_Tom._ Our landlord is giving up[142] his business, and marries his daughter, Mrs. Jenny, my Lady Dainty's chambermaid, to the favourite footman of Sir John Plover, who is a great leader among us, and will keep and increase the custom of the house. But the humour is, no one is to know which is the bridegroom; for none but the girl herself [knows] which of the company is Sir John. _Sir Har._ How! Sir John? _Tom._ I should have told you that we always call one another by the names of our masters; and you must not be surprised at hearing me answer to your honour's to all who call to me; for, as I am a manager, and to be barefaced, I cannot disguise that _I_ am _you_. _Sir Har._ It is no matter if they will take me as readily for your fellow-servant. _Tom._ They'll never suspect you for my master.--But here comes my landlord. _Landlord._ Come, Sir Harry, Sir Harry, 'tis past nine o'clock; the company is coming--they have put all in at the masquerade and the assemblies. _Tom._ [_Whispering_ SIR HARRY.] As I am barefaced, you can come to me when you please, when you are at a loss.--But you see I must attend my charge. _Sir Har._ I beg your pardon; I'll interrupt you no more; but if I like--you understand. _Tom._ You know my skill and diligence, my good master; but adieu.--Landlord, you see the house fills; let all the waiters be ready; pipes, tobacco, bread, cheese and the like, for those who are in habits proper for such coarse fare. What! none of the stewards ready but myself? _Enter three others with wands, barefaced._ _2nd Steward._ Ay, ay, here we are--here we are. _3rd Steward._ We stayed only till we saw some quality figures coming in. _2nd Steward._ Look you, how we are overrun with nymphs and shepherds!--But look, look! there is some sense in those stalking things, which move like pageants, and are not of human shape. _1st Steward._ Right, they cannot be out in their parts--there are no such things in nature--but patched-up beings, out of mere fancy and imagination. _3rd Steward._ But have a care, ladies, shepherdesses, nymphs; run, run--Here, here is a dragon that devours virgins, as a pike does small fish. _2nd Steward._ Have a care--here he comes, here he come--he eats all virgins without mercy, but will touch nobody else. _Several women's voices together._ Let him come, let him come. _An old withered_ MAID, _crying out._ _Old Maid._ Have a care, have a care, have a care; let me get off, let me get off; oh me--oh me! [_Running off._ _Figure of St. George_--DICKY, _borne on a war-horse._ _Dicky._ Fear not, fair one, fear not. I am St. George, I'll save thee. DRAGON _and_ ST. GEORGE _fight._ _The crowd cry out._ Ho-boy, St. George! Ho-boy, dragon!--there's the knight of the world. _1st Masquer._ Hear, hear, the knight is going to speak. As he's stout, he's merciful. He is going to give the dragon his life--no, no, he's going to speak to him.