 | The Taxes |  |
SCENE I.
Mr. BAYES alone, walking in a musing posture.Mr. BAYES.
Let me consider—a plot—why
really it would be wond'rous odd to
have a play without one—yes, yes—a
plot will he highly necessary—we must
have a plot!—and I'll take care there shall be
one, such as it is, but I'll not be concerned in it
myself: I am one in the country interest, and the
redress of grievances shall meet with no interruptions
from any plot of my hatching—and yet
there shall be a plot, because 'twill shew some
people in a true light, and can do us no hurt—
for there's Lord Worthy has so distinguish'd and
establish'd a character, that he has nothing to fear,
let them play what tricks they will—and there's
our Princess too, has too much goodness and spirit
to be drawn aside, when she is once let into
the true state of things—so let 'em plot it as
they will, 'twill all come to nothing! However
cutting them short off again, as their disappointment
will be greater, so those who wish well to
the state, will be the more rejoiced—wretches, who
have liv'd so long upon the spoil of their country
ought to be set in a true light—I know they are
now at their wit's end, and have schemes of all
sorts, upon the anvil—Lord Worthy's appearing
at court, is a riddle they can't find out—and they
are so divided in their opinions, how they are to
manage it under these difficulties, that it sets 'em
a quarrelling among themselves—One urges this—
and another that—Like sailors without a compass,
they know not were they are, nor how to steer,—
quite out of their reckoning—I know some of our
greatest stock-jobbers, are now in a room, by themselves
at Jonathan's—I'll e'en send them old Politick
—I have hinted to him already, that if he
happens to call there, he may hear of some business
—This Politick, you must know, was born and
bred a plotmonger—the place has been in his family,
ever since the conquest—it descends from
father to son, like that of the Dimmocks, our famous
champions, upon coronation days; 'tis true
—he is a crafty old fox—but then he makes no great
dispatch—He is one that takes time to think!—
So that our business will be concluded, while he
sits hammering, and consequently our carrying our
point, when they least think of it, will be so much
the more excellent—He is always plying here
about 'change time, I'll e'en go find him out, and
send him—
[Exit.
| The Taxes | |