diff options
Diffstat (limited to '36491.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 36491.txt | 2498 |
1 files changed, 2498 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/36491.txt b/36491.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d621cc --- /dev/null +++ b/36491.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2498 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Toy Shop (1735) The King and the Miller +of Mansfield (1737), by Robert Dodsley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Toy Shop (1735) The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737) + +Author: Robert Dodsley + +Editor: Harry M. Solomon + +Release Date: June 21, 2011 [EBook #36491] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TOY SHOP *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +THE TOY-SHOP + +(1735) + + +THE KING AND THE MILLER OF MANSFIELD + +(1737) + + +_ROBERT DODSLEY_ + +_Introduction by_ + +HARRY M. SOLOMON + +Publication Number 218-219 +WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY +University of California, Los Angeles +1983 + + + + +GENERAL EDITOR + +DAVID STUART RODES, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +EDITORS + + CHARLES L. BATTEN, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + GEORGE ROBERT GUFFEY, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + MAXIMILLIAN E. NOVAK, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + NANCY M. SHEA, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + THOMAS WRIGHT, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + +ADVISORY EDITORS + + RALPH COHEN, _University of Virginia_ + WILLIAM E. CONWAY, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + VINTON A. DEARING, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + PHILLIP HARTH, _University of Wisconsin, Madison_ + LOUIS A. LANDA, _Princeton University_ + EARL MINER, _Princeton University_ + JAMES SUTHERLAND, _University College, London_ + NORMAN J. W. THROWER, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + ROBERT VOSPER, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + JOHN M. WALLACE, _University of Chicago_ + +PUBLICATIONS MANAGER + + NANCY M. SHEA, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + BEVERLY J. ONLEY, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + +EDITORIAL ASSISTANT + + FRANCES MIRIAM REED, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The career of ROBERT DODSLEY (1703-1764), or "Doddy" as Samuel Johnson +affectionately called him, resembles nothing so much as the rise of +Francis Goodchild in Hogarth's _Industry and Idleness_ (1747) series. +Like Goodchild, Dodsley began as a humble apprentice and, through +energy, ingenuity, and laudable ambition, grew prosperous and gained +the esteem of all London. Today Dodsley is remembered as the most +important publisher of his period, a man who numbered among his authors +Pope, Young, Akenside, Gray, Johnson, Burke, Shenstone, and Sterne. +His long-labored _Collection of Poems_ (1748) rescued many of +his contemporaries' works from pamphlet obscurity and even now +provides both the best and the most representative introduction to +mid-eighteenth-century English poetry. His twelve-volume _A Select +Collection of Old Plays_ (1744) made the lesser Elizabethan dramatists, +long out of print, available again. + +It is one of the minor ironies of literary history that the man who did +so much to insure the survival of the poems and plays of others has had +his own almost entirely forgotten. For Dodsley was not always a +bookseller. When he escaped his country apprenticeship and fled to +London to work as a footman, Dodsley had his heart set on literary +distinction; and it was first as poet and later as playwright that he +came to the attention of the Town. Although a few of his poems are as +ingratiating as Dodsley himself is reported to have been, most are now +aesthetically irretrievable. His dramas, in contrast, remain +interesting. Two of the best--_The Toy-Shop_ (1735) and _The King and +the Miller of Mansfield_ (1737)--were much more popular than his +earlier poems and for a time made him seem the equal of fellow +dramatist Henry Fielding. So great was the vogue of these two works +that Dodsley has been described as the principal developer of the +sentimental or moralizing afterpiece.[1] Both works are short +afterpieces intended to complement or contrast with the full-length +play on the day's bill and both moralize conspicuously; the two plays +could, however, hardly be more different in tone and technique. + +_The Toy-Shop_ grew out of Dodsley's admiration of and consequent +desire to emulate the witty raillery of Augustan satire. When he sent +Pope his newly minted collected poems, _A Muse in Livery_ (1732), +Dodsley also included an orphan muse in the packet. In February of 1733 +Pope politely responded that he liked the play and would encourage John +Rich to produce it, but that he doubted whether it had sufficient +action to engage an audience. Dodsley apparently did all he could to +strengthen his acquaintance with Pope, including publishing a laudatory +_Epistle to Mr. Pope, Occasion'd by His Essay on Man_ in 1734; and the +following February when Rich finally produced _The Toy-Shop_ at Covent +Garden, some thought that Pope was the author and Dodsley's alleged +authorship a diversion. Understandably, Dodsley was delighted to have +his play even momentarily mistaken for the work of Alexander Pope. + +_The Toy-Shop_ was enormously popular. "This little Performance, +without any Theatrical Merit whatsoever," the _Prompter_ wrote on 18 +February, "received the loudest Applauses that I have heard this long +while, only on Account of its General and well-Adapted Satire on the +Follies of Mankind."[2] Dodsley's afterpiece was performed thirty-four +times during the 1735 season. In print it was even more in demand. For +his benefit performance on 6 February, Dodsley advertised that "Books +of the Toy-Shop will be sold in the House."[3] There were at least six +legitimate editions of the piece within the year. It was pirated, +translated into French, and subsequently anthologized in almost every +collection of English farces.[4] + +Every critic has concurred with Pope in finding the play plotless. The +short first scene establishes the premise: that the Master of the shop +is "a general Satyrist, yet not rude nor ill-natur'd," who moralizes +"upon every Trifle he sells, and will strike a Lesson of Instruction +out of a Snuff-box, a Thimble, or a Cockle-shell" (p. 10). Working +within a tradition that includes Lucian's sale of philosophers and, +just after _The Toy-Shop_, Fielding's auction in _The Historical +Register, For the Year 1736_ (1737), Dodsley acknowledged that his +premise was adopted directly from Thomas Randolph's _Conceited Pedlar_ +(1630). His metaphor of the world as "a great Toy-shop, and all it's +[_sic_] Inhabitants run mad for Rattles" (p. 45) recalls the brilliant +penultimate verse paragraph of "Epistle II" of Pope's _Essay on Man_, +wherein mankind is shown as eternally addicted to "toys" of one kind or +another: + + Pleas'd with this bauble still, as that before; + Till tir'd he sleeps, and Life's poor play is o'er! + + (Lines 281-82) + +With so many unmistakable resemblances to Pope in Dodsley's play, it is +not surprising that some spectators thought they detected the hand of +the author of _The Rape of the Lock_. + +Following a hint from Pope that the strength of his afterpiece lay in +its mixture of morality and satire, Dodsley titled his work "A +Dramatick Satire" and begged indulgence in the epilogue for his "dull +grave Sermon" (p. 5). In fact, the merit of the work is the wit with +which the Master of the shop extemporizes over each sale. "Why, Sir," +one character says, "methinks you are a new Kind of a Satirical Parson, +your Shop is your Scripture, and every piece of Goods a different Text, +from which you expose the Vices and Follies of Mankind in a very fine +allegorical Sermon" (p. 17). Jean Kern lists the satiric allegory as +one of the five major forms of dramatic satire during this period, but +judges _The Toy-Shop_ a failure in that genre because, instead of a +sustained allegory, Dodsley provides "a jumble of annotated sales of +abstractions with no controlling metaphor. The toys for sale are +interesting only for the value which the characters assign to them; the +result is a miscellany of characters assigning a miscellany of +values."[5] Thus, the problematic nature of a genre that attempts to +dramatize satire with no more than perfunctory recourse to plot or +characterization and Dodsley's failure to sustain consistently his +comparison between those objects that mankind values and mere toys both +contribute to the play's lack of "Theatrical Merit." It may also +suggest why _The Toy-Shop_ was even more popular in print than on the +stage. Nevertheless, even with all its dramatic inadequacies +acknowledged, the play retains a charming Tatler-esque ingenuity that +still amuses. + +Income from _The Toy-Shop_ and the gift of a hundred pounds from Pope +allowed Dodsley to open, under the sign of Tully's Head, the bookshop +that was to become so important in the history of English literature. +Dodsley the bookseller did not cease writing; when _The King and the +Miller of Mansfield_ opened at Drury Lane on 29 January 1737, with +young Colley Cibber in the role of Henry II, it was evident that +Dodsley's stagecraft had improved. The play was a triumph, with +thirty-seven performances in 1737--the most popular play of the year +and one of the most popular plays of the century. + +_The Toy-Shop_ had been Dodsley's attempt to adopt sophisticated city +ways; _The King and the Miller of Mansfield_ is a return to his "native +Sherwood." Instead of indulging in the sometimes labored, sometimes +second-hand wit and contemptuous satiric stance of the earlier play, +_The King and the Miller of Mansfield_ reflects the earnest +sentimentality and democratic impulse of the ballad, later printed in +Percy's _Reliques_ (1765), upon which the play is modeled. The plot is +simple. Henry II, lost and separated from his courtiers in Sherwood +Forest, is given shelter by honest John Cockle, a miller in nearby +Mansfield and one of His Majesty's Keepers of the Forest. Meanwhile, at +the miller's house, his son Dick and Dick's former sweetheart Peggy +plan how to gain access to the king so that he might redress the wrongs +done to their innocent love by the lust of the haughty Lord Lurewell. +By coincidence Lurewell is one of the courtiers lost in the forest. In +the final scene, with all the principals assembled, the king's identity +is made known and distributive justice dispensed. + +Allardyce Nicoll argues that the success of _The King and the Miller of +Mansfield_ makes Dodsley the most important sentimentalist of the +thirties.