FANTOME.

Enter SIR GEORGE in his own habit.

Ha! what's that! Sir George Truman! This

can be no counterfeit. His dress! his shape! his face! the very wound of which he died! Nay, then 'tis time to decamp.

[Runs off. SIR GEORGE. Ha, ha, ha! Fare you well, good Sir Georgeleft me master of the field: here are the marks This drum will I hang up in my great hall as the

The enemy has

of my victory. trophy of the day.

Enter ABIGAL.

Sir George stands with his hand before his face in a musing posture.

ABIGAL. Yonder he is. O'my conscience he has driven off the conjurer. Mr. Fantome, Mr. Fantome! I give you joy, I give you joy. What do you think of your thousand pounds now?

Why does not the man speak?

SIR GEORGE. Ha!
ABIGAL.

[Pulls him by the sleeve. [Taking his hand from his face.

Oh! 'tis my master.

[Shrieks.

[Running away he catches her.

SIR GEORGE. Good Mrs. Abigal not so fast.

ABIGAL. Are you alive, sir?-He has given my shoulder such a cursed tweak! they must be real fingers. I feel 'em I'm

ABIGAL. Think, sir? Think? Troth I don't know what to think. Pray, sir, how

SIR GEORGE. No questions, good Abigal. Thy curiosity shall be satisfied in good time. Where's your lady? ABIGAL. Oh, I'm so frighted-and so glad !—SIR GEORGE. Where's your lady, I ask you

ABIGAL. Marry I don't know where I am myself—I can't

forbear weeping for joy

SIR GEORGE. Your lady! I say your lady! I must bring you to yourself with one pinch more

ABIGAL.

steward.

Oh! she has been talking a good while with the

SIR GEORGE. Then he has opened the whole story to her, I'm glad he has prepar'd her. Oh! here she comes.

Enter LADY followed by VELLum.

LADY. Where is he? let me fly into his arms! my life! my soul! my husband!

SIR GEORGE. Oh! let me catch thee to my heart, dearest of

women!

LADY. Are you then still alive, and are you here! I can scarce believe my senses! Now am I happy indeed!

SIR GEORGE. My heart is too full to answer thee.

LADY. How could you be so cruel to defer giving me that joy which you knew I must receive from your presence? You have robb'd my life of some hours of happiness that ought to have been in it.

SIR GEORGE. It was to make our happiness the more sincere and unmix'd. There will be now no doubts to dash it. What has been the affliction of our lives, has given a variety to them, and will hereafter supply us with a thousand materials to talk of. LADY. I am now satisfy'd that it is not in the power of absence to lessen your love towards me.

SIR GEORGE. And I am satisfy'd that it is not in the power of death to destroy that love which makes me the happiest of

men.

LADY. Was ever woman so blest! to find again the darling of her soul, when she thought him lost for ever! to enter into a

kind of second marriage with the only man whom she was ever capable of loving!

SIR GEORGE. May it be as happy as our first, I desire no more! Believe me, my dear, I want words to express those transports of joy and tenderness which are every moment rising in my heart whilst I speak to thee.

Enter Servants.

BUTLER. Just as the steward told us, lads! look ye there, if he ben't with my lady already.

GARDENER. He! he he! what a joyful night will this be for madam!

COACHMAN. As I was coming in at the gate, a strange gentleman whisk'd by me; but he took to his heels, and made away to the George. If I did not see master before me, I should have sworn it had been his honour.

GARDENER. Hast given orders for the bells to be set a ringing? COACHMAN. Never trouble thy head about that, 'tis done. SIR GEORGE. (To Lady.) My dear, I you my whole story, as you do to hear it.

long as much to tell In the mean while, I'll have nothing

I am to look upon this as my wedding day. but the voice of mirth and feasting in my house.

My poor neigh

bours and my servants shall rejoice with me. My hall shall be

free to every one, and let my cellars be thrown open.

BUTLER. Ah! bless your honour, may you never die again! The same good man that ever he was !

COACHMAN.

GARDENER.

SIR GEORGE.

Whurra!

Vellum, thou hast done me much service today. I know thou lov'st Abigal, but she's disappointed in a fortune. I'll make it up to both of you. I'll give thee a thousand pounds with her. It is not fit there should be one sad heart in my house to-night.

LADY. What you do for Abigal, I know is meant as a compliment to me. This is a new instance of your love.

ABIGAL. Mr. Vellum, you are a well-spoken man: pray do you thank my master and my lady.

SIR GEORGE. Vellum, I hope you are not displeased with the gift I make you.

VELLUM. The gift is twofold. I receive from you

A virtuous partner, and a portion too;

For which, in humble wise, I thank the donors:
And so we bid good-night to both your ho-nours.

VOL. I. 16

THE EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY MRS. OLDFIELD.

TO-NIGHT the poet's advocate I stand,
And he deserves the favour at my hand,
Who, in my equipage their cause debating,
Has plac'd two lovers, and a third in waiting;
If both the first should from their duty swerve,
There's one behind the wainscote in reserve.
In his next play, if I would take this trouble,
He promis'd me to make the number double :
In troth 'twas spoke like an obliging creature,
For though 'tis simple, yet it shews good-nature.

My help thus ask'd, I could not chuse but grant it, And really I thought the play would want it,

Void as it is of all the usual arts

To warm your fancies, and to steal your hearts :
No court-intrigue, nor city cuckoldom,

No song, no dance, no music-but a drum—
No smutty thought in doubtful phrase express'd;
And, gentlemen, if so, pray where's the jest?
When we would raise your mirth, you hardly know
Whether, in strictness, you should laugh or no,
But turn upon the ladies in the pit,

And if they redden, you are sure 'tis wit.