These drew him back, till Juliet's Hut appear'd, Where Love had drawn him when he should have fear'd.

There sat the Father in his wicker Throne,

Uttering his Curses in tremendous tone;
With foulest Names his Daughter he revil'd,
And look'd a very Herod at the Child:
Nor was she patient, but with equal scorn,
Bade him remember when his Joe was born:
Then rose the Mother, eager to begin

Her Plea for Frailty, when the Swain came in.

To him she turn'd, and other Theme began, Show'd him his Boy, and bade him be a Man; "An honest Man, who, when he breaks the Laws, "Will make a Woman honest if there's Cause." With lengthen'd Speech she prov'd what came to pass Was no reflection on a loving Lass:

"If she your Love as Wife and Mother claim, "What can it matter which was first the Name? "But 'tis most base, 'tis Perjury and Theft, "When a lost Girl is like a Widow left; "The Rogue who ruins"-here the Father found His Spouse was treading on forbidden Ground.

"That's not the point,' quoth he,- I don't suppose My good Friend Fletcher to be one of those; 'What's done amiss he 'll mend in proper time'I hate to hear of Villainy and Crime:

"Twas my Misfortune, in the Days of Youth, To find two Lasses pleading for my Truth; The Case was hard, I would with all my Soul Have wedded both, but Law is our Controul; 'So one I took, and when we gain'd a Home, 'Her Friend agreed-what could she more?-to come; And when she found that I'd a widow'd Bed, "Me she desir'd-what could I less?-to wed.

'An easier Case is yours: you 've not the Smart "That two fond Pleaders cause in one Man's Heart; 'You've not to wait from Year to Year distress'd, 'Before your Conscience can be laid at rest; 'There smiles your Bride, there sprawls your new-born • Son,

' —A Ring, a Licence, and the thing is done.' "My loving James," the Lass began her Plea, "I'll make thy Reason take a part with me: "Had I been froward, skittish, or unkind, "Or to thy Person or thy Passion blind; "Had I refus'd, when 'twas thy part to pray, "Or put thee off with Promise and Delay; "Thou might'st in Justice and in Conscience fly, "Denying her who taught thee to deny : "But, James, with me thou hadst an easier Task, "Bonds and Conditions I forbore to ask; "I laid no Traps for thee, no Plots or Plans, "Nor Marriage nam'd by Licence or by Banns; "Nor would I now the Parson's Aid employ, "But for this Cause,"—and up she held her Boy. Motives like these could Heart of Flesh resist? James took the Infant and in triumph kiss'd; Then to his Mother's Arms the Child restor❜d, Made his proud Speech and pledg'd his worthy Word. 'Three Times at Church our Banns shall publish'd be, 'Thy Health be drunk in Bumpers three times three; And thou shalt grace (bedeck'd in Garments gay) "The Christening-Dinner on the Wedding-Day.' James at my Door then made his parting Bow, Took the Green-Man, and is a Master now.

LETTER XII.

PLAYERS.

These are Monarchs none respect,
Heroes, yet an humbled Crew,
Nobles, whom the Crowd correct,
Wealthy Men, whom Duns pursue;

Beauties, shrinking from the View
Of the Day's detecting Eye;
Lovers, who with much ado

Long-forsaken Damsels woo,
And heave the ill-feign'd Sigh.

These are Misers, craving Means
Of Existence through the Day,
Famous Scholars, conning Scenes
Of a dull bewildering Play;
Ragged Beaux and Misses grey

Whom the Rabble praise and blame;
Proud and mean, and sad and gay,

Toiling after Ease, are they,
Infamous*, and boasting Fame.

* Strolling Players are thus held in a legal sense.

LETTER XII.

PLAYERS.

They arrive in the Borough.-Welcomed by their former Friends.-Are better fitted for Comic than Tragic Scenes: yet better approved in the latter by one part of their Audience.-Their general Character and Pleasantry.-Particular Distresses and Labours.-Their Fortitude and Patience.-A private Rehearsal.-The Vanity of the aged Actress.-A Heroine from the Milliner's Shop.-A deluded Tradesman.-Of what Persons the Company is composed.-Character and Adventures of Frederick Thompson.

DRAWN by the Annual Call, we now behold
Our Troop Dramatic, Heroes known of old,
And those, since last they march'd, inlisted and enroll'd:
Mounted on Hacks or borne in Waggons some,
The rest on Foot (the humbler Brethren) come.
Three favour'd Places, an unequal Time,
Join to support this Company sublime :
Ours for the longer Period-see how light

Yon Parties move, their former Friends in sight,

Whose Claims are all allow'd, and Friendship glads the

Night.

Now public Rooms shall sound with Words divine,

And private Lodgings hear how Heroes shine;