_Fust_. Yes, I have--and kept myself awake with much difficulty. [_Aside_. _Trap_. Nay, nay, you know I can't refuse you--though I shall certainly fall asleep in the first act. [_Aside_. _Sneer_. If you'll let me know who your people of quality are, I'll endeavour to bring you off. _Trap_. No, no, hang me if I tell you, ha, ha, ha! I know you too well--But prithee, now, tell me, Fustian, how dost thou like my play? dost think it will do? _Fust_. 'Tis my opinion it will. _Trap_. Give me a guinea, and I'll give you a crown a night as long as it runs. _Sneer_. That's laying against yourself, Mr Trapwit. _Trap_. I love a hedge, sir. _Fust_. Before the rehearsal begins, gentlemen, I must beg your opinion of my dedication: you know, a dedication is generally a bill drawn for value therein contained; which value is a set of nauseous fulsome compliments which my soul abhors and scorns; for I mortally hate flattery, and therefore have carefully avoided it. _Sneer_. Yes, faith, a dedication without flattery will be worth the seeing. _Fust_. Well, sir, you shall see it. Read it, dear Trapwit; I hate to read my own works. _Trap_. [_Reads_.] "My lord, at a time when nonsense, dullness, lewdness, and all manner of profaneness and immorality are daily practised on the stage, I have prevailed on my modesty to offer to your lordship's protection a piece which, if it has no merit to recommend it, has at least no demerit to disgrace it; nor do I question at this, when every one else is dull, you will be pleased to find one exception to the number. "I cannot indeed help assuming to myself some little merit from the applause which the town has so universally conferred upon me." _Fust_. That you know, Mr Sneer well, may be omitted, if it should meet with any ill-natured opposition; for which reason, I shall not print off my dedication till after the play is acted. _Trap_. [_Reads_.] "I might here indulge myself with a delineation of your lordship's character; but as I abhor the least imputation of flattery, and as I am certain your lordship is the only person in this nation that does not love to hear your praises, I shall be silent--only this give me leave to say, That you have more wit, sense, learning, honour, and humanity, than all mankind put together; and your person comprehends in it everything that is beautiful; your air is everything that is graceful, your look everything that is majestic, and your mind is a storehouse where every virtue and every perfection are lodged: to pass by your generosity, which is so great, so glorious, so diffusive, that like the sun it eclipses, and makes stars of all your other virtues--I could say more----" _Sneer_. Faith, sir, that's more than I could.