[6] Certainly the play was frequently produced with revivals +of earlier sentimental works like Cibber's _Love's Last Shift_ (1696) +and Steele's _The Conscious Lovers_ (1723); and, in fact, it would be +difficult to find a list of definitive characteristics of sentimental +drama that Dodsley's play does not satisfy in every particular. The +bourgeois nobility and integrity of Dick and Peggy poignantly engage +the audience's pity and admiration, while the improbable resolution +affirms the inevitable triumph of goodness. There is even--what some +critics have required of sentimental drama--love of rural scenery and +use of native setting.[7] + +Dodsley has cleverly integrated scene and theme in _The King and the +Miller of Mansfield_. The moral and social problem stressed in the play +is the existence and abuse of aristocratic privilege. Implicitly the +play assumes that rank should correlate with goodness. The king himself +is the best example of this. Alone at night in Sherwood Forest, Henry +asks himself, "Of what Advantage is it now to be a King? Night shews me +no Respect: I cannot see better, nor walk so well as another Man" (p. +11). Cut off from the trappings of monarchy he finds his common +humanity and, at the conclusion of the play, redresses the wrongs of +rank when he knights the instinctively noble miller and reproves the +vicious but hereditarily titled Lord Lurewell. His accidental +separation from the corruption of court and courtiers initiates Henry's +contact with John Cockle, representative of all the middle-class +virtues. Significantly, they are in the miller's environment: rural +England, symbol of uncorrupted beauty, correlative to the innocent +beauty of young Peggy before her acquaintance with Lords "of +Prerogative."[8] + +As critics have noted, the whole sentimental movement in English drama +is opposed in tone to the cynical ethos of aristocratic privilege; but +Dodsley explicitly advocates a democratic sensibility that estimates +individual worth independent of the accident of birth. The "bourgeois +sententiae" of _The King and the Miller of Mansfield_ are certainly as +ideologically explicit as the arguments for the value of the mercantile +middle class in Lillo's _The London Merchant_ (1731).[9] Dodsley did, +after all, have working-class credentials; his years in "service" +furnished the materials for _Servitude: A Poem_ (1729) and _A Muse in +Livery_ (1732). The allegorical frontispiece to _A Muse in Livery_ +shows a young man aspiring to knowledge, virtue, and happiness but +manacled by poverty to misery, folly, and ignorance, his foot chained +to a giant stone inscribed "Despair." + +Despite the play's clear egalitarian sympathies, it seems excessive to +characterize Dodsley's work as "revolutionary" and to be reminded too +forcibly of the coming events in France. And yet, as has also been +suggested, things might now look different had there been a revolution +in England. Plays like Dodsley's discomforted the government. As +Fielding notes in the dedication of _The Historical Register, For the +Year 1736_, the _Gazetteer_ of 7 May 1737 had accused his play and +Dodsley's _The King and the Miller of Mansfield_ of aiming at the +overthrow of Walpole's ministry. "Bob Booty" reacted to this threat +from the stage by enacting legislation in June requiring that all new +plays and all alterations of old plays be approved by the Lord +Chamberlain; in contrast, the reaction of the monarchy to Dodsley's +work was much more ingenious. The third performance of _The King and +the Miller of Mansfield_, that from which the author was to receive the +proceeds, was held "By Command of their Royal Highness the Prince and +Princess of Wales." Both royal personages were present to honor the +apprentice from Mansfield. "The Boxes not being equal to the Demand for +Places, for the better Accommodation of the Ladies, Side Boxes [were] +made on the Stage."[10] Although the production of Dodsley's best play, +_Cleone_ (1758), was still twenty years in the future, it seems safe to +regard this night as the height of Dodsley's dramatic career. + +_Auburn University_ + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + + + 1. Leo Hughes, _A Century of English Farce_ (Princeton: Princeton +University Press, 1956), 126. + + 2. _The London Stage 1660-1800: Part 3: 1729-1747_, ed. Arthur H. +Scouten (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1961), 457. + + 3. Ibid., 458. + + 4. Ralph Straus, _Robert Dodsley: Poet, Publisher and Playwright_ +(London: John Lane, 1910), 35. + + 5. Jean B. Kern, _Dramatic Satire in the Age of Walpole_, 1720-1750 +(Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1976), 149. + + 6. Allardyce Nicoll, _A History of English Drama 1660-1900_, 6 +vols. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1955-60), 2:204. + + 7. For a survey of attempts to characterize sentimental drama, see +Arthur Sherbo, _English Sentimental Drama_ (East Lansing: Michigan +State University Press, 1957). + + 8. John Loftis, _The Politics of Drama in Augustan England_ (Oxford: +Clarendon Press, 1963), 116-17. + + 9. Laura Brown, _English Dramatic Form, 1660-1760: An Essay in +Generic History_ (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1981), 148. + +10. _London Stage: Part 3_, 635. + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + +_The Toy-Shop_ (1735) is reproduced from the copy of the first edition +in the Henry E. Huntington Library (Shelf Mark: 152063). A typical +type-page (p. 23) measures 135 x 72 mm. + +_The King and the Miller of Mansfield_ (1737) is reproduced from the +copy of the first edition in the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library +(Shelf Mark: *PR3409/D7K5). A typical type-page (p. 13) measures 145 x +73 mm. + + + + +THE TOY-SHOP. + +A Dramatick Satire. + + +By ROBERT DODSLEY, + +Author of _The Art of Charming_. + +[Illustration: _First Edition._] + +_LONDON:_ + +Printed for LAWTON GILLIVER, at _Homer's Head_, against +St. _Dunstan's_ Church, in _Fleet-street_. 1735. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + _Well, Heav'n be prais'd, this dull grave Sermon's done. + (For faith our Author might have call'd it one) + I wonder who the Devil he thought to please! + Is this a Time o' Day for Things like these? + Good Sense and honest Satire now offend; + We're grown too wise to learn, too proud to mend. + And so divinely wrapt in Songs and Tunes, + The next wise Age will all be----Fiddlers Sons. + And did he think plain Truth wou'd Favour find? + Ah! 'tis a Sign he little knows Mankind! + To please, he ought to have a Song or Dance, + The Tune from_ Italy, _the Caper_ France: + _These, these might charm----But hope to do't with Sense! + Alas, alas, how vain is the Pretence! + But, tho' we told him,----Faith, 'twill never do.-- + Pho, never fear, he cry'd, tho' grave, 'tis new: + The Whim, perhaps, may please, if not the Wit. + And, tho' they don't approve, they may permit. + If neither this nor that will intercede, + Submissive bond, and thus for Pardon plead._ + + _"To gen'rous Few, to you our Author sues + His first Essay with Candour to excuse. + 'T has Faults, he owns, but, if they are but small, + He hopes your kind Applause will hide them all."_ + + + + +Dramatis Personae. + + + _MEN._ + + Master of the Shop, Mr. _Chapman_. + 1 } Mr. _Bridgewater_. + 2 } Gentleman, Mr. _Wignell_. + 3 } Mr. _Hallam_. + 4 } Mr. _Hale_. + Beau. Mr. _Neale_. + 1 } Old Man, Mr. _James_. + 2 } Mr. _Hippisley_. + + + _WOMEN._ + + 1 } Mrs. _Bullock_. + 2 } Lady, Miss _Norsa_. + 3 } Mrs. _Mullart_. + 4 } Miss _Bincks_. + + + + +THE TOY-SHOP. + + +SCENE _a Parlour._ _A Gentleman and two Ladies, drinking Tea._ + +_Gent._ And you have never been at this extraordinary Toy-shop, you +say, Madam? + +_1 La._ No, Sir: I have heard of the Man, indeed; but most People say, +he's a very impertinent, silly Fellow. + +_Gent._ That's because he sometimes tells them of their Faults. + +_1 La._ And that's sufficient. I should think any Man impertinent that +should pretend to tell me of my Faults, if they did not concern him. + +_Gent._ Yes, Madam. But People that know him take no Exceptions. And +really, tho' some may think him impertinent, in my Opinion, he's very +entertaining. + +_2 La._ Pray, who is this Man you're talking of? I never heard of him. + +_Gent._ He's one who has lately set up a Toy-shop, Madam, and is, +perhaps, the most extraordinary Person in his Way that ever was heard +of. He is a general Satyrist, yet not rude nor ill-natur'd. He has got +a Custom of moralizing upon every Trifle he sells, and will strike a +Lesson of Instruction out of a Snuff-box, a Thimble, or a Cockle-shell. + +_1 La._ Isn't he cras'd? + +_Gent._ Madam, he may be call'd a Humourist; but he does not want +Sense, I do assure you. + +_2 La._ Methinks I should be glad to see him. + +_Gent._ I dare say you will be very much diverted. And if you'll please +to give me Leave, I'll wait on you. I'm particularly acquainted with +him. + +_2 La._ What say you, Madam, shall we go? + +_1 La._ I can't help thinking he's a Coxcomb; however, to satisfy +Curiosity I don't care if I do. + +_Gent._ I believe the Coach is at the Door. + +_2 La._ I hope he won't affront us. + +_Gent._ He won't designedly, I'm sure, Madam. [_Exeunt._ + + +_Scene changes to the Toy-Shop, the Master standing behind the Counter +looking over his Books._ + +_Mast._ Methinks I have had a tolerable good Day of it to-day. A Gold +Watch, Five and Thirty Guineas----Let me see----What did that Watch +stand me in?----Where is it? O here----Lent [_Turning to another book +backwards and forwards._] to Lady _Basset_ Eighteen Guineas upon her +Gold Watch. Ay, she died and never redeem'd it.--A Set of old China, +Five Pounds.--Bought of an old Cloaths Man for Five Shillings. +Right.--A curious Shell for a Snuff-box, Two Guineas.--Bought of a poor +Fisher-boy for a Half-penny. Now, if I had offer'd that Shell for +Sixpence, no body would have bought it. Well, Thanks to the whimsical +Extravagance and Folly of Mankind, I believe, from these childish Toys +and gilded Baubles, I shall pick up a comfortable Maintenance. For, +really, as it is a trifling Age, so Nothing but Trifles are valued in +it. Men read none but trifling Authors, pursue none but trifling +Amusements, and contend for none but trifling Opinions. A trifling +Fellow is prefer'd, a trifling Woman admir'd. Nay, as if there were not +real Trifles enow, they now make Trifles of the most serious and +valuable Things. Their Time, their Health, their Money, their +Reputation, are trifled away. Honestly is become a Trifle, Conscience a +Trifle, Honour a mere Trifle, and Religion the greatest Trifle of all. + +_Enter the Gentleman and the two Ladies._ + +_Mast._ Sir, your humble Servant, I'm very glad to see you. + +_Gent._ Sir, I am yours. I have brought you some Customers here. + +_Mast._ You are very good, Sir. What do you please to want, Ladies? + +_1 La._ Please to want! People seldom please to want any thing, Sir. + +_Mast._ O dear Madam, yes; I always imagine when People come into a +Toy-shop, it must be for something they please to want. + +_2 La._ Here's a mighty pretty Looking Glass; Pray, Sir, what's the +Price of it? + +_Mast._ This Looking Glass, Madam, is the finest in all _England_. In +this Glass a Coquet may see her Vanity, and a Prude her Hypocrisy. Some +fine Ladies may see more Beauty than Modesty, more Airs than Graces, +and more Wit than Good-nature. + +_1 La._ [_Aside._] He begins already. + +_Mast._ If a Beau was to buy this Glass, and look earnestly in it, he +might see his Folly almost as soon as his Finery. 