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VOLUNTEERS.

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ACT I.

SCENE I. A VILLAGE.

Enter CAPTAIN and NIMBLE.

Nimb. Now, Sir, I've brought you to the spot.

Capt. But to what purpose, unless you can introduce me immédiately to Sophia.

Nimb. Softly, foftly, good Captain, you must make your approaches by degrees You may enter the garrifon by fratagem, but I'll be hang'd if ever you can take it by ftorm, old Lovestory keeps fuch ftrict discipline.

Capt. Good Sir, pleafe to drop your metaphors, and tell me in plain language what I'm to do. Nimb. Do you fee this head, Sir?

Capt. Perfectly well.

Nimb. And perfect you fhall find it. My full-
Capt. Is exceffive thick.

Nimb. The thicker the better. It has many times food cane proof in your fervice. But as I told you before, Mr. Flourish is hourly expected to marry Mifs Sophy.

Capt. And with her father's approbation?

Nimb His approbation! his requeft;-he fends his wishes more than half way to meet him.

Capt. And yet her father never faw this Flourish. Nimb. But he has heard of him-you wish to be ad mitted into the house?

Capt. By all means.

Nimb. Or by any means, to be prefent at the marriage?

Capt. To prevent the marriage.

Nimb. Now you fpeak like yourfelf. Have you ever .heard of Cleekim the Conftable?

Capt. Yea, but I never faw him.

Nimb. So much the better. He and I are jolly companions over a gla!s. Yesterday he told me that he wanted to hire a flout fellow as an attendant.

Capt. Well.

Nirab. Do you think you cou'd officiatefapt. What do you mean?

Nimb. To ferve you, Sir. The Conftable comes here to-day upon fome bufinefs

Capt. I understand you. I'm to come with him. Nimb. That's my meaning. Difguife yourself, and if you mention my name.

Capt. I cannot fail of fuccefs?

Nimb. But if you should fail of success?

Capt. I'll bid adieu to my country, and face the enemy abroad.

Nimb. You need not be too rafh, 'tis the general opi nion you may fee them here this fummer? Capt. If your head never aches till thenNimb. You think I need not complain? Capt. Indeed I think fo?

Nimb. But if they shou'd really come?

Capt. We'll have the pleasure of sending them back

again.

Nimb Not allWe'll keep fome of them.

Capt. Such as will have no mind to go back? Nimb True, they'll have no mind, we'll make them forget the way.

Capt I hope fo.

Nimb. As they come to conquer, we'll allow themTM fome ground.

Capt Yes, as much as will cover them..

Nimb. We cannot grudge them that. Run to Mr. Cleckim, and come back again, I'll introduce you.

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SCENE II. Loveflory's House.

Enter LOVESTORY, and THOMAS.

Lovef. Well, Thomas, any news? is the mail arrived yet?

Them. No, Sir, but your daughter's Captain is ar rived.

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Love The devil he is! what cou'd have brought him? Tham. Your good fervant Mr. Nimble brought him? Love. Did he! By the Great Mogul, I plainly forefee I'll give him a good beating. Here he comesEnter NIMBLE.

Your fervant Mr. Nimble

Nimb. No, Sir, 'tis I that am your fervant.

Lovef. And how long have you been in my service?" Nimb. I came to you that very day on which the Duke of York embark'd with the Guards, and please your Worship.

Love. You pleafe my Worship very well, and have not I been a pretty good mafter?

Nimb. Yes, Sir, very pretty, and very good.
I have fomething for you.

Love Wait here a little.

Nimb. Oh fie! Sir, you're too good. I'm fure I deferve nothing. Love

Oh yes, you do; and, by the Great Mogul, you fhall have it.

[Exit.

Nimb. Ha, ha, ha,—what can it be, Thomas? Some caft-off clothes perhaps ay, ay. Something for the back I'll warrant?

Thom. Perhaps you'll find it fo

Enter LOVESTORY, with two cudgels.

Level Now, Mr. Nimble, if you're at leifure, we'll fettle our accompts.

Nimb. Oh Lord! no, Sir, you owe me nothing. Love. Yes I do; and while I have the means in my hand, by the Great Mogul, I'll pay you [Beats him Thomas, you're a witnefs, put to you're hand

Thim Pardon me, Sir, I cannot write..

Love What fignifies that, you can make your mark? Thom. Yes, yes, I can make my mark.

Lovef. Here then. [Gives him a ftick, they both firike. If you don't beat time, I'll knock you into eternity. Nimb. Hold! hold!" in the devil's name what's this for?

Love For bringing the Volunteer Captain here; now, are you fatified?

Nimb. Well, this is pretty ufage indeed, för endeavouring to ferve you.

Lovef. Serve me, you dog!

Nimb Yes, ferve you, I fay. I brought the Captain here to make him and Mife Sophy quarrel.

Lovef. 'Tis all a joke. But tell me how were you to make them quarrel?

Nimb I had contriv'd à ftory, but you were molt graciously pleas'd to knock every word of it out of my head with a fwinging cudgel.

Love. But what fignifies whether they quarrel or not, for fhe's to marry Mr. Flourish as foon as he arrives. Nimb. Yes, yes, Mr. Flourish may have her perfon, but her heart fhall be the Captain's.

Lovef. By the Great Mogul, that's true; make them quarrel and I'll fhew you fome mark of my favour.

Nimb. I can fhew you twenty marks of your favour on my back and fhoulders.

Love Touch no more upon that ftring, it makes the harfheft mufre

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Nimb Mufic! I fuppofe you have Audied mufic. You and Thomas kept excellent time. upon my back and fhoulders, but the next time you get into your musical raptores, I beg you'll chufe fome other inftrument to fhew your fkili upon.

Love Here, here, take this trifle, but will you do me. jultice?

Nimb. Juftice! I'm the very emblem of juftice. I'm myfelf the beam, and my two pockets the fcales. He that throws in moft, is fure to weigh me down.

Love, But if the Captain fhou'd bribe you. to deceive. me &

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Nimb. There's no danger of that. For inftance, if the Captain fhou'd offer me Fire Guineas, I'll come to you and afk Ten.

Love. You're devilish kind. But go and make them quarrel. You know all their fecrets You that folder'd their connection, are the only person to diffolve it.

Nimh. You authorife me to ufe every mean in my power to break off their connection.

Loves. Yes, yes, by all means; and I'll reward you handfomely.

Nimb. But you must give me it under your hand, on black and white, left you fhou'd forget.

Loves. Meet me in my ftudy, and you shall have it. Nimb. What pleasure shall I take to be reveng'd on the Captain for beating me once. I fhall never forgive a man that beats me.

[Exit. Lovef. Thomas, did you tell Mr. Cleekim the ConAtable to call upon me?

Them. Yes, Sir.

Loves. Did you fee Mr. Flourish when you were in the country.

Thom. Not I, Sir, he was at Edinburgh taking poffeffion of his Uncle's eftate.

Lovef. Ay, Mr. Pendulum writes, that his Uncle's death has made him Mafter of a good fortune.

Enter a SERVANT.

Serv. Sir, Mr. Flourish is to wait upon you.
Loves Introduce him by all means.

Enter FLOURISH.

Flour. Mr. Loveftory, I prefume-this small recommendatory Epiftle will tell you who I am.

[Giving a letter. Lovef. My dear Mr. Flourish, welcome to my houfe, What news in your travels? Do you know if the mail's arriv'd?

Flour. News! damn news! What one paper affirme another contradicts-I'm an Atheist in news; that's my temper. I know as much as fome of them, but I pretend nothing.

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