NIGHT. O my secretary! what says my secretary? [_They walk into the booth._ OVER. Child of the bottles, what's he? what's he? [_Points to Edgworth._ MOON. A civil young gentleman, master Arthur, that keeps company with the roarers, and disburses all still. He has ever money in his purse; he pays for them, and they roar for him; one does good offices for another. They call him the secretary, but he serves nobody. A great friend of the ballad-man's, they are never asunder. OVER. What pity 'tis, so civil a young man should haunt this debauched company? here's the bane of the youth of our time apparent. A proper penman, I see't in his countenance, he has a good clerk's look with him, and I warrant him a quick hand. MOON. A very quick hand, sir. [_Exit._ EDG. [_whispering with Nightingale and Ursula._] All the purses, and purchase, I give you to-day by conveyance, bring hither to Ursula's presently. Here we will meet at night in her lodge, and share. Look you choose good places for your standing in the Fair, when you sing, Nightingale. URS. Ay, near the fullest passages; and shift them often. EDG. And in your singing, you must use your hawk's eye nimbly, and fly the purse to a mark still, where 'tis worn, and on which side; that you may give me the sign with your beak, or hang your head that way in the tune. URS. Enough, talk no more on't: your friendship, masters, is not now to begin. Drink your draught of indenture, your sup of covenant, and away: the Fair fills apace, company begins to come in, and I have ne'er a pig ready yet. KNOCK. Well said! fill the cups, and light the tobacco: let's give fire in the works, and noble vapours. EDG. And shall we have smocks, Ursula, and good whimsies, ha! URS. Come, you are in your bawdy vein!--the best the Fair will afford, Zekiel, if bawd Whit keep his word.-- _Re-enter MOONCALF._ How do the pigs, Mooncalf? MOON. Very passionate, mistress, one of 'em has wept out an eye. Master Arthur o' Bradley is melancholy here, nobody talks to him. Will you any tobacco, master Arthur? OVER. No, boy; let my meditations alone. MOON. He's studying for an oration, now. OVER. If I can with this day's travail, and all my policy, but rescue this youth here out of the hands of the lewd man and the strange woman, I will sit down at night, and say with my friend Ovid, _Jamque opus exegi, quod nec Jovis ira, nec ignis,_ etc. [_Aside._ KNOCK. Here, Zekiel, here's a health to Ursula, and a kind vapour; thou hast money in thy purse still, and store! how dost thou come by it? pray thee vapour thy friends some in a courteous vapour. EDG. Half I have, master Dan. Knockem, is always at your service. [_Pulls out his purse._ OVER. Ha, sweet nature! what goshawk would prey upon such a lamb? [_Aside._ KNOCK. Let's see what 'tis, Zekiel; count it, come, fill him to pledge me _Enter WINWIFE and QUARLOUS._ WINW. We are here before them, methinks. QUAR. All the better, we shall see them come in now.