'Tis true, some +People may not see their Generosity in it, nor others their Charity, +yet it is a very clear Glass. Some fine Gentlemen may not see their +Good-manners in it perhaps, nor some Parsons their Religion, yet it is +a very clear Glass. In short, tho' every one that passes for a Maid +should not happen to see a Maidenhead in it, yet it may be a very clear +Glass, you know, for all that. + +_2 La._ Yes, Sir, but I did not ask you the Virtues of it, I ask'd you +the Price. + +_Mast._ It was necessary to tell you the Virtues, Madam, in order to +prevent your scrupling the Price, which is five Guineas, and for so +extraordinary a Glass, in my Opinion, it is but a Trifle. + +_2 La._ Lord, I'm afraid to look in it, methinks, lest it should show +me more of my Faults than I care to see. + +_1 La._ Pray, Sir, what can be the Use of this very diminutive piece of +Goods here? + +_Mast._ This Box, Madam? In the first Place, it is a very great +Curiosity, being the least Box that ever was seen in _England_. + +_1 La._ Then a very little Curiosity had been more proper. + +_Mast._ Right, Madam. Yet, would you think it, in this same little Box, +a Courtier may deposite his Sincerity, a Lawyer may screw up his +Honesty, and a Poet may----hoard his Money. + +_Gent._ Ha, ha, ha, I will make a Present of it to Mr. _Stanza_ for the +very same Purpose. + +_2 La._ Here's a fine Perspective. Now, I think, Madam, in the Country +these are a very pretty Amusement. + +_Mast._ O, Madam, the most useful and diverting things imaginable +either in Town or Country. The Nature of this Glass, Madam, (pardon my +impertinence in pretending to tell you what to be sure you are as well +acquainted with as myself) is this. If you look thro' it at this end +every Object is magnified, brought near, and discern'd with the +greatest Plainness; but turn it the other way, do ye see, and they are +all lessen'd, cast at a great Distance, and rendered almost +imperceptible. Thro' this End it is that we look at our own Faults, but +when other People's are to be examined, we are ready enough to turn the +other. Thro' this End are view'd all the Benefits and Advantages we at +any time receive from others; but if ever we happen to confer any, they +are sure to be shown in their greatest Magnitude thro' the other. Thro' +this we enviously darken and contract the Virtue, the Merit, the Beauty +of all the World around us; but fondly Compliment our own with the most +agreeable and advantageous Light thro' the other. + +_2 La._ Why, Sir, methinks you are a new Kind of a Satirical Parson, +your Shop is your Scripture, and every piece of Goods a different Text, +from which you expose the Vices and Follies of Mankind in a very fine +allegorical Sermon. + +_Mast._ Right, Madam, right; I thank you for the Simile. I may be +call'd a Parson indeed, and am a very good one in my way. I take +delight in my Calling, and am never better pleased than to see a full +Congregation. Yet it happens to me as it does to most of my Brethren, +People sometimes vouchsafe to take home the Text perhaps, but mind the +Sermon no more than if they had not heard one. + +_1 La._ Why, Sir, when a short Text has more in it than a long Sermon, +it's no wonder if they do. + + _Enter a third Lady._ + +_3 Lady._ Pray, Sir, let me look at some of your little Dogs. + +_2 La._ [_Aside._] Little Dogs! My Stars! How cheaply some People are +entertain'd! Well, it's a Sign human Conversation is grown very low and +insipid, whilst that of Dogs and Monkeys is preferr'd to it. + +_Mast._ Here are very beautiful Dogs, Madam, these Dogs when they were +alive were some of them the greatest Dogs of their Age. I don't mean +the largest, but Dogs of the greatest Quality and Merit. + +_1 La._ I love a _Dog of Merit_ dearly; has not he a _Dog of Honour_ +too, I wonder? [_Aside._] + +_Mast._ Here's a Dog now that never eat but upon Plate or China, nor +set his Foot but upon a Carpet or a Cushion. Here's one too, this Dog +belong'd to a Lady of as great Beauty and Fortune as any in _England_; +he was her most intimate Friend and particular Favourite; and upon that +Account has receiv'd more Compliments, more Respect, and more Addresses +than a First Minister of State. Here's another which was, doubtless, a +Dog of singular Worth and great Importance; since at his Death one of +the greatest Families in the Kingdom were all in Tears, receiv'd no +Visits for the space of a Week, but shut themselves up and mourn'd +their Loss with inconsolable Sorrow. This Dog while he liv'd, either +for Contempt of his Person, neglect of his Business, or saucy +impertinent Behaviours in their Attendance on him, had the Honour of +turning away upwards of thirty Servants. He died at last of a Cold +caught by following one of the Maids into a damp Room, for which she +lost her Place, her Wages, and her Character. + +_3 Lady._ O the careless wicked Wretch! I would have had her try'd for +Murder at least. That, that is just my Case! The sad Relation revives +my Grief so strongly I cannot contain. _Lucy_, bring in the Box.[1] O I +have lost the dearest Friend in the World! See! see the charming +Creature, here, lies dead! Its precious Life is gone! Oh, my dear +_Chloe_! no more wilt thou lie hugg'd in my warm Bosom! no more will +that sweet Tongue lick o'er my Face, nor that dear Mouth eat dainty +Bits from mine. O, Death, what hast thou robb'd me of? + + [1] _Here her Maid enters and delivers a Box, from which the + Lady pulls out a dead Dog, kissing it, and weeping._ Lucy + _too pretends great Sorrow, but turning aside bursts out a + Laughing, and cries, "She little thinks I poison'd it."_ + +_Gent._ [_Aside._] A proper Object to display your Folly. + +_Mast._ Pray, Madam, moderate your Grief; you ought to thank Heaven +'tis not your Husband. + +_3 La._ Oh, what is Husband, Father, Mother, Son, to my dear, precious +_Chloe_!----No, no, I cannot live without the Sight of his dear Image; +and if you cannot make me the exact Effigies of this poor dead +Creature, and cover it with his own dear Skin, so nicely that it cannot +be discern'd, I must never hope to see one happy Day in Life. + +_Mast._ Well, Madam, be comforted, I will do it to your Satisfaction. + [_Taking the Box._ + +_3 Lady._ Let me have one look more. Poor Creature! O cruel Fate, that +Dogs are born to die. [Exit _weeping_. + +_Gent._ What a Scene is here! Are not the real and unavoidable Evils of +Life sufficient, that People thus create themselves imaginary Woes? + +_Mast._ These, Sir, are the Griefs of those that have no other. Did +they once truly feel the real Miseries of Life, ten thousand Dogs might +die without a Tear. + + _Enter a second Gentleman._ + +_2 Gent._ I want an Ivory Pocket-book. + +_Mast._ Do you please to have it with Directions, or without? + +_2 Gent._ Directions! what, how to use it? + +_Mast._ Yes, Sir. + +_2 Gent._ I should think, every Man's own Business his best Direction. + +_Mast._ It may so. Yet there are some general Rules, which it equally +behoves every Man to be acquainted with. As for Instance: Always to +make a Memorandum of the Benefits you receive from others. Always to +set down the Faults or Failings, which from Time to Time you discover +in yourself. And, if you remark any Thing that is ridiculous or faulty +in others, let it not be with an ill-natur'd Design to hurt or expose +them, at any Time, but with a _Nota bene_, that it is only for a +Caution to your self, not to be guilty of the like. With a great many +other Rules of such a Nature as makes one of my Pocket-books both a +useful Monitor and a very entertaining Companion. + +_2 Gent._ And pray, what's the Price of one of them? + +_Mast._ The Price is a Guinea, Sir. + +_2 Gent._ That's very dear. But, as it's a Curiosity----[_Pays for it, +and_ Exit.] + + _Enter a_ Beau. + +_Beau._ Pray, Sir, let me see some of your handsomest Snuff-boxes. + +_Mast._ Here's a plain Gold one, Sir, a very neat Box; here's a Gold +enamell'd; here's a Silver one neatly carv'd and gilt; here's a curious +Shell, Sir, set in Gold. + +_Beau._ Dam your Shells; there's not one of them fit for a Gentleman to +put his Fingers into. I want one with some pretty Device on the Inside +of the Lid; something that may serve to joke upon, or help one to an +Occasion to be witty, that is, smutty, now and then. + +_Mast._ And are witty and smutty then synonimous Terms? + +_Beau._ O dear Sir, yes; a little decent Smutt is the very Life of all +Conversation. 'Tis the Wit of Drawing-Rooms, Assemblies, and +Tea-tables. 'Tis the smart Raillery of fine Gentlemen, and the innocent +Freedom of fine Ladies. 'Tis a _Double Entendre_, at which the Coquet +laughs, the Prude looks grave, the Modest blush, but all are pleas'd +with. + +_Mast._ That it is the Wit and the Entertainment of all Conversations, +I believe, Sir, may, possibly, be a Mistake. 'Tis true, those who are +so rude as to use it in all Conversations, may possibly be so deprav'd +themselves, as to fancy every body else as agreeably entertain'd in +hearing it as they are in uttering it: But I dare say, any Man or +Woman, of real Virtue and Modesty, has as little Taste for such +Ribaldry as those Coxcombs have for what is good Sense or true +Politeness. + +_Beau._ Good Sense, Sir! Damme, Sir, what do you mean? I would have you +think, I know good Sense as well as any Man. Good Sense is a true----a +right----a----a----a----Dam it, I wo'nt be so pedantick as to make +Definitions: But I can invent a cramp Oath, Sir; drink a smutty Health, +Sir; ridicule Priests, laugh at all Religion, and make such a grave +Prig as you look just like a Fool, Sir. Now, I take this to be good +Sense. + +_Mast._ And I unmov'd can hear such senseless Ridicule, and look upon +its Author with an Eye of Pity and Contempt. And I take this to be good +Sense. + +_Beau._ Pshaw, pshaw; damn'd Hypocrisy and Affectation; Nothing +else, nothing else. [_Exit._ + +_Mast._ There is Nothing so much my Aversion as a Coxcomb. They are a +Ridicule upon humane Nature, and make one almost asham'd to be of the +same Species. And, for that Reason, I can't forbear affronting them +whenever they fall in my Way. I hope the Ladies will excuse such +Behaviour in their Presence. + +_2 La._ Indeed, Sir, I wish we had always somebody to treat them with +such Behaviour in our Presence. 