Enter SERVANT.

Serv. Sir, dinner is upon the table.

Bonc. Well, we will defer this affair till the afternoon, when I believe my behaviour will please you. Sir Geo. It will surprise me too, if it does. [Exeunt.

SCENE, VALENCE's House.

Enter VALENCE and SERVANT.

Val. Sir Gregory come to town, say you?

Serv. He is at the coffee-house, and will be here immediately.

Val. Well, shew him. up. (Exit Servant.) What great affair can have brought him up? who has not, I believe, been in town these twenty years: something of vast importance must have drawn him from his foxhounds! he hath been so long absent, the town will be a sight to him, at least he will be a sight to the town. (Sir Gregory halloos without.) He is not far off, I

hear.

my

Enter SIR GREGORY KENNEL.

Sir Greg. Hey a vox, Master Valence-how goes it, old friend? you look surpris'd to see me in town. Val. I must confess, Sir Gregory, you were one of the last persons I expected to see here.

Sir Greg. It is like a fox running against the wind: well, how does Madam, and how does your fine son do?

Val. Alas! my wife, my wife, poor woman, I have lost her some time: I thought you must have heard of that.

Sir Greg. Like enough I may: I can't remember every trifle.

Val. I hope your family is well, Sir Gregory?

Sir Greg. Why I have lost my lady too, since I saw you; she is six feet deep, by George; but the boys are well enough: Frank, he is at home; and Will is at Oxford; and the Squire, he is just come from his

travels.

Val. And how does Master Francis? I think he is my godson.

Sir Greg. Why, Frank, Frank is well enow; I would a brought un to town, but the dogs would not spare un : he is mightily improved, I can tell you, since you saw un; he takes a five-bar gate like a greyhound; but the Squire is the top of the pack: I have been at some pains in his education; he has made, what do you call it, the tower of Europe.

Val. What, has Master Gregory been abroad?

Sir Greg. I think so he hath been out almost two years, in France, and Italy, and Venice, and Naples, and I don't know where.

Val. Indeed! why I thought he had been too young to travel.

Sir Greg. No, no; he's old enough, he will be of age in half a year more.

Val. He is much improv'd by his travels, no doubt

on't.

Sir Greg. Improv'd, aye, that he is-Egad he overtops them all-he was the finest gentleman at sessionsI have nothing to do for'n, but marry un to a woman of quality, and get un made a parliament man, and then his fortune is made, then he will be a complete gentleman; now I have secur'd one o'um; I have agreed for a borough, and I fancy, neighbour Valence, you can recommend me to t'other; you converse with quality;

do you know now ever a woman of quality that's very handsome, with a great fortune, that wants husband?

a

Val. Quality, beauty, and fortune; you are somewhat high in your demands, Sir Gregory.

Sir Greg. Why, if she be not handsome, the boy won't like her; and, if she have no fortune, I shan't.

Val. But, why quality? what use is there in that? Sir Greg. Nay, I can't tell much use in it; but there is something in it to be sure, for I have seen men proud on it in the country, who have nothing else to be proud of-Odsure-I fancy they have forgot to direct the boy hither: I left him at the coffee-house having his shoes clean'd; the dog's grown so nice since his travels, that he did but just step into a kennel, though he wan't over the instep; the shoes o'un must be clean'd immediately; I will step and see for 'un, and be back with you in an [Exit.

instant.

Val. If this cub hath no more wit than his father, it will not be difficult to match him to my own daughter. He will be a much greater match than young Boncour: this is an effect of my prudence; but I am afraid, as unreasonable as my demands are to Boncour, folly will make him accept them; if he should, I can raise them so high, that, even so great a fool as he is, he will reject them however, I will be first sure on this side.

:

Enter SIR GREGORY and YOUNG KENNEL.

Sir Greg. Here he is; here is the boy; child, this is my friend, Mr. Valence,

[Young Kennel runs to Valence and kisses his hand. Val. I am glad to see you returned.

Young Ken. Pardie! Sir, your most humble servant. Sir Greg. Is not he a fine gentleman? well, Gregory,

let us hear a little more of your travels; come, don't be asham'd before folks, don't-Come, tell us what you

Young Ken. Dear, old gentleman, don't give yourself any pain on my account: I should have made the tour of Europe to very little purpose, if I had any modesty left.

Sir Greg. Neighbour Valence, do ask him about pleaces ?

Val. Pray, Sir, how do you like Venice?

Young Ken. Not at all; egad, it stands in the middle of the sea!

Sir Greg. How! no lies, Greg.-don't put the traveller upon us!

Val. Indeed he speaks truth. How do you like the humour, the temper of the Italians?

Young Ken. I don't know any thing of them, for I never would converse with any but those of my own country.

Sir Greg. That's right; I would have thee always be a true Englishman.

Val. I suppose you saw Rome, Sir?

Young Ken. Faith, Sir, I can't say I saw it, for I went extremely late in, and staid there but a week: I intended to have taken a walk or two about town, but happening to meet with two or three English dogs at our inn-mortblue! I never stirr'd abroad till the day I came away.

Sir Greg. What! did'st not see the Pope of Rome?

Young Ken. No, not I: I should have seen him, I believe, but I never heard a word that he was at Rome till after I came into France, and then I did not think it was worth going back for: I did not see any one thing in Italy worth taking notice of, but their pictures; they are magnifique, indeed!

Val. How do you like the buildings, Sir, in Italy?

Young Ken. They shew'd me some old buildings, but they are so damnably out of repair one can't tell what to make of them.

Sir Greg. Well, Gregory, give us a little account of France: you saw the King of France, did not you, Greg?

Young Ken. Yes, and the Queen, and the Dolphin; why, Paris is well enough, and the merriest place I saw in all my travels: one never wants company there; for there is such a rendezvous of English, I was never alone for three months together, and scarce ever spoke to a Frenchman all the while.

Sir Greg. There, Mr. Valence, you see how unjustly they speak against our sending our sons to travel: you see they are in no danger of learning foreign vices, when they don't keep company with foreigners. Well, Mr. Valence, how do you like 'un?

Val. O, infinitely well, indeed! he is really a finish'd gentleman

Sir Greg. Aye, is he not a fine fellow? But, Greg, you don't tell Mr. Valence half what you told me, about a strange man at Orlines.

Young Ken. You will excuse my father's pronunciation, as he has never been abroad: he means Orleans, where I saw one of the largest men I ever saw in my life; I believe he was about eight foot high.

Sir Greg. What a misfortune it is not to travel in one's youth: I can scarce forgive my father's memory for keeping me at home. Well, but about the King of France.

Young Ken. Zounds! father, don't ask me so many questions. You see, Sir, what a putt he is.

[Aside to Valence. Sir Greg. Why, you rogue, what did I send you

VOL. IV.

E