faith twill neʼer do.
Pob, never fear, he cry'd; though grave'tis new.
The whim, perhaps, may please, if not the wit;
And though they don't approve, they may permit.
If neither this nor that will intercede,
Submiffive bend, and thus for pardon plead.

"Ye gen'rous few, to you our author fues,
"His firft effay with candour to excufe.
"'T bas faults he runs; but if they are but small,
He hopes your kind applause will hide them all.”

THE

The curtain rifing, difcovers a fplendid pavilion in the clouds JUNO, PALLAS, and VENUS, at a card-table, playing at Tredrille; on one fide a table, with goblets, &c. IRIS in waiting. During a Symphony, VENUS fhuffles and deals PALLAS frets at her bad cards.

Juno.
Pal. S

Ven. 7

Pal.

Juno.
Pal.

Again Blefs me-again!

Again!

Di'monds are trumps.

Blefs me-again!

(To Venus.) You scarcely pass one hand in ten.
(Peevishly) The cards owe me a spite.
(To Venus.) This lady knows you ;-so do I.
You dealt the cards
could fpy.

Ven. (Throws down her game.) The vol is won.

Pal.

Ven. 7

With matadors,

and we

The vol is won-with matador.
Spadille at bottom-O fie!

Cheats are provoking, Mâm.

Juno. (To Pallas.) Such hints are shocking Mâm.

Pal.

Ven.

Pal. S

Lord, fuch a rout!

Cheats are provoking, Mâm.
Lord, fuch a rout !

Quite fhocking-O fie!

Cheats are provoking,—O fie!

But loofers must have leave to pout.
Cheats are provoking,. Mâm.

But loofers must ha' leave to pout.

Juno. (To Pallas.) Such terms are fhocking, Mâm.

Ven.

Pal.

Juno.

But lofers, &c.

Cheats are, &c.

Such terms, &c. {O fie!

[Juno and Pallas rife in heat, and come forward, Venus fits fill, counting and pocket. ing her gains.

I haven't fince laft Christmas-ris'n a winner.

Juno. That's hard !--So bad a run may well chagrin

Dab! -She's—a keen one ;

At all games-plays th' the whole
Ay, Ay!

Juno,

game.

Pal

Pal.

Match none has!

For flight of hand,-will flip an ace-with Jonas.
Juno. Gambles deep too!

Pal.

Well may-who never lofes : At putt, poor girls-fhe's beggar'd the nine muses; Fine as a queen o' ginger-bread-parades it; But ne'er has paid the wages of her maids yet. Juno. (Laughing.) Like enough-for the Graces and 'tis fcandalous,

Go mother-naked.

Pal. (With Spleen.) Skin-flint-So to randle us!

'Twould 'vex a faint.

AIR II. Doralin.

A thriving trade

The ninning jade

Has pick'd up, here, of choofing us;
With fly flim-flams,

And palming fhams,

At brothel learnt, or boufing-house!

You must poirloin.

In duds to fhine

[Turning to Ven. infolently.

So dizen'd-there's no hoa wi' you;

But the next coin

You nab of mine,

By Pam! I'll pluck a crow wi' yoll.

RECITATIVE.

June. In difapprobation.) Nay-Pallas!

[Venus advances to them fmiling jocofely at Pallas. Ven. (In banter.) Mifs-you're-funny.

Poor dear! haft loft it' temper with it' money! Ha, ha, ha!

Pal. (Exafperated,) Pert chitty-face! 'caufe lewd fops call you pretty;

You fancy those-patch-clenches-smart-and witty. Ven. (Gibing.) Pretty!-The fools!-do they indeed? -Ah, tell us.

Pal. (Contemptuously.) Conceited moppet!

Ven. (Waggibly.) Sure, Mifs-you an't jealous. [Takes out a pocket glass, and views herself affectedly.