'Twould be much more agreeable than +their Impertinence. + + _Enter a_ Young Gentleman. + +_3 Gent._ I want a plain Gold Ring, Sir, exactly this Size. + +_Mast._ Then 'tis not for yourself, Sir. + +_3 Gent._ No. + +_Mast._ A Wedding Ring, I presume. + +_3 Gent._ No, Sir, I thank you kindly, that's a Toy I never design to +play with. 'Tis the most dangerous Piece of Goods in your whole Shop. +People are perpetually doing themselves a Mischief with it. They hang +themselves fast together first, and afterwards are ready to hang +themselves separately, to get loose again. + +_1 La._ This is but the fashionable Cant. I'll be hang'd if this +pretended Railer at Matrimony is not just upon the Point of making some +poor Woman miserable. [_Aside._] + +_3 Gent._ Well----happy are we whilst we are Children; we can then lay +down one Toy and take up another, and please ourselves with Variety: +But growing more foolish as we grow older, there's no Toy will please +us then but a Wife; and that, indeed, as it is a Toy for Life, so it is +all Toys in one. She's a Rattle in a Man's Ears which he cannot throw +aside: A Drum that is perpetually beating him a Point of War: A Top +which he ought to whip for his Exercise, for like that she is best when +lash'd to sleep: A Hobby-Horse for the Booby to ride on when the Maggot +takes him: A---- + +_Mast._ You may go on, Sir, in this ludicrous Strain, if you please, +and fancy 'tis Wit; but, in my Opinion, a good Wife is the greatest +Blessing, and the most valuable possession, that Heaven in this Life +can bestow. She makes the Cares of the World sit easy, and adds a +Sweetness to its Pleasures. She is a Man's best Companion in +Prosperity, and his only Friend in Adversity. The carefullest Preserver +of his Health, and the kindest Attendant on his Sickness. A faithful +Adviser in Distress, a Comforter in Affliction, and a prudent Manager +of all his Domestick Affairs. + +_2 La._ [_Aside._] Charming Doctrine! + +_3 Gent._ Well, Sir, since I find you so staunch an Advocate for +Matrimony, I confess 'tis a Wedding-Ring I want; the Reason why I +deny'd it, and of what I said in Ridicule of Marriage, was only to +avoid the Ridicule which I expected from you upon it. + +_Mast._ Why that now is just the Way of the World in every Thing, +especially, amongst young People. They are asham'd to do a good Action +because it is not a fashionable one, and in Compliance with Custom act +contrary to their own Consciences. They displease themselves to please +the Coxcombs of the World, and chuse rather to be Objects of divine +Wrath than humane Ridicule. + +_3 Gent._ 'Tis very true, indeed. There is not one Man in Ten Thousand +that dare be virtuous for Fear of being singular. 'Tis a Weakness which +I have hitherto been too much guilty of my self; but for the future I +am resolv'd upon a more steady Rule of Action. + +_Mast._ I am very glad of it. Here's your Ring, Sir. I think it comes +to about a Guinea. + +_3 Gent._ There's the Money. + +_Mast._ Sir, I wish you all the Joy that a good Wife can give you. + +_3 Gent._ I thank you, Sir. [_Exit._ + +_1 La._ Well, Sir, but, after all, don't you think Marriage a Kind of a +desperate Venture? + +_Mast._ It is a desperate Venture, Madam, to be sure. But, provided +there be a tolerable Share of Sense and Discretion on the Man's part, +and of Mildness and Condescension on the Woman's, there is no danger of +leading as happy and as comfortable a Life in that State as in any +other. + + _Enter a fourth Lady._ + +_4 Lady._ I want a Mask, Sir, Have you got any? + +_Mast._ No, Madam, I have not one indeed. The People of this Age are +arriv'd to such perfection in the Art of masking themselves, that they +have no Occasion for any Foreign Disguises at all. You shall find +Infidelity mask'd in a Gown and Cassock; and wantonness and immodesty +under a blushing Countenance. Oppression is veil'd under the Name of +Justice, and Fraud, and Cunning under that of Wisdom. The Fool is +mask'd under an affected Gravity, and the vilest Hypocrite under the +greatest Professions of Sincerity. The Flatterer passes upon you under +the Air of a Friend; and he that now huggs you in his Bosom, for a +Shilling would cut your Throat. Calumny and Detraction impose +themselves upon the World for Wit, and an eternal Laugh wou'd fain be +thought Good-nature. An humble Demeaner is assum'd from a Principle of +Pride, and the Wants of the Indigent relieved out of Ostentation. In +short, Worthlessness and Villany are oft disguis'd and dignified in +Gold and Jewels, whilst Honesty and Merit lie hid under Raggs and +Misery. The whole World is in a Mask, and it is impossible to see the +natural Face of any one Individual. + +_4 Lady._ That's a Mistake, Sir, you your self are an Instance, that no +Disguise will hide a Coxcomb; and so your humble Servant. + +_Mast._ Humph!----Have I but just now been exclaiming against Coxcombs, +and am I accused of being one my self? Well----we can none of us see +the ridiculous Part of our own Characters. Could we but once learn to +criticize ourselves; and to find out and expose to our selves our own +weak Sides, it would be the surest Means to conceal them from the +Criticism of others. But I would fain hope I am not a Coxcomb, +methinks, whatever I am else. + +_Gent._ I suppose you have said something which her Conscience would +not suffer her to pass over without making the ungrateful Application +to herself, and that, as it often happens, instead of awaking in her a +Sense of her Fault, has only serv'd to put her in a Passion. + +_Mast._ May be so indeed. At least I am willing to think so. + + _Enter an old Man._ + +_O. M._ I want a pair of Spectacles, Sir. + +_Mast._ Do you please to have 'em plain Tortoise-shell, or set in Gold +or Silver? + +_O. M._ Pho! Do you think I buy Spectacles as your fine Gentlemen buy +Books? If I wanted a pair of Spectacles only to look _at_, I would have +'em fine ones; but as I want them to look _with_, do ye see, I'll have +'em good ones. + +_Mast._ Very well, Sir. Here's a pair I'm sure will please you. Thro' +these Spectacles all the Follies of Youth are seen in their true Light. +Those Vices which to the strongest youthful Eyes appear in Characters +scarce legible, are thro' these Glasses discern'd with the greatest +Plainness. A powder'd Wig upon an empty Head, attracts no more respect +thro' these Opticks than a greasy Cap; and the Lac'd Coat of a Coxcomb +seems altogether as contemptible as his Footman's Livery. + +_O. M._ That indeed is showing things in their true Light. + +_Mast._ The common Virtue of the World appears only a Cloak for +Knavery; and it's Friendships no more than Bargains of Self-Interest. +In short, he who is now passing away his Days in a constant Round of +Vanity, Folly, Intemperance, and Extravagance, when he comes seriously +to look back upon his past Actions, thro' these undisguising Opticks, +will certainly be convinc'd, that a regular Life, spent in the Study of +Truth and Virtue, and adorn'd with Acts of Justice, Generosity, +Charity, and Benevolence, would not only have afforded him more Delight +and Satisfaction in the present Moment, but would likewise have rais'd +to his Memory a lasting Monument of Fame and Honour. + +_O. M._ Humph! 'Tis very true; but very odd that such serious Ware +should be the Commodity of a Toy-shop. [_Aside._] Well, Sir, and what's +the Price of these extraordinary Spectacles? + +_Mast._ Half a Crown. + +_O. M._ There's your Money. [_Exit._ + + _Enter a fourth young Gentleman._ + +_4 Gent._ I want a small pair of Scales. + +_Mast._ You shall have them, Sir. + +_4 Gent._ Are they exactly true? + +_Mast._ The very Emblem of Justice, Sir, a Hair will turn 'em. +[_Ballancing the Scales._] + +_4 Gent._ I would have them true, for they must determine some very +nice statical Experiments. + +_Mast._ I'll engage they shall justly determine the nicest Experiments +in Staticks, I have try'd them my self in some uncommon Subjects, and +have prov'd their Goodness. I have taken a large Handful of Great Men's +Promises, and put into one end; and lo! the Breath of a Fly in the +other has kick'd up the Beam. I have seen four Peacock's Feathers, and +the four Gold Clocks in Lord _Tawdry's_ Stockings, suspend the Scales +in Equilibrio. I have found by Experiment, that the Learning of a Beau, +and the Wit of a Pedant are a just Counterpoise to each other. That the +Pride and Vanity of any Man are in exact Proportion to his Ignorance. +That a Grain of Good-nature will preponderate against an Ounce of Wit; +a Heart full of Virtue against a Head full of Learning; an a Thimble +full of Content against a Chest full of Gold. + +_4 Gent._ This must be a very pretty Science, I fancy. + +_Mast._ It would be endless to enumerate all the Experiments that might +be made in these Scales; but there is one which every Man ought to be +appriz'd of; and that is, that a Moderate Fortune, enjoy'd with +Content, Freedom, and Independency will turn the Scales against +whatever can be put in the other End. + +_4 Gent._ Well, this is a Branch of Staticks, which I must own I had +but little Thoughts of entering into. However I begin to be persuaded, +that to know the true Specifick Gravity of this Kind of Subjects, is of +infinitely more Importance than that of any other Bodies in the +Universe. + +_Mast._ It is indeed. And that you may not want Encouragement to +proceed in so useful a Study, I will let you have the Scales for Ten +Shillings. If you make a right Use of them, they will be worth more to +you than Ten Thousand Pounds. + +_4 Gent._ I confess I am struck with the Beauty and Usefulness of this +Kind of moral Staticks, and believe I shall apply myself to make +Experiments with great Delight. There's your Money, Sir: You shall hear +shortly what Discoveries I make; in the mean Time, I am your humble +Servant. [_Exit._ + +_Mast._ Sir, I am yours. + + _Enter a second_ Old Man. + +_2 Old Man._ Sir, I understand you deal in Curiosities. Have you any +Thing in your Shop, at present, that's pretty and curious? + +_Mast._ Yes, Sir, I have a great many Things. But the most ancient +Curiosity I have got, is a small Brass Plate, on which is engrav'd the +Speech which _Adam_ made to his Wife, on their first Meeting, together +with her Answer. The Characters, thro' Age, are grown unintelligible; +but for that 'tis the more to be valued. What is remarkable in this +ancient Piece is, that _Eve_'s Speech is about three Times as long