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Show M 2J4 E S 0 P. Lear. O r elfe w e fhou'd not have half fo much trouble with him. f . . Efop. W h y do you then make her quit nwn for me ? All the World knows I a m neither young, noble, nor rich ; And as for m y Beauty Look you, Gover-nour, I'm honeft. But when Children cry, they tell 'em,' Efop's a coming. Pray, Sir, what is it makes you fo earneft to force your Daughter? Lear. A m 1 then to count for nothing the favour you are in at Court? Father-in-law to the Great Efop ! What may not 1 afpire to ? M y foolifh Daughter perhaps mayn't be fo well pleas'd with't, but w e wife Parents ufu-ally weigh our Childrens Happinefs in the Scale of our o w n Inclinations. Efop. Well, Governour, let it be your Care then to make her confent. Lear. This moment, m y Lord, I reduce her either to Obedience, or to Duft and Afhes. [Exit Lear, Efop. Adieu. N o w let in the People W h o come for Audience. [Efop fits in his Chair, reading of Papers. Enter two ordinary Tradefmen. I Tra. There he is, Neighbour: D o but look at him. 2 Tra. Ay -, One may know him : He's well mark't. But dos't hearse ? What Title muft w e give him ? for if w e fail in that point, d'ye fee me, we fhall never get our bufinefs done. Courtiers love Titles almoft as well as they do Money, and that's a bold word now. i Tra. W h y 1 think w e had beft call him, his Grandeur. 2 Tra. That will do ; thou haft hit on'f. Hold itill, let m e fpeak. May it pleafe your Grandeur. Efop. There I interrupt you, Friend, I have a weak Body that will ne'er be able to bear that Title. 2 Tra. D'ye hear that, Neighbour ? What fhall we call him n o w ? i Tra. W h y , call him, call him, his Excellency. Try what that will do. 1 2 Tra* E S 0 P. 2. Tra. May it pleafe your Excellency. t?r.+ r v ^ n « s. _ i_ , 7. 235 Efop. Excellency's a long word, it takes up too much time in bufinefs: Tell m e what you'd have in few words. 2. Tra. Neighbour, this M a n will never give Ten thoufand Pounds to be made a Lord. But what fhall I fay to him now ? He puts m e quite out of m y play. I Tra. W h y e'en talk to him as we do to one another. 2 Tra. Shall I ? W h y fo I will then. H e m ! Neighbour; W e want a new Governour, Neighbour. Efop. A new Governour, Friend ? 2 Tra. Ay, Friend. Efop. W h y what's the matter with your old one ? 2 Tra, What's the matter ! Why he grows rich; that's the matter ; And he that's rich, can't be innocent; that's all. Efop. Does he ufe any of you harthly ? Or punifh you without a fault ? 2 Tra. N o , but he grows as rich as a Mifer; His Purfe is Co cramb'd, it's ready to burft again* Efop. W h e n 'tis full 'twill hold no more ; A new Governour will have an empty one. 2 Tra. 'Fore Gad, Neighbour, the little Gentleman's in the right on't. i Tra. W h y truly I don't know but he may : For now it comes in m y Head, It colt m e more Money to fat m y Hog, Than to keep him fat when he was fo. Prithee tell him we'll keep our old Governour. 2 Tra. I'll do't. Why, look you, Sir, d'ye fee m e ; Having terioufly confider'd of the matter, My Neighbour Hobfon, and I here, we are content to jog on a little longer with him w e have : But if you'd do us another Courtefy, you might. Efip. What's that, Friend ? 2 Tra. |