Chapter II: Prologue

_WHAT! arm'd for virtue, and not point the pen, Brand the bold front of shameless guilty men, Dash the proud gamester from his gilded car, Bare the mean heart which lurks beneath a star,_

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_Shall I not strip the gilding off a knave, Unplac'd, unpension'd, no man's heir, or slave? I will, or perish in the gen'rous cause; Hear this and tremble, ye who 'scape the laws; Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave, Shall walk the world in credit to his grave; To virtue only, and her friends, a friend, The world beside may murmur, or commend._

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

_Lord Chief Justice HAZLEROD_, _Judge MEAGRE_, _Brigadier HATEALL_, _HUM HUMBUG, Esquire_, _Sir SPARROW SPENDALL_, _HECTOR MUSHROOM,--Col._ _BEAU TRUMPS_, _DICK, the Publican_, _SIMPLE SAPLING, Esquire_, _Monsieur de FRANÇOIS_, _CRUSTY CROWBAR, Esquire_, _DUPE,--Secretary of State_, _SCRIBLERIUS FRIBBLE_, _Commodore BATEAU_, _COLLATERALIS,--a new-made Judge_.

Attended by a swarm of court sycophants, hungry harpies, and unprincipled danglers, collected from the neighbouring villages, hovering over the stage in the shape of locusts, led by Massachusettensis in the form of a basilisk; the rear brought up by Proteus, bearing a torch in one hand, and a powder-flask in the other. The whole supported by a mighty army and navy, from Blunderland, for the laudable purpose of enslaving its best friends.

_The_

GROUP

_A_

_Farce_