as +her Husband's. I have a Ram's Horn, one of those which help'd to blow +down the Walls of _Jericho._ A Lock of _Sampson_'s Hair, tied up in a +Shred of _Joseph_'s Garment. With several other _Jewish_ Antiquities, +which I purchas'd of that People at a very great Price. Then I have the +Tune which _Orpheus_ play'd to the Devil, when he charm'd back his +Wife. + +_Gent._ That was thought to be a silly Tune, I believe, for no Body has +over car'd to learn it since. + +_Mast._ Close cork'd up in a Thumb Phial, I have some Drops of Tears +which _Alexander_ wept, because he could do no more Mischief. I have a +Snuff-box made out of the Tub in which _Diogenes_ liv'd, and took Snuff +at all the World. I have the Net in which _Vulcan_ caught his Spouse +and her Gallant; but our modern Wives are now grown so exceeding +chaste, that there has not been an Opportunity of casting it these many +Years. + +_Gent._ [_Aside to the Ladies._] Some would be so malicious now as +instead of chaste to think he meant cunning. + +_Mast._ I have the Pitch Pipe of _Gracchus_, the _Roman_ Orator, who, +being apt, in Dispute, to raise his Voice too high, by touching a +certain soft Note in this Pipe, would regulate and keep it in a +moderate Key. + +_2 La._ Such a Pipe as that, if it could be heard, would be very useful +in Coffee-houses, and other publick Places of Debate and modern +Disputation. + +_Gent._ Yes, Madam, and, I believe, many a poor Husband would be glad +of such a Regulator of the Voice in his own private Family too. + +_Mast._ There you was even with her, Sir. But the most valuable +Curiosity I have, is a certain hollow Tube, which I call a +_Distinguisher_; contriv'd with such Art, that, when rightly applied to +the Ear, it obstructs all Falshood, Nonsence, and Absurdity, from +striking upon the Tympanum: Nothing but Truth and Reason can make the +least Impression upon the Auditory Nerves. I have sate in a +Coffee-house sometimes, for the Space of Half an Hour, and amongst what +is generally call'd the best Company, without hearing a single word. At +a Dispute too, when I could perceive, by the eager Motions of both +Parties, that they made the greatest Noise, I have enjoy'd the most +profound Silence. It is a very useful Thing to have about one, either +at Church or Play-house, or _Westminster-hall_; at all which Places a +vast Variety both of useful and diverting Experiments may be made with +it. The only Inconvenience attending it is, that no Man can make +himself a compleat Master of it under Twenty Years close and diligent +Practice: And that Term of Time it best commenc'd at Ten or Twelve +Years old. + +_Gent._ That indeed is an Inconvenience that will make it not every +Body's Money. But one would think those Parents who see the Beauty and +the Usefulness of Knowledge, Virtue, and a distinguishing Judgment, +should take particular Care to engage their Children early in the Use +and Practice of such a _Distinguisher_, whilst they have Time before +them, and no other Concerns to interrupt their Application. + +_Mast._ Some few do. But the Generality are so entirely taken up with +the Care of little Master's Complexion, his Dress, his Dancing, and +such like Effeminacies, that they have not the least Regard for any +internal Accomplishments whatsoever. They are so far from teaching him +to subdue his Passions, that they make it their whole Business to +gratify them all. + +_2 Old Man._ Well, Sir; to some People these may be thought curious +Things, perhaps, and a very valuable Collection. But, to confess the +Truth, these are not the Sort of curious Things I wanted. Have you no +little Box, representing a wounded Heart, on the Inside the Lid? Nor +pretty Ring, with an amorous Poesy? Nothing of that Sort, which is +pretty and not common, in your Shop? + +_Mast._ O yes, Sir! I have a very pretty Snuff-box here, on the inside +of the Lid, do ye see, is a Man of threescore and ten acting the Lover, +and hunting like a Boy after Gewgaws and Trifles, to please a Girl +with. + +_2 O. M._ Meaning me, Sir? Do ye banter me, Sir? + +_Mast._ If you take it to your self, Sir, I can't help it. + +_2 O. M._ And is a Person of my Years and Gravity to be laugh'd at, +then? + +_Mast._ Why, really, Sir, Years and Gravity do make such Childishness +very ridiculous, I can't help owning. However, I am very sorry I have +none of those curious Trifles for your Diversion, but I have delicate +Hobby Horses and Rattles if you please. + +_2 O. M._ By all the Charms of _Araminta_, I will revenge this affront. + [_Exit._ + +_Gent._ Ha, ha, ha! how contemptible is Rage in Impotence! But pray, +Sir, don't you think this kind of Freedom with your Customers +detrimental to your Trade? + +_Mast._ No, no, Sir, the odd Character I have acquir'd by this rough +kind of Sincerity and plain Dealing; together with the whimsical Humour +of moralizing upon every Trifle I sell; are the Things, which by +raising Peoples Curiosity, furnish me with all my Customers: And it is +only Fools and Coxcombs I am so free with. + +_La._ And in my Opinion, you are in the Right of it. Folly and +Impertinence ought always to be the Objects of Satire and Ridicule. + +_Gent._ Nay, upon second Thoughts, I don't know but this odd turn of +Mind, which you have given your self, may not only be entertaining to +several of your Customers, but, perhaps, very much so to your self. + +_Mast._ Vastly so, Sir. It very often helps me to Speculations +infinitely agreeable. I can sit behind this Counter, and fancy my +little Shop, and the Transactions of it, an agreeable Representation of +the grand Theater of the World. When I see a Fool come in here, and +throw away 50 or 100 Guineas for a Trifle that is not really worth a +Shilling, I am sometimes surpriz'd: But when I look out into the World, +and see Lordships and Manors barter'd away for gilt Coaches and +Equipage; an Estate for a Title; and an easy Freedom in Retirement for +a servile Attendance in a Crowd; when I see Health with great eagerness +exchang'd for Diseases, and Happiness for a Game at Hazard; my Wonder +ceases. Surely the World is a great Toy-shop, and all it's Inhabitants +run mad for Rattles. Nay, even the very wisest of us, however, we may +flatter our selves, have some Failing or Weakness, some Toy or Trifle, +that we are ridiculously fond of. Yet, so very partial are we to our +own dear selves, that we over-look those Miscarriages in our own +Conduct, which we loudly exclaim against in that of others; and, tho' +the same Fool's Turbant fits us all, + + _You say that I, I say that You are He, + And each Man swears "The Cap's not made for me."_ + +_Gent._ Ha, ha! 'Tis very true, indeed. But I imagine you now begin to +think it Time to shut up Shop. Ladies, do ye want any Thing else? + +_1 La._ No, I think not. If you please to put up that Looking-glass; +and the Perspective, I will pay you for them. + +_Gent._ Well, Madam, how do you like this whimsical Humourist? + +_1. La._ Why, really, in my Opinion, the Man's as great a Curiosity +himself, as any Thing he has got in his Shop. + +_Gent._ He is so indeed. I think we have heard a great Deal of Folly +very justly ridicul'd. + + _In this gay thoughtless Age He'as found a Way, + In trifling Things just Morals to convey. + 'Tis his at once to please and to reform, + And give old Satire a new Pow'r to charm. + And, would you guide your Lives and Actions right, + Think on the Maxims you have heard to Night._ + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +THE KING AND THE MILLER OF MANSFIELD. + +A DRAMATICK TALE. + + +By _R. DODSLEY_, + +AUTHOR of the TOY-SHOP. + +_LONDON:_ + +Printed for the AUTHOR, at _Tully's Head, Pall-Mall_; and Sold by T. +COOPER, at the _Globe_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_. M.DCC.XXXVII. + + + + +Dramatis Personae. + + + _MEN._ + + The KING, Mr. _Cibber_. + The MILLER, Mr. _Miller_. + RICHARD the _Miller_'s Son, Mr. _Berry_. + Lord LUREWELL, Mr. _Este_. + COURTIERS and + KEEPERS of the Forest. + + + _WOMEN._ + + PEGGY, Mrs. _Pritchard_. + MARGERY, Mrs. _Bennet_. + KATE, Mrs. _Cross_. + + +SCENE, _Sherwood Forest_. + + + + +THE KING AND THE MILLER. + + +SCENE, _Sherwood Forest._ + + _Enter several_ COURTIERS _as lost._ + +_1 Courtier._ 'Tis horrid dark! and this Wood I believe has neither End +nor Side. + +_4 C._ You mean to get out at, for we have found one in you see. + +_2 C._ I wish our good King _Harry_ had kept nearer home to hunt; in my +Mind the pretty, tame Deer in _London_ make much better Sport than the +wild ones in _Sherwood Forest_. + +_3 C._ I can't tell which Way his Majesty went, nor whether any-body is +with him or not, but let us keep together pray. + +_4 C._ Ay, ay, like true Courtiers, take Care of ourselves whatever +becomes of Master. + +_2 C._ Well, it's a terrible Thing to be lost in the Dark. + +_4 C._ It is. And yet it's so common a Case, that one would not think +it should be at all so. Why we are all of us lost in the Dark every Day +of our Lives. Knaves keep us in the Dark by their Cunning, and Fools by +their Ignorance. Divines lose us in dark Mysteries; Lawyers in dark +Cases; and Statesmen in dark Intrigues: Nay, the Light of Reason, which +we so much boast of, what is it but a Dark-Lanthorn, which just serves +to prevent us from running our Nose against a Post, perhaps; but is no +more able to lead us out of the dark Mists of Error and Ignorance, in +which we are lost, than an _Ignis fatuus_ would be to conduct us out of +this Wood. + +_1 C._ But, my Lord, this is no time for Preaching methinks. And for +all your Morals, Day-light would be much preferable to this Darkness I +believe. + +_3 C._ Indeed wou'd it. But come, let us go on, we shall find some +House or other by and by. + +_4 C._ Come along. [_Exeunt._ + + _Enter the_ KING _alone_. + +No, no, this can be no publick Road that's certain: I am lost, quite +lost indeed. Of what Advantage is it now to be a King? Night shews me +no Respect: I cannot see better, nor walk so well as another Man. What +is a King? Is he not wiser than another Man? Not without his +Counsellors I plainly find. Is he not more powerful? I oft have been +told so, indeed, but what now can my Power command? Is he not greater +and more magnificent? When seated on his Throne, and surrounded with +Nobles and Flatterers, perhaps he may think so, but when lost in a +Wood, alas! what is he but a common Man? His Wisdom knows not which is +North and which is South; his Power a Beggar's Dog would bark at; and +his Greatness the Beggar would not bow to. And yet how oft are we +puff'd up with these false Attributes? Well, in losing the Monarch, I +have found the Man. + + [_The Report of a Gun is heard._ + +Hark! Some Villain sure is near! What were it best to do? Will my +Majesty protect me? No. Throw Majesty aside then, and let Manhood do +it. + + _Enter the_ MILLER. + +_Mil._ I believe I hear the Rogue. Who's there? + +_King._ No Rogue, I assure you. + +_Mil._ Little better, Friend, I believe. Who fir'd that Gun? + +_King._ Not I, indeed. + +_Mil._ You lie, I believe. + +_King._ Lie! lie! How strange it seems to me to be talk'd to in this +Stile. [_Aside._] Upon my Word I don't. + +_Mil._ Come, come, Sirrah, confess; you have shot one of the King's +Deer, have not you? + +_King._ No indeed, I owe the King more Respect. I heard a Gun go off, +indeed, and was afraid some Robbers might have been near. + +_Mil._ I am not bound to believe this, Friend. Pray who are you? What's +your Name? + +_King._ Name! + +_Mil._ Name! yes Name. Why you have a Name, have not you? Where do you +come from? What is your Business here? + +_King._ These are Questions I have not been us'd to, honest Man. + +_Mil._ May be so; but they are Questions no honest Man would be afraid +to answer, I think: So if you can give no better Account of your self, +I shall make bold to take you along with me, if you please. + +_King._ With you! What Authority have you to---- + +_Mil._ The King's Authority, if I must give you an Account, Sir. I am +_John Cockle_, the Miller of _Mansfield_, one of his Majesty's Keepers +in this Forest of _Sherwood_; and I will let no suspected Fellow pass +this Way that cannot give a better Account of himself than you have +done, I promise you. + +_King._ I must submit to my own Authority. [_Aside._] Very well, Sir, I +am glad to hear the King has so good an Officer: And since I find you +have his Authority, I will give you a better Account of myself, if you +will do me the Favour to hear it. + +_Mil._ It's more than you deserve, I believe; but let's hear what you +can say for yourself. + +_King._ I have the Honour to belong to the King as well as you, and, +perhaps, should be as unwilling to see any Wrong done him. I came down +with him to hunt in this Forest, and the Chace leading us to Day a +great Way from Home, I am benighted in this Wood, and have lost my Way. + +_Mil._ This does not sound well; if you have been a hunting, pray where +is your Horse? + +_King._ I have tired my Horse so that he lay down under me, and I was +oblig'd to leave him. + +_Mil._ If I thought I might believe this now. + +_King._ I am not used to lie, honest Man. + +_Mil._ What! do you live at Court, and not lie! that's a likely Story +indeed. + +_King._ Be that as it will. I speak Truth now I assure you; and, to +convince you of it, if you will attend me to _Nottingham_, if I am near +it; or give me a Night's Lodging in your own House, here is something +to pay you for your Trouble, and if that is not sufficient, I will +satisfy you in the Morning to your utmost Desire. + +_Mil._ Ay, now I am convinc'd you are a Courtier; here is a little +Bribe for to Day, and a large Promise for To-morrow, both in a Breath: +Here, take it again, and take this along with it----_John Cockle_ is no +Courtier, he can do what he ought----without a Bribe. + +_King._ Thou art a very extraordinary Man I must own; and I should be +glad, methinks, to be further acquainted with thee. + +_Mil._ Thee! and Thou! Prythee don't thee and thou me; I believe I am +as good a Man as yourself at least. + +_King._ Sir, I beg your Pardon. + +_Mil._ Nay, I am not angry, Friend, only I don't love to be too +familiar with any-body, before I know whether they deserve it or not. + +_King._ You are in the Right. But what am I to do? + +_Mil._ You may do what you please. You are twelve Miles from +_Nottingham_, and all the Way through this thick Wood; but if you are +resolv'd upon going thither to Night, I will put you in the Road, and +direct you the best I can; or if you will accept of such poor +Entertainment as a Miller can give, you shall be welcome to stay all +Night, and in the Morning I will go with you myself. + +_King._ And cannot you go with me to Night? + +_Mil._ I would not go with you to Night if you was the King. + +_King._ Then I must go with you, I think. [_Exeunt._ + + +_Scene changes to the Town of_ Mansfield. + + DICK _alone_. + +Well, dear _Mansfield_, I am glad to see thy Face again. But my Heart +aches, methinks, for fear this should be only a Trick of theirs to get +me into their Power. Yet the Letter seems to be wrote with an Air of +Sincerity, I confess; and the Girl was never us'd to lie till she kept +a Lord Company. Let me see, I'll read it once more. + + _Dear_ Richard, + + _I am at last (tho' much too late for me) convinc'd of the Injury + done to us both by that base Man, who made me think you false; he + contriv'd these Letters, which I send you, to make me think you + just upon the Point of being married to another, a Thought I could + not bear with Patience, so aiming at Revenge on you, consented to + my own Undoing. But for your own sake I beg you to return hither, + for I have some Hopes of being able to do you Justice, which is the + only Comfort of your most distrest but ever affectionate,_ + + PEGGY. + +There can be no Cheat in this sure! The Letters she has sent are, I +think, a Proof of her Sincerity. Well, I will go to her however: I +cannot think she will again betray me: If she has as much Tenderness +left for me, as, in spite of her Ill-usage, I still feel for her, I'm +sure she won't. Let me see, I am not far from the House, I believe. + + [_Exit._ + + +_Scene changes to a Room._ + + PEGGY _and_ PHOEBE. + +_Phoe._ Pray, Madam, make yourself easy. + +_Peg._ Ah! _Phoebe_, she that has lost her Virtue, has with it lost her +Ease, and all her Happiness. Believing, cheated Fool! to think him +false. + +_Phoe._ Be patient, Madam, I hope you will shortly be reveng'd on that +deceitful Lord. + +_Peg._ I hope I shall, for that were just Revenge. But will Revenge +make me happy? Will it excuse my Falshood? Will it restore me to the +Heart of my much-injur'd Love? Ah! no. That blooming Innocence he us'd +to praise, and call the greatest Beauty of our Sex, is gone. I have no +Charm left that might renew that Flame I took such Pains to quench. + + [_Knocking at the Door._ + +See who's there. O Heavens 'tis he! Alas! that ever I should be asham'd +to see the Man I love! + + _Enter_ RICHARD, _who stands looking on her at a Distance, + she weeping_. + +_Dick._ Well, _Peggy_ (but I suppose you're Madam now in that fine +Dress) you see you have brought me back; is it to triumph in your +Falshood? or am I to receive the slighted Leavings of your fine Lord? + +_Peg._ O _Richard_! after the Injury I have done you, I cannot look on +you without Confusion: But do not think so hardly of me; I stay'd not +to be slighted by him, for the Moment I discover'd his vile Plot on +you, I fled his Sight, nor could he e'er prevail to see me since. + +_Dick._ Ah, _Peggy_! you were too hasty in believing, and much I fear, +the Vengeance aim'd at me, had other Charms to recommend it to you: +Such Bravery as that [_Pointing to her Cloaths_] I had not to bestow; +but if a tender, honest Heart could please, you had it all; and if I +wish'd for more, 'twas for your sake. + +_Peg._ O _Richard_! when you consider the wicked Stratagem he contriv'd +to make me think you base and deceitful, I hope you will, at least, +pity my Folly, and, in some Measure, excuse my Falshood; that you will +forgive me, I dare not hope. + +_Dick._ To be forc'd to fly from my Friends and Country, for a Crime +that I was innocent of, is an Injury that I cannot easily forgive to be +sure: But if you are less guilty of it than I thought, I shall be very +glad; and if your Design be really as you say, to clear me, and to +expose the Baseness of him that betray'd and ruin'd you, I will join +with you with all my Heart. But how do you propose to do this? + +_Peg._ The King is now in this Forest a hunting, and our young Lord is +every Day with him: Now, I think, if we could take some Opportunity of +throwing ourselves at his Majesty's Feet, and complaining of the +Injustice of one of his Courtiers, it might, perhaps, have some Effect +upon him. + +_Dick._ If we were suffer'd to make him sensible of it, perhaps it +might; but the Complaints of such little Folks as we seldom reach the +Ears of Majesty. + +_Peg._ We can but try. + +_Dick._ Well, If you will go with me to my Father's, and stay there +till such an Opportunity happens, I shall believe you in earnest, and +will join with you in your Design. + +_Peg._ I will do any thing to convince you of my Sincerity, and to make +Satisfaction for the Injuries which have been done you. + +_Dick._ Will you go now? + +_Peg._ I will be with you in less than an Hour. [_Exeunt._ + + +_Scene changes to the Mill._ + + MARGERY _and_ KATE _Knitting_. + +_Kate._ O dear, I would not see a Spirit for all the World; but I love +dearly to hear Stories of them. Well, and what then? + +_Mar._ And so, at last, in a dismal, hollow Tone it cry'd---- + + [_A Knocking at the Door frights them both; they scream out, + and throw down their Knitting._ + +_Mar._ and } Lord bless us! What's that? +_Kate._ } + +_Kate._ O dear, Mother, it's some Judgment upon us I'm afraid. They +say, talk of the Devil and he'll appear. + +_Mar._ _Kate_, go and see who's at the Door. + +_Kate._ I durst not go, Mother; do you go. + +_Mar._ Come, let's both go. + +_Kate._ Now don't speak as if you was afraid. + +_Mar._ No, I won't, if I can help it. Who's there? + +_Dick without._ What, won't you let me in? + +_Kate._ O Gemini! it's like our _Dick_, I think: He's certainly dead, +and it's his Spirit. + +_Mar._ Heaven forbid! I think in my Heart it's he himself. Open the +Door, _Kate_. + +_Kate._ Nay, do you. + +_Mar._ Come, we'll both open it. + + [_They open the Door._ + + _Enter_ DICK. + +_Dick._ Dear Mother, how do ye do? I thought you would not have let me +in. + +_Mar._ Dear Child, I'm over-joy'd to see thee; but I was so frighted, I +did not know what to do. + +_Kate._ Dear Brother, I am glad to see you; how have you done this long +while? + +_Dick._ Very well, _Kate_. But where's my Father? + +_Mar._ He heard a Gun go off just now, and he's gone to see who 'tis. + +_Dick._ What, they love Venison at _Mansfield_ as well as ever, I +suppose? + +_Kate._ Ay, and they will have it too. + +_Miller without._ Hoa! _Madge! Kate!_ bring a Light here. + +_Mar._ Yonder he is. + +_Kate._ Has he catch'd the Rogue, I wonder? + +_Enter the_ KING _and the_ MILLER. + +_Mar._ Who have you got? + +_Mil._ I have brought thee a Stranger, _Madge_; thou must give him a +Supper, and a Lodging if thou can'st. + +_Mar._ You have got a better Stranger of your own, I can tell you: +_Dick_'s come. + +_Mil._ _Dick!_ Where is he? Why _Dick!