_Enter_ Sir HARRY, Squire TANKARD, _and_ Mayor. _Sir H_. Bravely done, my boys, bravely done; faith, our party has got the day. _May_. Ay, Sir Harry, at dry blows we always come off well; if we could but disband the army, I warrant we carried all our points. But faith, sir, I have fought a hard battle on your account; the other side have secured my wife; my lord has promised her a place, but I am not to be gulled in that manner: I may be taken like a fish in the water, by a bait; but not like the dog in the water, by a shadow. _Sir H_. I know you are an honest man, and love your country. _May_. Faith, that I do, Sir Harry, as well as any man; if my country will but let me live by it, that's all I desire. _Fust_. Mr Mayor seems to have got himself sober very suddenly. _Trap_. Yes, so would you too, I believe, if you had been scolded at by your wife as long as he has; but if you think that is not reason enough, he may be drunk still, for any reason I see to the contrary: pray, sir, act this scene as if you was drunk. _Fust_. Nay, I must confess, I think it quite out of character the mayor to be once sober during the whole election. _Tank_. [_drunk_.] A man that won't get drunk for his country is a rascal. _May_. So he is, noble squire; there's no honesty in a man that won't be drunk--A man that won't drink is an enemy to the trade of the nation. _Sir H_. Those were glorious days when honest English hospitality flourished; when a country gentleman could afford to make his neighbours drunk, before your damned French fashions were brought over. Why, Mr Mayor, would you think it? there are many of these courtiers who have six starved footmen behind a coach, and not half a hogshead of wine in their house; why, how do you think all the money is spent? _May_. Faith, I can't tell. _Sir H_. Why, in houses, pictures, lace, embroidery, nick-nacks, Italian singers, and French tumblers; and those who vote for them will never get a dinner of them after the election is over. _May_. But there is a thought comes often into my head, which is this; if these courtiers be turned out, who shall succeed them? _Sir H_. Who? why, we! _Tank_. Ay, we! _Sir H_. And then we may provide for our friends. I love my country, but I don't know why I may not get something by it as well as another; at least to reimburse me.--And I do assure you, though I have not bribed a single vote, my election will stand me in a good five thousand pounds. _Tank_. Ay, and so will mine me: but if ever we should get uppermost, Sir Harry, I insist upon immediately paying off the debts of the nation. _Sir H_. Mr Tankard, that shall be done with all convenient speed. _Tank_. I'll have no delay in it, sir. _May_. There spoke the spirit of a true Englishman: ah! I love to hear the squire speak; he will be a great honour to his country in foreign parts. _Sir H_. Our friends stay for us at the tavern; we'll go and talk more over a bottle.