Volume Iv Part 68 (1/2)

_Boy._ Oh! she's woundy handsome her self, Master, and the kindest Gentlewoman--look, here she comes, Master.--

Enter _Flirt_ and _Nell_.

G.o.d bless you, Mistress, I have brought you a young Gentleman here.

_Flirt._ That's well, honest _Jack_.--Sir, you are most heartily welcome.

_Haz._ Madam, your Servant. [Salutes her.

_Flirt._ Please you walk into a Chamber, Sir?

_Haz._ By and by, Madam; but I'll repose here awhile for the coolness of the Air.

_Flirt._ This is a Publick Room, Sir, but 'tis at your service.

_Haz._ Madam, you oblige me.

_Flirt._ A fine spoken Person. A Gentleman, I'll warrant him: come, _Jack_, I'll give thee a Cogue of Brandy for old acquaintance.

[Exeunt Landlady and Boy.

[_Hazard_ pulls out Pen, Ink and Paper, and goes to write.

Enter _Friendly_.

_Friend._ Here, _Nell_, a Tankard of cool Drink, quickly.

_Nell._ You shall have it, Sir.

_Friend._ Hah! who's that Stranger? he seems to be a Gentleman.

_Haz._ If I should give credit to mine Eyes, that should be _Friendly_.

_Friend._ Sir, you seem a Stranger; may I take the liberty to present my Service to you?

[Exit _Nell_.

_Haz._ If I am not mistaken, Sir, you are the only Man in the World whom I would soonest pledge; you'll credit me, if three Year's absence has not made you forget _Hazard_.

_Friend._ _Hazard_, my Friend! come to my Arms and Heart.

_Haz._ This unexpected Happiness o'erjoys me. Who could have imagin'd to have found thee in _Virginia_? I thought thou hadst been in _Spain_ with thy Brother.

_Friend._ I was so till ten Months since, when my Uncle Colonel _Friendly_ dying here, left me a considerable Plantation; and, faith, I find Diversions not altogether to be despis'd; the G.o.d of Love reigns here with as much power as in Courts or popular Cities. But prithee what Chance (fortunate to me) drove thee to this part of the new World.

_Haz._ Why, faith, ill Company, and that common Vice of the Town, Gaming, soon run out my younger Brother's Fortune: for imagining, like some of the luckier Gamesters, to improve my Stock at the Groom Porter's, I ventur'd on, and lost all. My elder Brother, an errant Jew, had neither Friends.h.i.+p nor Honour enough to support me; but at last being mollified by Persuasions, and the hopes of being for ever rid of me, sent me hither with a small Cargo to seek my Fortune--

_Friend._ And begin the World withal.

_Haz._ I thought this a better Venture than to turn sharping Bully, Cully in Prentices and Country Squires, with my Pocket full of false Dice, your high and low Flats and Bars; or turn Broker to young Heirs; take up Goods to pay tenfold at the Death of their Fathers, and take Fees on both sides; or set up all night at the Groom-Porter's, begging his Honour to go a Guinea the better of the lay. No, _Friendly_, I had rather starve abroad, than live pity'd and despis'd at home.