_Bon_. But they threaten to go to another inn to-night. _Cher_. That they dare not, for fear the coachman should overturn them to-morrow.--Coming! coming!-- Here's the London coach arrived. _Enter several people with trunks, bandboxes, and other luggage, and cross the stage_. _Bon_. Welcome, ladies! _Cher_. Very welcome, gentlemen!--Chamberlain, show the _Lion and the Rose_. [_Exit with the company_. _Enter Aimwell in a riding-habit, and Archer as footman, carrying a portmantle_. _Bon_. This way, this way, gentlemen! _Aim_. [_To Archer_.] Set down the things; go to the stable, and see my horses well rubbed. {20} _Arch_. I shall, sir. [_Exit_. _Aim_. You're my landlord, I suppose? _Bon_. Yes, sir, I 'm old Will Boniface, pretty well known upon this road, as the saying is. _Aim_. O Mr. Boniface, your servant! _Bon_. O sir!--What will your honour please to drink, as the saying is? _Aim_. I have heard your town of Lichfield much famed for ale; I think I 'll taste that. {29} _Bon_. Sir, I have now in my cellar ten tun of the best ale in Staffordshire; 'tis smooth as oil, sweet as milk, clear as amber, and strong as brandy; and will be just fourteen year old the fifth day of next March, old style. _Aim_. You're very exact, I find, in the age of your ale. _Bon_. As punctual, sir, as I am in the age of my children. I'll show you such ale!--Here, tapster [_Enter Tapster_] broach number 1706, as the saying is.--Sir, you shall taste my _Anno Domini_.--I have lived in Lichfield, man and boy, above eight-and-fifty years, and, I believe, have not consumed eight-and-fifty ounces of meat. {42} _Aim_. At a meal, you mean, if one may guess your sense by your bulk. _Bon_. Not in my life, sir: I have fed purely upon ale; I have eat my ale, drank my ale, and I always sleep upon ale. _Enter Tapster with a bottle and glass, and exit_. Now, sir, you shall see!--[_Fitting out a glass_.] Your worship's health.--[_Drinks_.] Ha! delicious, delicious! fancy it burgundy, only fancy it, and 'tis worth ten shillings a quart. {51} _Aim_. [Drinks,] 'Tis confounded strong! _Bon_. Strong! it must be so, or how should we be strong that drink it? _Aim_. And have you lived so long upon this ale, landlord? _Bon_. Eight-and-fifty years, upon my credit, sir--but it killed my wife, poor woman, as the saying is. _Aim_. How came that to pass? _Bon_. I don't know how, sir; she would not let the ale take its natural course, sir; she was for qualifying it every now and then with a dram, as the saying is; and an honest gentleman that came this way from Ireland, made her a present of a dozen bottles of usquebaugh--but the poor woman was never well after: but, howe'er, I was obliged to the gentleman, you know. {66} _Aim_. Why, was it the usquebaugh that killed her?