Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. AitkenSteele, Richard, Sir
General
Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. Aitken
Steele, Richard, Sir
English drama (Comedy); Steele, Richard, Sir, 1672-1729
_Dolly._ [_Aside._] I'll look over my letter again. [_Reads._] "Be
afraid of nothing; but know, that the disagreeable shapes Mr. Pincers
is entertained with are not to appear to you; and when you know this,
you may partake of that diversion of tormenting those who attempt
only to sell and betray you. What you see are persons and appearances
belonging to the several plays which are acted in this house."--Oh me!
how pure is all this!
_Re-enter_ SPIDER, _with a_ Barber.
_Spi._ Here is the water and towel, and here is a barber if you want
him. [_Exit._
_Pin._ Harkee, Mr. Barber; you look like an honest man, put on your
trimming cloths about me. I'll inquire of you what sort of people live
in this house--Ha! what's this here?
"To MR. PINCERS, Esq."
[_A letter has come down from the air with this direction._]
"Sir, repent of the ill you are contriving before it be too late. I
shall appear to you and your wife only. In hopes of justice, I remain,
"Your dead and buried brother,
"RALPH PINCERS."
_Enter_ SPIDER, _as_ Tapster.
_Spi._ Sir, do you call for nothing this morning? are not you dry, nor
your wife neither, ha, old dry-boots?
_Pin._ What does this mean? A letter come directed to me out of the
air--and my brother coming! Wife! Margery, do you see that letter? What
can it mean? Look you, sauce-box; good man, Tapster, I shall take a
course with you, sirrah, I shall.
_Spi._ You are a sneaking country bumpkin, sir.
_Enter_ DOTTERELL, _dressed like a Country Squire._
_Pin._ Bless us! there comes on my brother, in his old boots and grey
riding-coat. 'Tis he: I ha'n't the heart to speak to it.
_Dot._ [_Aside._] A country ghost! I shall laugh out. How frightened
the dog is! I'll warrant the rogue has a great sum of money of mine.
I'll make him give it me.--[_To_ PINCERS.] Repent, and don't cheat your
brother, and break your word with a man that is dead and buried.--I
shall laugh before the old put has refunded----[_Aside._
_Mrs. Pin._ There is the justice come to fetch us away with him--he's
come for Dolly's portion.--You know I was always for giving it all to
her since Nancy's death.
_Dot._ Give me my money--give me my money.
_Pin._ Oh! how I tremble! yet dare not speak to him. [_He comes
nearer._
_Dot._ Show my last will and testament. Give me my money.
_Pin._ I cannot speak to him, to tell him I'll do everything.
_Dot._ I will haunt thee, and tear thy wife from the fell----
_Mrs. Pin._ He presents the figure of the poor child we had to cheat
Dolly with! Oh, husband, he'll have me to punish thy sins! Oh, he
has me, now, now, husband! [_They both sink with the_ Barber _at a
trap-door._]
_Ralph._ "He presents the figure of the poor child we had to cheat
Dolly with!" How shall I get off this ground. [_Going away, fearfully._
_Marg._ Oh, Ralph! can you leave me? [_They meet trembling, as if they
found the place open._]
_Ralph._ Let us keep together, and not go underground in a strange
place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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