Here's to the flaunting, extravagant quean *),
And then to the housewife that's thrifty.
Let the toast pass, drink to the lass,

I warrant she'll find an excuse for the glass.
Here's to the charmer whose dimples we prize,
Now to the damsel with none, Sir;

Here's to the maid with her pair of blue eyes,
And now to the nymph with but one, Sir.
Let the toast pass, drink to the lass,

I warrant she'll find an excuse for the glass.

Here's to the maid with her bosom of snow,
Now to her that's as brown as a
berry;
Here's to the wife with her face full of woe,
And now to the damsel that's merry.

Let the toast pass, drink to the lass,

I warrant she'll find an excuse for the glass.
For let them be clumsy, or let them be slim,
Young or ancient I care not a feather;
So fill up a bumper quite up to the brim,
And e'en let us toast them together.

Let the toast pass, drink to the lass,
I warrant she'll find an excuse for the glass.

Trip enters and whispers Charles.

Char. Gentlemen, I must beg your pardon; [rising] [
Careless, take the chair.

must leave you upon business

Care. What, this is some wench **) but we won't

lose you for her.

Char. No, upon my honour broker that are come by appointment.

It is only a Jew and a

Care. A Jew and a broker! we'll have 'em in.

Char.

Then desire Mr. Moses to walk in.

Trip. And little Premium too, Sir.

Care. Aye, Moses and Premium. [Exit Trip.] Charles,

we'll give the rascals some generous Burgundy.

Char. No, hang it

wine but draws forth the natural

*) Queau, schmutziges, liederliches Weib.

**) Wench wird, wie dies hier der Fall ist, oft in einem verächtlichen Sinn ge braucht, zuweilen aber entspricht es unserm: Mädchen.

qualities of a man's heart, and to make them drink, would only be to whet their knavery.

Enter Sir Oliver and Moses.

Walk in, gentlemen, walk in; Trip, give chairs; sit down Mr. Premium, sit down Moses. Glasses.. Trip; come, Moses, -I'll give you a sentiment *). Here's success to usury. Moses, fill the gentleman a bumper. Moses.,,Here's success to usury, Care. True, Charles, usury is industry, and deserves to succeed.

Sir Oliv. Then here's,, All the success it deserves." Care. Oh. damme, Sir, that won't do; you demur to the toast, and shall drink it in a pint bumper at least.

Mos. Oh, pray, Sir, consider Mr. Premium is a gentleman. Care. And therefore loves good wine, and I'll see justice done to the bottle. Fill, Moses, a quart.

Char. `Pray, consider gentlemen, Mr. Premium is a stranger. Sir Oliv. I wish I was out of their company. [Aside.] Care. Come along, my boys, if they won't drink with us we'll not stay with them; the dice are in the next room You'll settle your business, Charles, and come to us.

Char. Ay, ay,

-

But, Careless, you must be ready, perhaps I may have occasion for you.

Care. Ay, ay, ill, bend, or annuity, 'tis all the same [Exit with the rest. ].

to me.

Mr.

Mos. Mr. Premium is a gentleman of the strictest honour and secrecy, and always performs what he undertakes Premium, this is

[ formally.]

Char. 'Pshaw! hold your t'ngue

-

My friend Moses,

Sir, is a very honest fellow, but a little slow at expression I shall cut the matter very short; I'm an extravagant young fellow that wants to borrow money; and you, as I take it, are a prudent old fellow who has got money to lend I am such a fool as to give fifty per cent, rather than go without it; and you, I suppose are rogue enough to take an hundred if can get it. And now we understand one another, and may proceed to business without further ceremony.

you

*) Sentiment, vermuthlich hier so viel als toast, doch bezieht sich sentiment mehr auf die Worte, die man beim Trinken ausbringt, z. B. Lord Nelson and success to the navy of Great Britain.

Sir Oliv. Exceeding frank, upon my word are not a man of compliments.

Char. No, Sir.

I see you

However,

Sir Oliv. Sir, I like you the better for it you are mistaken in one thing; I have no money to lend, but I believe, I could procure you some from a friend; but then he's a damn'd unconscionable dog; is he not, Moses?

Mos. Yes, but you can't help that.

Sir Oliv. And then, he has not the money by him, but must sell stock at a great loss. Must he not, Moses? You know I always speak the truth,

Mos. Yes, indeed

and scorn to tell a lie.

Char. Ay, those who speak truth usually do And Sir, I must pay the difference, I suppose Why look'ye, Mr. Premium, I know that money is not to be had without pay ing for it.

Sir Oliv. Well but what security could you give? – You have not any land, I suppose!

Char. Not a mole-hill, nor a 'twig but what grows in bow-pots out at the windows.

