your honour for, is, Prompter, or what in Ire land we call Remembrancer. Here is the next, Simon Shadow.* "Pray, Master Shadow," said Sir Richard, "what is your province ?". "Alack, Sir," replied he, "I was by trade a linen-draper; but thinking I had talents for the stage, I entered into the company and was employed as woman's Taylor.-I could not act, indeed, myself, but I used to swear Mr. Poney spoke like an angel; for which, Sir, he got me a regular salary."-" Pho," said Sir Richard peevishly, "must I take a fellow for an actor because he said another acted well? Come, Sir, your next."-"Here, Mr. Bottle," said Mr. Poney, "come forth-This gentleman, Sir," said he, presenting him to Sir Richard, "has seldom play'd any thing but the lawyer; but he is equally fit for any thing else. Mr. Jefferey Hill come forth"- "And what can he act," said

Sir Richard," Any part," said Mr. Poney,

Henry Furnese. + Mr. Bootle, Solicitor to the Prince.

"that does not require speaking.

Here Peter Bullcalf, where are you?" Peter stepped forth with his tongue out of his mouth; but without speaking a syllable. "Well, Mr. Bullcalf," said Sir Richard, "are you as complete an actor as the last gentleman? What can you do." Bullcalf rolled his tongue about; spatterred out a plentiful quantity of dew, and then roar'd. "Zounds," said Sir Richard, "what part do you call this, Mr. Poney?"—" Sir," replied he, "he is a young beginner, and never performed any thing but the monster in Perseus and Andromeda."-" An excellent troop of comedians truly," said Sir Richard, here are two who never acted but short parts; one that only said you could act; and two who never could speak at all. But, pray Sir, are your women all as silent as the rest of your company: let us see them." Mr. Poney stepped out and return'd with four old fellows, drest with blue

*

Henry Vane, afterwards Lord Darlington.

aprons and black hats; and the first with a long muslin night-rail. Hey-day," quoth Sir Richard, "are these the ladies!"-" Sir," said Mr. Poney, "they supply the places of women. These are four gentlemen who are famous for performing the witches in Macbeth.-The first, Sir, is Mr. Samuel Mouldys,* who used formerly to make motions or puppet-shows. He has an excellent voice for shewing a Maramote and singing to a German organ. Let me recommend this gentleman to you for a top actress. Take off his night-rail, and new dress him, and he shall play Lady Betty Modish; Lady Townley; or any other genteel part, with the first woman in your company. These other three are Mr. John Rushlight,* Mr. Francis Feeble, and Mr. Thomas Wart: the latter is particularly excellent at Dumb show.”—“ But pray," said Sir Richard, "have you no real

* Mr. Sandys, afterwards Lord Sandys.
+ Sir John Rushout.

women at all in your troop. Nothing but these equivocal personages."" A real woman? yes, Sir, that I have; as real a woman, I believe, as ever was produced upon the Stage: a woman, Sir, that can out-do her own out-doings. Sir, she has as real a voice, as real action, as real passion, as any real woman of them all. In short, Sir, you shall see her. Here, my dear, come forth, like raving Nourmahal in Aurenzebe, when they tell the Sultan,

The Empress has the anti-chamber past,
And hither moves in most disorder'd haste;
Her looks the stormy marks of anger wear.

Here is a real woman for you; I am sure I have found her so."" Pray," said Sir Richard calmly, "what may Mrs. Poney's particular turn be."-" Sir," said her spouse, "the first she played was Columbine in a Farce; but of late years, Sir, she has attempted, with great

success, the first parts in Tragedy-she particularly shines in Lady Macbeth; Lady Wronghead, and Lady Loverule, in the Devil to Pay: -Thus, Sir, have you seen my troop; and, believe me, they will make you the richest man in Europe, if you will but employ them instead of those blundering fellows you have already.”— "That I much doubt," said Sir Richard. "But, pray Mr. Poney, why did you bring over none of your chief actors with you?-We have heard extraordinary characters of several of them, which no doubt they deserve; had you not one Mr. Handup,* a most incomparable Comedian; and one Mr. Pitman,† as excellent for Tragedy; a Mr. Bub, who is equally qualified for the facetious or the sublime. Then I have heard of a Mr. Cotton,§ who, they say, is admirable for a short part; a Mr. Wall, who is the best prompter in the world; and several others who,

*Lord Chesterfield.
+ Bub Doddington.
|| Mr. Waller.

+ Mr. W. Pitt.

§ Sir J. H. Cotton.