At Kentish Town, or Highgate Hill, I sit, retired, beside some rill; And tears bedew my glistening eye, To think my playful lambs must die! But when they're dead I sell their meat, On shambles kept both clean and neat; Sweet-breads also I guard full well, And keep them from the blue-bottle. Envy, with breath sharp as my steel, Has ne'er yet blown upon my veal; And mouths of dames, and daintiest fops, Do water at my nice lamb-chops. [_Exit, half laughing, half crying._] SCENE III.--A Street. (Davenport, solus.) DAVENPORT Thus far have I secured my charming prize. I can appretiate, while I lament, the delicacy which makes her refuse the protection of my sister's roof. But who comes here? (_Enter Pendulous, agitated._) It must be he. That fretful animal motion--that face working up and down with uneasy sensibility, like new yeast. Jack--Jack Pendulous! PENDULOUS It is your old friend, and very miserable. DAVENPORT Vapours, Jack. I have not known you fifteen years to have to guess at your complaint. Why, they troubled you at school. Do you remember when you had to speak the speech of Buckingham, where he is going to execution? PENDULOUS Execution!--he has certainly heard it. (_Aside_.) DAVENPORT What a pucker you were in overnight! PENDULOUS May be so, may be so, Mr. Davenport. That was an imaginary scene. I have had real troubles since. DAVENPORT Pshaw! so you call every common accident. PENDULOUS Do you call my case so common, then? DAVENPORT What case? PENDULOUS You have not heard, then? DAVENPORT Positively not a word. PENDULOUS You must know I have been--(_whispers_)--tried for a felony since then. DAVENPORT Nonsense! PENDULOUS No subject for mirth, Mr. Davenport. A confounded short-sighted fellow swore that I stopt him, and robbed him, on the York race-ground at nine on a fine moonlight evening, when I was two hundred miles off in Dorsetshire. These hands have been held up at a common bar. DAVENPORT Ridiculous! it could not have gone so far. PENDULOUS A great deal farther, I assure you, Mr. Davenport. I am ashamed to say how far it went. You must know, that in the first shock and surprise of the accusation, shame--you know I was always susceptible--shame put me upon disguising my _name_, that, at all events, it might bring no disgrace upon my family. I called myself _James Thomson_. DAVENPORT For heaven's sake, compose yourself. PENDULOUS I will. An old family ours, Mr. Davenport--never had a blot upon it till now--a family famous for the jealousy of its honour for many generations--think of that, Mr. Davenport--that felt a stain like a wound-- DAVENPORT Be calm, my dear friend.