_ How is't my Lad? + +_Dick._ Very well, I thank you, Father. + +_King._ A little more and you had push'd me down. + +_Mil._ Faith, Sir, you must excuse me; I was over-joy'd to see my Boy. +He has been at _London_, and I have not seen him these four Yerrs. + +_King._ Well, I shall once in my Life have the Happiness of being +treated as a common Man; and of seeing human Nature without Disguise. +[_Aside._] + +_Mil._ What has brought thee Home so unexpected? + +_Dick._ You will know that presently. + +_Mil._ Of that by-and-by then. We have got the King down in the Forest +a hunting this Season, and this honest Gentleman, who came down with +his Majesty from _London_, has been with 'em to Day it seems, and has +lost his Way. Come, _Madge_, see what thou can'st get for Supper. Kill +a Couple of the best Fowls; and go you, _Kate_, and draw a Pitcher of +Ale. We are famous, Sir, at _Mansfield_, for good Ale, and for honest +Fellows that know how to drink it. + +_King._ Good Ale will be acceptable at present, for I am very dry. But +pray, how came your Son to leave you, and go to _London_? + +_Mil._ Why, that's a Story which _Dick_, perhaps, won't like to have +told. + +_King._ Then I don't desire to hear it. + + _Enter_ KATE _with an Earthen Pitcher of Ale, and + a Horn_. + +_Mil._ So, now do you go help your Mother. Sir, my hearty Service to +you. + +_King._ Thank ye, Sir. This plain Sincerity and Freedom, is a Happiness +unknown to Kings. [_Aside._] + +_Mil._ Come, Sir. + +_King._ _Richard_, my Service to you. + +_Dick._ Thank you, Sir. + +_Mil._ Well, _Dick_, and how do'st thou like _London_? Come, tell us +what thou hast seen. + +_Dick._ Seen! I have seen the Land of Promise. + +_Mil._ The Land of Promise! What dost thou mean? + +_Dick._ The Court, Father. + +_Mil._ Thou wilt never leave joking. + +_Dick._ To be serious then, I have seen the Disappointment of all my +Hopes and Expectations; and that's more than one would wish to see. + +_Mil._ What, would the great Man thou wast recommended to, do nothing +at all for thee at last? + +_Dick._ Why, yes; he would promise me to the last. + +_Mil._ Zoons! do the Courtiers think their Dependants can eat Promises! + +_Dick._ No, no, they never trouble their Heads to think, whether we eat +at all or not. I have now dangled after his Lordship several Years, +tantaliz'd with Hopes and Expectations; this Year promised one Place, +the next another, and the third, in sure and certain Hope of----a +Disappointment. One falls, and it was promis'd before; another, and I +am just Half an Hour too late; a third, and it stops the Mouth of a +Creditor; a fourth, and it pays the Hire of a Flatterer; a fifth, and +it bribes a Vote; and the sixth, I am promis'd still. But having thus +slept away some Years, I awoke from my Dream: My Lord, I found, was so +far from having it in his Power to get a Place for me, that he had been +all this while seeking after one for himself. + +_Mil._ Poor _Dick_! And is plain Honesty then a Recommendation to no +Place at Court? + +_Dick._ It may recommend you to be a Footman, perhaps, but nothing +further, nothing further, indeed. If you look higher, you must furnish +yourself with other Qualifications: You must learn to say Ay, or No; to +run, or stand; to fetch, or carry, or leap over a Stick at the Word of +Command. You must be Master of the Arts of Flattery, Insinuation, +Dissimulation, Application, and [_Pointing to his Palm_] right +Application too, if you hope to succeed. + +_King._ You don't consider I am a Courtier, methinks. + +_Dick._ Not I, indeed; 'tis no Concern of mine what you are. If, in +general, my Character of the Court is true, 'tis not my Fault if it's +disagreable to your Worship. There are particular Exceptions I own, and +I hope you may be one. + +_King._ Nay, I don't want to be flatter'd, so let that pass. Here's +better Success to you the next Time you come to _London_. + +_Dick._ I thank ye; but I don't design to see it again in haste. + +_Mil._ No, no, _Dick_; instead of depending upon Lords Promises, depend +upon the Labour of thine own Hands; expect nothing but what thou can'st +earn, and then thou wilt not be disappointed. But come, I want a +Description of _London_; thou hast told us nothing thou hast seen yet. + +_Dick._ O! 'tis a fine Place! I have seen large Houses with small +Hospitality; great Men do little Actions; and fine Ladies do----nothing +at all. I have seen the honest Lawyers of _Westminster-Hall_, and the +virtuous Inhabitants of _'Change-Alley_. The politick Mad-men of +Coffee-Houses, and the wise Statesmen of _Bedlam_. I have seen merry +Tragedies, and sad Comedies; Devotion at an Opera, and Mirth at a +Sermon; I have seen fine Cloaths at _St. James_'s, and long Bills at +_Ludgate-Hill_. I have seen poor Grandeur, and rich Poverty; high +Honours, and low Flattery, great Pride, and no Merit. In short, I have +seen a Fool with a Title, a Knave with a Pension, and an honest Man +with a Thread-bare Coat. Pray how do you like _London_? + +_Mil._ And is this the best Description thou can'st give of it? + +_Dick._ Yes. + +_King._ Why, _Richard_, you are a Satirist, I find. + +_Dick._ I love to speak Truth, Sir; if that happens to be Satire, I +can't help it. + +_Mil._ Well, if this is _London_, give me my Country Cottage; which, +tho' it is not a great House, nor a fine House, is my own House, and I +can shew a Receipt for the Building on't. + +_King._ I wish all the great Builders in the Kingdom could say as much. + +_Mil._ Come, Sir, our Supper, I believe, is ready for us, by this time; +and to such as I have, you're as welcome as a Prince. + +_King._ I thank you. [_Exeunt._ + + +_Scene changes to the Wood._ + + _Enter several_ KEEPERS. + +_1 K._ The Report of the Gun was somewhere this Way I'm sure. + +_2 K._ Yes, but I can never believe that any-body would come a Deer +stealing so dark a Night as this. + +_3 K._ Where did the Deer harbour to Day? + +_4 K._ There was a Herd lay upon _Hamilton-Hill_, another just by +_Robin Hood's Chair_, and a third here in _Mansfield Wood_. + +_1 K._ Ay, those they have been amongst. + +_2 K._ But we shall never be able to find 'em to Night, 'tis so dark. + +_3 K._ No, no; let's go back again. + +_1 K._ Zoons! you're afraid of a broken Head, I suppose, if we should +find 'em; and so had rather slink back again. Hark! Stand close. I hear +'em coming this Way. + + _Enter the_ COURTIERS. + +_1 C._ Did not you hear some-body just now? Faith I begin to be afraid +we shall meet with some Misfortune to Night. + +_2 C._ Why, if any-body should take what we have got, we have made a +fine Business of it. + +_3 C._ Let 'em take it if they will; I am so tir'd I shall make but +small Resistance. + +_The Keepers rush upon them._ + +_2 K._ Ay, Rogues, Rascals, and Villains, you have got it, have you? + +_2 C._ Indeed we have got but very little, but what we have you're +welcome to, if you will but use us civilly. + +_1 K._ O, yes! very civilly; you deserve to be us'd civilly, to be +sure. + +_4 C._ Why, what have we done that we may not be civilly us'd? + +_1 K._ Come, come, don't trifle, surrender. + +_1 C._ I have but three Half-Crowns about me. + +_2 C._ Here is Three and Six-pence for you, Gentlemen. + +_3 C._ Here's my Watch; I have no Money at all. + +_4 C._ Indeed I have nothing in my Pocket but a Snuff-box. + +_4 K._ What, the Dogs want to bribe us, do they? No, Rascals; you shall +go before the Justice To-morrow, depend on't. + +_4 C._ Before the Justice! What, for being robb'd? + +_1 K._ For being robb'd! What do you mean? Who has robb'd you? + +_4 C._ Why, did not you just now demand our Money, Gentlemen? + +_2 K._ O, the Rascals! They will swear a Robbery against us, I warrant. + +_4 C._ A Robbery! Ay, to be sure. + +_1 K._ No, no; We did not demand your Money, we demanded the Deer you +have kill'd. + +_4 C._ The Devil take the Deer, I say; he led us a Chace of six Hours, +and got away from us at last. + +_1 K._ Zoons! ye Dogs, do ye think to banter us? I tell ye you have +this Night shot one of the King's Deer; did not we hear the Gun go off? +Did not we hear you say, you was afraid it should be taken from you? + +_2 C._ We were afraid our Money should be taken from us. + +_1 K._ Come, come, no more shuffling: I tell ye, you're all Rogues, and +we'll have you hanged, you may depend on't. Come, let's take 'em to old +_Cockle_'s, we're not far off, we'll keep 'em there all Night, and +To-morrow-morning we'll away with 'em before the Justice. + +_4 C._ A very pretty Adventure. [_Exeunt._ + + +_Scene changes to the Mill._ + + KING, MILLER, MARGERY, _and_ DICK, _at Supper_. + +_Mil._ Come, Sir, you must mend a bad Supper with a Glass of good Ale: +Here's King _Harry_'s Health. + +_King._ With all my Heart. Come, _Richard_, here's King _Harry_'s +Health; I hope you are Courtier enough to pledge me, are not you? + +_Dick._ Yes, yes, Sir, I'll drink the King's Health with all my Heart. + +_Mar._ Come, Sir, my humble Service to you, and much good may do ye +with your poor Supper; I wish it had been better. + +_King._ You need make no Apologies. + +_Marg._ We are oblig'd to your Goodness in excusing our Rudeness. + +_Mil._ Prithee, _Margery_, don't trouble the Gentleman with +Compliments. + +_Mar._ Lord, Husband, if one had no more Manners than you, the +Gentleman would take us all for Hogs. + +_Dick._ Now I think the more Compliments the less Manners. + +_King._ I think so too. Compliments in Discourse, I believe, are like +Ceremonies in Religion; the one has destroy'd all true Piety, and the +other all Sincerity and Plain-dealing. + +_Mil._ Then a Fig for all Ceremony and Compliments too: Give us thy +Hand; and let us drink and be merry. + +_King._ Right, honest Miller, let us drink and be merry. Come, have you +got e'er a good Song? + +_Mil._ Ah! my singing Days are over, but my Man _Joe_ has got an +excellent one; and if you have a Mind to hear it, I'll call him in. + +_King._ With all my Heart. + +_Mil._ _Joe!