Part 17 (1/2)

_Just_. Ha! sure some powerful sympathy directs Us both-- _Enter_ CONSTABLE _with_ Son.

What is thy name?

_Son_. My name is Tom Jenkins--_alias_ have I none-- Though orphan'd, and without a friend!

_Just_. Thy parents?

_Son_. My father dwelt in Rochester--and was, As I have heard--a fishmonger--no more.”

_Puff_. What, sir, do you leave out the account of your birth, parentage, and education?

_Son_ They have settled it so, sir, here.

_Puff_. Oh! oh!

”_Lady_. How loudly nature whispers to my heart Had he no other name?

_Son_. I've seen a bill Of his sign'd Tomkins, creditor.

_Just_. This does indeed confirm each circ.u.mstance The gipsy told!--Prepare!

_Son_. I do.

_Just_. No orphan, nor without a friend art thou--I am thy father; here's thy mother; there Thy uncle--this thy first cousin, and those Are all your near relations!

_Lady_. O ecstasy of bliss!

_Son_. O most unlook'd for happiness!

_Just_. O wonderful event! [_They faint alternately in each other's arms_.]”

_Puff_. There, you see, relations.h.i.+p, like murder, will out.

”_Just_. Now let's revive--else were this joy too much! But come--and we'll unfold the rest within; And thou, my boy, must needs want rest and food. Hence may each orphan hope, as chance directs, To find a father--where he least expects!

[_Exeunt_.]”

_Puff_. What do you think of that?

_Dang_. One of the finest discovery-scenes I ever saw!-- Why, this under-plot would have made a tragedy itself.

_Sneer_. Ay! or a comedy either.

_Puff_. And keeps quite clear you see of the other.

”_Enter_ SCENEMEN, _taking away the seats_.”

_Puff_. The scene remains, does it?

_Sceneman_. Yes, sir.

_Puff_. You are to leave one chair, you know.--But it is always awkward in a tragedy, to have your fellows coming in in your play-house liveries to remove things.--I wish that could be managed better.--So now for my mysterious yeoman.

”_Enter_ BEEFEATER.

_Beef_. Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee.”

_Sneer_. Haven't I heard that line before?

_Puff_. No, I fancy not.--Where, pray?

_Dang_. Yes, I think there is something like it in Oth.e.l.lo.

_Puff_. Gad! now you put me in mind on't, I believe there is--but that's of no consequence; all that can be said is, that two people happened to hit upon the same thought--and Shakspeare made use of it first, that's all.

_Sneer_. Very true.

_Puff_. Now, sir, your soliloquy--but speak more to the pit, if you please--the soliloquy always to the pit, that's a rule.

”_Beef_. Though hopeless love finds comfort in despair, It never can endure a rival's bliss! But soft--I am observed.

[_Exit_.]”

_Dang_. That's a very short soliloquy.

_Puff_. Yes--but it would have been a great deal longer if he had not been observed.

_Sneer_. A most sentimental Beefeater that, Mr. Puff!

_Puff_. Hark'ee--I would not have you be too sure that he is a Beefeater.

_Sneer_. What, a hero in disguise?

_Puff_. No matter--I only give you a hint. But now for my princ.i.p.al character. Here he comes--Lord Burleigh in person!

Pray, gentlemen, step this way--softly--I only hope the Lord High Treasurer is perfect--if he is but perfect!

”_Enter_ LORD BURLEIGH, _goes slowly to a chair, and sits._”

_Sneer_. Mr. Puff!

_Puff_. Hus.h.!.+--Vastly well, sir! vastly well! a most interesting gravity.

_Dang_. What, isn't he to speak at all?

_Puff_. Egad, I thought you'd ask me that!--Yes, it is a very likely thing--that a minister in his situation, with the whole affairs of the nation on his head, should have time to talk!--But hus.h.!.+ or you'll put him out.

_Sneer_. Put him out; how the plague can that be, if he's not going to say anything?

_Puff_. There's the reason! why, his part is to think; and how the plague do you imagine he can think if you keep talking?