HILLARIO.

Save you Sir, save you. Pray can you inform me in what Part of the Forest I may find the old Duke of Liege?

ANTONIO.

Marry, can I Sir: But may I beg to know your Business with him?

HILLARIO.

Faith! Sir, my Business is not very great with him:— But my Time lies upon my Hands a little, and I wou'd recommend myself to his Service, that I may have something to do.

ANTONIO.

Why, he's a banish'd Man; and surely you will not be so unpolite as to serve one that's out of Favour.

HILLARIO.

Why, I own 'tis a little out of Fashion; but I have a Sort of a-Kind of a Fondness for Novelty in my Temper, that will not suffer me to be confin'd always to Rules: In short, I was tir'd of doing nothing at Court, and resolv'd to seek Employment somewhere else; and hearing his Highness was here, I thought I cou'd not exercise my Talents for a more worthy Master.

ANTONIO.

By the Gentleman's Stile and Familiarity, I shou'd take him for a modern Conveniency, called a Pimp. If so, I believe he had best have staid where he was, for they are in very little Use any where else. [Aside.] 'Tis something far methinks to travel for a Service—but I'll introduce you to his Highness immediately.

HILLARIO.

Sir, I'm oblig'd to you; perhaps I may be of Service to him, at least if Courtiers can be so, for such I have been in all its Branches, and can give Testimonials no Man, I think, will dispute.

ANTONIO.

Pray Sir, what are they? Will you favour me with a Recital of them?

HILLARIO.

Why, in the first Place, I never kept a Promise, or told a Woman Truth in my Life; I have betray'd my Friend, and (if he was above me) cring'd to my Enemy: I have rail'd at the Prime Minister, had five or six Quarrels, and never sought one: Lain with a Maid of Honour; had five Coaches seiz'd, and ruin'd three Taylors.

ANTONIO.

Ha! ha! ha! good Sir, enough: After this, no Man will dare to question your Politeness, I warrant you: But methinks you had ill Luck Sir, not to have one Battle for all your Quarrels.

HILLARIO.

Oh! we Courtiers you know are the most peaceable Creatures living;—tho', Pox on't, I had a damn'd narrow 'Scape one Time.

ANTONIO.

How was that, pray Sir?

HILLARIO.

Why, I told a hot-headed young Lord, that was just

come from making the Tour of Italy, and full of romantic Notions, that his Mistress had as little Beauty, as he had Manners. He made me a smart Reply, and we stood disputing some Time; and, in short, it came to a downright Quarrel: But just in the Nick, as Fortune wou'd have it, comes by three, or four of our Acquaintance; upon this I drew, and made two, or three Passes at him, which he parry'd very dextrously; Our Friends immediately parted us, carried us to the Tavern, where we drown'd all Animosities in a reconciling Bottle, got sociably drunk together, and parted better Friends than ever.

ANTONIO.

A very pretty Adventure, upon my Word Sir:—But come, tho' I have been a Courtier too, you shall see I can break thro' Rules, and keep a Promise; this Way, Sir, leads to the Duke's Cave.

HILLARIO.

Oh the irresistable Charms of a new Acquaintance! if I had known his Lordship a Month, I suppose I might have waited long enough before he'd have troubled himself about me.