_ + + _Enter_ JOE. + +_Mil._ Come, _Joe_, drink Boy; I have promised this Gentleman that you +shall sing him your last new Song. + +_Joe._ Well, Master, if you have promis'd it him, he shall have it. + + + SONG. + + + I. + + _How happy a State does the Miller possess? + Who wou'd be no greater, nor fears to be less; + On his Mill and himself he depends for Support, + Which is better than servilely cringing at Court._ + + + II. + + _What tho' he all dusty and whiten'd does go, + The more he's be-powder'd, the more like a Beau; + A Clown in this Dress may be honester far + Than a Courtier who struts in his Garter and Star._ + + + III. + + _Tho' his Hands are so dawb'd they're not fit to be seen, + The Hands of his Betters are not very clean; + A Palm more polite may as dirtily deal; + Gold, in handling, will stick to the Fingers like Meal._ + + + IV. + + _What if, when a Pudding for Dinner he lacks, + He cribs, without Scruple, from other Men's Sacks; + In this of right noble Examples he brags, + Who borrow as freely from other Men's Bags._ + + + V. + + _Or should he endeavour to heap an Estate, + In this he wou'd mimick the Tools of the State; + Whose Aim is alone their Coffers to fill, + As all his Concern's to bring Grist to his Mill._ + + + VI. + + _He eats when he's hungry, he drinks when he's dry, + And down when he's weary contented does lie; + Then rises up chearful to work and to sing: + If so happy a Miller, then who'd be a King._ + + +_Mil._ There's a Song for you. + +_King._ He should go sing this at Court, I think. + +_Dick._ I believe, if he's wise, he'll chuse to stay at home tho'. + + _Enter_ PEGGY. + +_Mil._ What Wind blew you hither pray? You have a good Share of +Impudence, or you would be asham'd to set your Foot within my House, +methinks. + +_Peg._ Asham'd I am, indeed, but do not call me impudent. [_Weeps._ + +_Dick._ Dear Father, suspend your Anger for the present; that she is +here now is by my Direction, and to do me Justice. + +_Peg._ To do that is all that is now in my Power; for as to myself, I +am ruin'd past Redemption: My Character, my Virtue, my Peace, are gone: +I am abandon'd by my Friends, despis'd by the World, and expos'd to +Misery and Want. + +_King._ Pray let me know the Story of your Misfortunes; perhaps it may +be in my Power to do something towards redressing them. + +_Peg._ That you may learn from him that I have wrong'd; but as for me, +Shame will not let me speak, or hear it told. [_Exit._ + +_King._ She's very pretty. + +_Dick._ O Sir, I once thought her an Angel; I lov'd her dearer than my +Life, and did believe her Passion was the same for me: But a young +Nobleman of this Neighbourhood happening to see her, her Youth and +blooming Beauty presently struck his Fancy; a thousand Artifices were +immediately employ'd to debauch and ruin her. But all his Arts were +vain; not even the Promise of making her his Wife, could prevail upon +her: In a little Time he found out her Love to me, and imagining this +to be the Cause of her Refusal, he, by forg'd Letters, and feign'd +Stories, contriv'd to make her believe I was just upon the Point of +Marriage with another Woman. Possess'd with this Opinion, she, in a +Rage, writes me Word, never to see her more; and, in Revenge, consented +to her own Undoing. Not contented with this, nor easy while I was so +near her, he brib'd one of his cast-off Mistresses to swear a Child to +me, which she did: This was the Occasion of my leaving my Friends, and +flying to _London_. + +_King._ And how does she propose to do you Justice? + +_Dick._ Why, the King being now in this Forest a hunting, we design to +take some Opportunity of throwing ourselves at his Majesty's Feet, and +complaining of the Injustice done us by this Noble Villain. + +_Mil._ Ah, _Dick_! I expect but little Redress from such an +Application. Things of this Nature are so common amongst the Great, +that I am afraid it will only be made a Jest of. + +_King._ Those that can make a Jest of what ought to be shocking to +Humanity, surely deserve not the Name of Great or Noble Men. + +_Dick._ What do you think of it, Sir? If you belong to the Court, you, +perhaps, may know something of the King's Temper. + +_King._ Why, if I can judge of his Temper at all, I think he would not +suffer the greatest Nobleman in his Court, to do an Injustice to the +meanest Subject in his Kingdom. But pray who is the Nobleman that is +capable of such Actions as these? + +_Dick._ Do you know my Lord _Lurewell_? + +_King._ Yes. + +_Dick._ That's the Man. + +_King._ Well, I would have you put your Design in Execution. 'Tis my +Opinion the King will not only hear your Complaint, but redress your +Injuries. + +_Mil._ I wish it may prove so. + + _Enter the_ KEEPERS, _leading in the_ COURTIERS. + +_1 K._ Hola! _Cockle!_ Where are ye? Why, Man, we have nabb'd a Pack of +Rogues here just in the Fact. + +_King._ Ha, ha, ha! What, turn'd Highwaymen, my Lords? or +Deer-stealers? + +_1 C._ I am very glad to find your Majesty in Health and Safety. + +_2 C._ We have run thro' a great many Perils and Dangers to Night, but +the Joy of finding your Majesty so unexpectedly, will make us forget +all we have suffer'd. + +_Mil._ and } What! is this the King? +_Dick._ } + +_King._ I am very glad to see you, my Lords, I confess; and +particularly you, my Lord _Lurewell_. + +_Lure._ Your Majesty does me Honour. + +_King._ Yes, my Lord, and I will do you Justice too; your Honour has +been highly wrong'd by this young Man. + +_Lure._ Wrong'd, my Liege! + +_King._ I hope so, my Lord; for I wou'd fain believe you can't be +guilty of Baseness and Treachery. + +_Lure._ I hope your Majesty will never find me so. What dares this +Villain say? + +_Dick._ I am not to be frighted, my Lord. I dare speak Truth at any +Time. + +_Lure._ Whatever stains my Honour must be false. + +_King._ I know it must, my Lord; yet has this Man, not knowing who I +was, presum'd to charge your Lordship, not only with great Injustice to +himself; but also with ruining an innocent Virgin whom he lov'd, and +who was to have been his Wife; which, if true, were base and +treacherous; but I know 'tis false, and therefore leave it to your +Lordship to say what Punishment I shall inflict upon him, for the +Injury done to your Honour. + +_Lure._ I thank your Majesty. I will not be severe; he shall only ask +my Pardon, and To-morrow Morning be oblig'd to marry the Creature he +has traduc'd me with. + +_King._ This is mild. Well, you hear your Sentence. + +_Dick._ May I not have Leave to speak before your Majesty? + +_King._ What can'st thou say? + +_Dick._ If I had your Majesty's Permission, I believe I have certain +Witnesses, which will undeniably prove the Truth of all I have accus'd +his Lordship of. + +_King._ Produce them. + +_Dick._ _Peggy!_ + + _Enter_ PEGGY. + +_King._ Do you know this Woman, my Lord? + +_Lure._ I know her, please your Majesty, by Sight, she is a Tenant's +Daughter. + +_Peg_. [_Aside._] Majesty! What, is this the King? + +_Dick._ Yes. + +_King._ Have you no particular Acquaintance with her? + +_Lure._ Hum----I have not seen her these several Months. + +_Dick._ True, my Lord; and that is part of your Accusation; for, I +believe, I have some Letters which will prove your Lordship once had a +more particular Acquaintance with her. Here is one of the first his +Lordship wrote to her, full of the tenderest and most solemn +Protestations of Love and Constancy; here is another which will inform +your Majesty of the Pains he took to ruin her; there is an absolute +Promise of Marriage before he could accomplish it. + +_King._ What say you, my Lord, are these your Hand? + +_Lure._ I believe, please your Majesty, I might have had a little +Affair of Gallantry with the Girl some Time ago. + +_King._ It was a _little_ Affair, my Lord; a _mean_ Affair; and what +you call Gallantry, I call Infamy. Do you think, my Lord, that +Greatness gives a Sanction to Wickedness? Or that it is the Prerogative +of Lords to be unjust and inhumane? You remember the Sentence which +yourself pronounc'd upon this innocent Man; you cannot think it hard +that it should pass on you who are guilty. + +_Lure._ I hope your Majesty will consider my Rank, and not oblige me to +marry her. + +_King._ Your Rank! my Lord. Greatness that stoops to Actions base and +low, deserts its Rank, and pulls its Honours down. What makes your +Lordship Great? Is it your gilded Equipage and Dress? Then put it on +your meanest Slave, and he's as great as you. Is it your Riches or +Estate? The Villian that should plunder you of all, would then be great +as you. No, my Lord, he that acts greatly, is the true Great Man. I +therefore think you ought, in Justice, to marry her you thus have +wrong'd. + +_Peg._ Let my Tears thank your Majesty. But, alas! I am afraid to marry +this young Lord; that would only give him Power to use me worse, and +still encrease my Misery: I therefore beg your Majesty will not command +him to do it. + +_King._ Rise then, and hear me. My Lord, you see how low the greatest +Nobleman may be reduced by ungenerous Actions. Here is, under your own +Hand, an absolute Promise of Marriage to this young Woman, which, from +a thorough Knowledge of your Unworthiness, she has prudently refus'd to +make you fulfil. I shall therefore not insist upon it; but I command +you, upon Pain of my Displeasure, immediately to settle on her Five +hundred Pounds a Year. + +_Peg._ May Heaven reward your Majesty's Goodness. 'Tis too much for me, +but if your Majesty thinks fit, let it be settled upon this +much-injured Man, to make some Satisfaction for the Wrongs which have +been done him. As to myself, I only sought to clear the Innocence of +him I lov'd and wrong'd, then hide me from the World, and die forgiven. + +_Dick._ This Act of generous Virtue cancels all past Failings; come to +my Arms, and be as dear as ever. + +_Peg._ You cannot sure forgive me! + +_Dick._ I can, I do, and still will make you mine. + +_Peg._ O! why did I ever wrong such generous Love! + +_Dick._ Talk no more of it. Here let us kneel, and thank the Goodness +which has made us blest. + +_King._ May you be happy. + +_Mil._ [_Kneels._] After I have seen so much of your Majesty's +Goodness, I cannot despair of Pardon, even for the rough Usage your +Majesty receiv'd from me. + + [_The King draws his Sword, the Miller is frighted, and rises + up, thinking he was going to kill him._ + +What have I done that I should lose my Life? + +_King._ Kneel without Fear. No, my good Host, so far are you from +having any thing to pardon, that I am much your Debtor. I cannot think +but so good and honest a Man will make a worthy and honourable Knight, +so rise up, Sir _John Cockle_: And, to support your State, and in some +sort requite the Pleasure you have done us, a Thousand Marks a Year +shall be your Revenue. + +_Mil._ Your Majesty's Bounty I receive with Thankfulness; I have been +guilty of no Meanness to obtain it, and hope I shall not be obliged to +keep it upon base Conditions; for tho' I am willing to be a faithful +Subject, I am resolv'd to be a free and an honest Man. + +_King._ I rely upon your being so: And to gain the Friendship of such a +one, I shall always think an Addition to my Happiness, tho' a King. + + Worth, in whatever State, is sure a Prize + Which Kings, of all Men, ought not to despise; + By selfish Sycophants so close besieg'd, + 'Tis by meer Chance a worthy Man's oblig'd: + But hence, to every Courtier be it known, + Virtue shall find Protection from the Throne. + + +_FINIS._ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Toy Shop (1735) The King and the +Miller of Mansfield (1737), by Robert Dodsley + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TOY SHOP *** + +***** This file should be named 36491.txt or 36491.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/9/36491/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |