_Haz._ By and by, Madam; but I’ll repose here awhile for the coolness of
the Air.
_Flirt._ This is a Publick Room, Sir, but ‘tis at your service.
_Haz._ Madam, you oblige me.
_Flirt._ A fine spoken Person. A Gentleman, I’ll warrant him: come,
_Jack_, I’ll give thee a Cogue of Brandy for old acquaintance.
[Exeunt Landlady and Boy.
[_Hazard_ pulls out Pen, Ink and Paper, and goes to write.
Enter _Friendly_.
_Friend._ Here, _Nell_, a Tankard of cool Drink, quickly.
_Nell._ You shall have it, Sir.
_Friend._ Hah! who’s that Stranger? he seems to be a Gentleman.
_Haz._ If I should give credit to mine Eyes, that should be _Friendly_.
_Friend._ Sir, you seem a Stranger; may I take the liberty to present my
Service to you?
[Exit _Nell_.
_Haz._ If I am not mistaken, Sir, you are the only Man in the World whom
I would soonest pledge; you’ll credit me, if three Year’s absence has
not made you forget _Hazard_.
_Friend._ _Hazard_, my Friend! come to my Arms and Heart.
_Haz._ This unexpected Happiness o’erjoys me. Who could have imagin’d to
have found thee in _Virginia_? I thought thou hadst been in _Spain_ with
thy Brother.
_Friend._ I was so till ten Months since, when my Uncle Colonel
_Friendly_ dying here, left me a considerable Plantation; and, faith,
I find Diversions not altogether to be despis’d; the God of Love reigns
here with as much power as in Courts or popular Cities. But prithee what
Chance (fortunate to me) drove thee to this part of the new World.
_Haz._ Why, faith, ill Company, and that common Vice of the Town,
Gaming, soon run out my younger Brother’s Fortune: for imagining, like
some of the luckier Gamesters, to improve my Stock at the Groom
Porter’s, I ventur’d on, and lost all. My elder Brother, an errant Jew,
had neither Friendship nor Honour enough to support me; but at last
being mollified by Persuasions, and the hopes of being for ever rid of
me, sent me hither with a small Cargo to seek my Fortune--
_Friend._ And begin the World withal.
_Haz._ I thought this a better Venture than to turn sharping Bully,
Cully in Prentices and Country Squires, with my Pocket full of false
Dice, your high and low Flats and Bars; or turn Broker to young Heirs;
take up Goods to pay tenfold at the Death of their Fathers, and take
Fees on both sides; or set up all night at the Groom-Porter’s, begging
his Honour to go a Guinea the better of the lay. No, _Friendly_, I had
rather starve abroad, than live pity’d and despis’d at home.
_Friend._ Thou art in the right, and art come just in the nick of time
to make thy Fortune.--Wilt thou follow my Advice?
_Haz._ Thou art too honest to command any thing that I shall refuse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account