_Spoken by_ Mr. Peter Buckstail. Since 'tis the fashion, preface, prologue next, Else what's a play?--like sermon without text! Since 'tis the fashion then, I'll not oppose; For what's a man if he's without a nose? The curtain's up--the music's now begun, What is 't?--Why murder, fire, and sword, and gun. What scene?--Why blood!--What act?--Fight and be free! Or be ye slaves--and give up liberty! Blest Continent, while groaning nations round Bend to the servile yoke, ignobly bound, May ye be free--nor ever be opprest By murd'ring tyrants, but a land of rest! What say ye to 't? what says the audience? Methinks I hear some whisper COMMON SENSE. Hark! what say them Tories?--Silence--let 'em speak, Poor fools! dumb--they hav'n't spoke a word this week, Dumb let 'em be, at full end of their tethers, 'Twill save the expense of tar and of feathers: Since old Pluto's lurch'd 'em, and swears he does not know If more these Tory puppy curs will bark or no. Now ring the bell--Come forth, ye actors, come, The Tragedy's begun, beat, beat the drum, Let's all advance, equipt like volunteers, Oppose the foe, and banish all our fears. We will be free--or bravely we will die, } And leave to Tories tyrants' legacy, } And all our share of its dependency. } DRAMATIS PERSONAE LORD PARAMOUNT, Mr. Bute. LORD MOCKLAW, Mr. Mansfield. LORD HYPOCRITE, Mr. Dartmouth. LORD POLTRON, Mr. Sandwich. LORD CATSPAW, Mr. North. LORD WISDOM, Mr. Chatham. LORD RELIGION, Bishop of St. Asaph. LORD JUSTICE, Mr. Camden. LORD PATRIOT, Mr. Wilkes. BOLD IRISHMAN, Mr. Burke. JUDAS, Mr. Hutchinson. CHARLEY, Mr. Jenkinson. BRAZEN, Mr. Wedderburne. COLONEL, Mr. Barre. LORD BOSTON, Mr. Gage. ADMIRAL TOMBSTONE, Mr. Graves. ELBOW ROOM,[6] Mr. Howe. MR. CAPER, Mr. Burgoyne. LORD KIDNAPPER, Mr. Dunmore. GENERAL WASHINGTON. GENERAL LEE. GENERAL PUTNAM. _Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Citizens, Negroes, &c., &c., &c._ FOOTNOTES: [6] It seems to be generally thought that the expression of "Elbow Room" is to be attributed to General Howe, and not to General Burgoyne. THE FALL OF BRITISH TYRANNY, &c. ACT I. SCENE I. _At St. James's._ LORD PARAMOUNT [_solus, strutting about_]. Many long years have rolled delightfully on, whilst I have been basking in the sunshine of grandeur and power, whilst I have imperceptibly (tho' not unsuspected) guided the chariot of state, and greased with the nation's gold the imperial wheels. 'Tis I that move the mighty engine of royalty, and with the tincture of my somniferous opiate or (in the language of a courtier) by the virtue of my secret influence, I have lulled the axletree to sleep, and brought on a pleasing insensibility.