Sir Oliv. Nor any stock, I presume.

Char. None but live stock *), and they are only a few pointers and ponies. But pray, Sir, are you acquainted with any of my connections?

Sir Oliv. To say the truth, I am.

Char. Then you must have heard that I have a rich old uncle in India, Sir Oliver Surface, from whom I have the greatest expectations.

Sir Oliv. That you have a wealthy uncle I have heard; but how your expectations will turn out is more, I believe, than you can tell.

Char. Oh yes, I'm told I'm monstrous favourite; and that he intends leaving me every thing.

Sir Oliv. Indeed! this is the first I have heard of it. Char. Yes, yes, he intends making me his heir - Does he not, Moses?

Mos. Oh yes, I'll take my oath of that.

Sir Oliv. Egad they'll persuade me presently I'm at Ben

gal.

[Aside.]

*) Live stock, das Vieh, welches ein Gutsherr besitzt.

Char. Now, what I propose, Mr. Premium, is to give a post obit on my uncle's life. Though, indeed my uncle Noll has been very kind to me, and upon my soul, I shall be sincerely sorry to hear any thing has happened to him.

1

Sir Oliv. Not more than I should I assure you. But the bond you mention happens to be the worst security you could offer me, for I might live to be an, hundred, and never recover the principal,

Char. Oh, yes you would, for the moment he dies, you come upon me for the money.

Sir Oliv. Then I believe I would be the most unwelcome dun you ever had in your life.

Char. What, you are afraid, my little Premium, that my uncle has too good a life.

Sir Oliv. No, indeed, I am not; though. I have heard he's as hale, and as hearty, as any man of his years in Christendom.

Char. Oh, there you are misinformed. No no, poor uncle Oliver! he breaks apace. The climate, Sir, has hurt his constitution, and I'm told he's so much altered of late, that his nearest relations don't know him.

Sir Oliv. No! ha, ha; so much altered of late, that his nearest relations would not know him. Ha, ha, ha, that's droll, egad.

Char. What are you pleased to hear he is on the decline, my little Premium..

Sir Oliv. No, I am not,

Char. Yes you are, for it mends your chance.

Sir Oliv. But I am told Sir Oliver is coming over Nay, some say he is actually arrived.

Char. Oh, there you are misinformed again

No,

no such thing he is this moment at Bengal, what I must certainly know better than you.

Sir Oliv. Very true, as you say, you must know better than I; though I have it from very good authority Have I

not,

Moses?

Mos. Most undoubtedly.

Sir Oliv. But, Sir, as I understand you want a few hundreds immediately, is there nothing that you would dispose of? Char. How do you mean?

Sir Oliv. For instance, now; I have heard your father left behind him a great quantity of old plate.

massy

Char. Yes, but that's gone long ago Moses can inform you how, better than I can.

Sir Oliv. Good lack! all the family race-cups *), and corporation - bowls ** gone! [Aside.] It was also supposed, that his library was one of the most valuable and compleat.

Char. Much too large and valuable for a private gentleman: for my part, I was always of a communicative disposition, and thought it a pity to keep so much knowledge to myself.

Sir Oliv. Mercy on me! family like an heir-loom ***). they have been disposed of?

knowledge that has run in the [Aside.] And pray, how may

Char. O you must ask the auctioneer that believe even Moses can direct you there.

Sir Oliv. The profligate! [Aside.] And there is nothing you can dispose of?

Char. Nothing

unless you have a taste for old family pictures. I have a whole room full of ancestors above stairs. Sir Oliv. Why sure you would not sell your relations? Char. Every soul of them to the best bidder.

Sir Oliv. Not your great uncles and aunts.

Char. Ay, and my grandfathers and grandmothers.

Sir Oliv. I'll never forgive him this. [Aside.] Why! what! Do you take me for Shylock ****) in the play, to raise money from me on your own flesh and blood!

Char. Nay, don't be in a passion, my little Premium; what is it to you, if you have your money's worth? Sir Oliv. That's very true, as you say believe I can dispose of the family canvass. him this.

Enter Careless.

Well, well, I I'll never forgive

[Aside.]

Care. Come, Charles, what the devil are you doing so long with the broker - we are waiting for you.

*) Race - cups, Becher, Pokale oder anderes silbernes Geschirr, das bei den Pferderennen gewonnen worden ist. **) Corporation-bowls, ähnliche Geschirre, welche die Familie von ganzen Gemeinden zum Geschenk erhalten hat, ***) Heir-loom, bewegliche Güter, welche von den Vorfahren herstammen und gleichsam als unzertrennlich von einem Gute angesehen werden. ****) Name des Juden aus Shakspeare's Merchant of Venice.