_May._ Ay, ay, Mr. _Guzzle_, I never gave a Vote contrary to my Conscience. I have very earnestly recommended the Country-Interest to all my Brethren: But before that, I recommended the Town-Interest, that is, the interest of this Corporation; and first of all I recommended to every particular Man to take a particular Care of himself. And it is with a certain way of Reasoning, That he who serves me best, will serve the Town best; and he that serves the Town best, will serve the Country best." In the January and February of 1735 Fielding produced two more pieces at Drury Lane, a farce and a five-act comedy. The farce--a lively trifle enough--was _An Old Man taught Wisdom_, a title subsequently changed to the _Virgin Unmasked_. It was obviously written to display the talents of Mrs. Clive, who played in it her favourite character of a hoyden, and, after "interviewing" a number of suitors chosen by her father, finally ran away with Thomas the footman--a course in those days not without its parallel in high life, above stairs as well as below. It appears to have succeeded, though Bookish, one of the characters, was entirely withdrawn in deference to some disapprobation on the part of the audience; while the part of Wormwood, a lawyer, which is found in the latest editions, is said to have been "omitted in representation." The comedy, entitled _The Universal Gallant_; or, _The different Husbands_, was scarcely so fortunate. Notwithstanding that Quin, who, after an absence of many years, had returned to Drury Lane, played a leading part, and that Theophilus Cibber in the hero, Captain Smart, seems to have been fitted with a character exactly suited to his talents and idiosyncrasy, the play ran no more than three nights. Till the third act was almost over, "the _Audience_," says the _Prompter_ (as quoted by "Sylvanus Urban"), "sat quiet, in hopes it would mend, till finding it grew _worse_ and _worse_, they lost all Patience, and not an _Expression_ or _Sentiment_ afterwards pass'd without its deserved _Censure_." Perhaps it is not to be wondered at that the author--"the prolifick _Mr. Fielding_," as the _Prompter_ calls him, attributed its condemnation to causes other than its lack of interest. In his _Advertisement_ he openly complains of the "cruel Usage" his "poor Play" had met with, and of the barbarity of the young men about town who made "a Jest of damning Plays"--a pastime which, whether it prevailed in this case or not, no doubt existed, as Sarah Fielding afterwards refers to it in _David Simple_. If an author--he goes on to say--"be so unfortunate [_as_] to depend on the success of his Labours for his Bread, he must be an inhuman Creature indeed, who would out of sport and wantonness prevent a Man from getting a Livelihood in an honest and inoffensive Way, and make a jest of starving him and his Family." The plea is a good one if the play is good; but if not, it is worthless. In this respect