_Cank._ Ha, ha, Lord, Mr.--sure you can't call his a Play. _It is rather a Pantomime, a thing stuffed with Escapes, Pursuits, Ladders of Ropes and Scenes in the Dark, all a parcel of Pantomimical Finesses such as you see every Night at Rich's Entertainments. Ranger is really the Harlequin and Mr. Strictland Colombine's Husband; though the Author is an Acquaintance and a Man whom I respect, notwithstanding I have so contemptible an Opinion of the Play, I heartily wish he may succeed._ _Heart._ This is a very strange way of showing your Respect, Mr. Canker. _Cank._ Sir, I assure you my Censure of the Piece arises from my Esteem of the Author. I would have him exploded now, that he may not expose himself by writing again. Besides I have some Concern for the Publick; it should not be overrun with every Fool _who mistakes Inclination for Genius_. _Heart._ Nor plagued with every invidious Wretch who mistakes Envy for Judgment and Assurance for Parts. If the Suspicious Husband has Merit, the Publick will reward it; if not they will condemn it. _Cank._ The Publick! ha, ha, ha, Mr. Heartly, ask any Man of real Taste and Learning what he thinks of publick Judgment. _Heart._ 'Tis true they have been often in the wrong, but then it is always on the good Natured Side. They have sometimes applauded where perhaps they should have censured, _but there never was an Instance where they condemned unjustly_. _Cank._ Yes Sir, they condemned several of my pieces unjustly and shamefully, and _if they applaud such a piece as the Suspicious Husband_, I say they have lost all Taste of good Writing and true Comedy. _Heart._ O here is my Lady's Woman, Mrs. Chatter: she has been at the Play and can give us the whole Account of it. (_Enter Mrs._ CHATTER _and_ FOOTMAN) _Mrs. Chat._ Pray Mr. Thomas, be so good as to get me a Glass of Water. _Foot._ Yes ma'm. (_Going_) _Chat._ And pray give this Capuchin and Fan to the Chambermaid. _Foot._ Yes ma'm. (_Exit_) _Chat._ Gentlemen, I beg ten thousand Pardons, but I must sit down a bit, I am so immensely fatigued. _Heart._ Pray Mrs. Chatter, what it is Matter? _Chat._ Matter! The Devil fetch the new Play for me, and the Play-House, and the Players, and all of them together, for I was never so chagrinned since I was born. _Cank._ What you did not like the Play, I suppose, Mrs. Chatter, nor the Acting. _Chat._ O quite the contrary, Sir, I never saw a prettier Play in all my Life, and I think Mr. Ranger the Templer is a charming Fellow! O lud! I protest I should not care to trust myself with him in his Chambers--well he made me laugh a thousand times tonight, with his going up the Ladder of Ropes, and then into the Lady's Chamber, and his dropping his Hat, and his going to ravish Jacyntha, and a thousand comical things--but he brings all off at last. (_Enter Footman with a Glass of Water_) O Mr. Thomas, I thank you. (_Drinks, gives him the Glass, Footman is going off_) O Mr. Thomas. _Foot._ Madam.