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Spoke by Mr. Cibber, Jun.

THE Tragic Muse, sublime, delights to show
Princes distrest, and scenes of royal woe;
In awful pomp, majestic, to relate

The fall of nations, or some hero's fate :
That scepter'd chiefs may by example know
The strange vicissitude of things below:
What dangers on security attend:
How pride and cruelty in ruin end:
Hence Providence supreme to know; and own
Humanity adds glory to a throne.

In ev'ry former age, and foreign tongue,
With native grandeur thus the Goddess sung.
Upon our stage indeed, with wish'd success,
You've sometimes seen her in a humbler dress;
Great only in distress. When she complains
In Southern's, Rowe's, or Otway's moving strains,
The brilliant drops that fall from each bright eye,
The absent pomp, with brighter jems, supply.
Forgive us then, if we attempt to show,

In artless strains, a tale of private woe.

A London 'Prentice ruin'd is our theme,

Drawn from the fam'd old song, that bears his name.
We hope your taste is not so high to scorn
A moral tale, esteem'd e'er you were born;
Which for a century of rolling years,

Has fill'd a thousand-thousand eyes with tears.
If thoughtless youth to warn, and shame the age
From vice destructive, well becomes the stage;
If this example innocence secure,

Prevent our guilt, or by reflection cure;
If Millwood's dreadful guilt, and sad despair,
Commend the virtue of the good and fair,
Tho' art be wanting, and our numbers fail,
Indulge th' attempt in justice to the tale.

Barnwell, (Uncle to George) Mr. Roberts.

Mr. Cibber, Jun.

George Barnwell

Officers with their Attendants, Keeper, and Footmen.

SCENE, London, and an adjacent Village.

THE

LONDON MERCHANT,

OR THE

HISTORY

OF

GEORGE BARNWELL.

A C T I.

SCENE, A room in Thorowgood's house.

Enter THOROWGOOD and TRUEMAN.

TRUEMAN.

SIR, the packet from Genoa is arrived.

[Gives letters. Thor. Heaven be praised, the storm that threatened our royal mistress, pure religion, liberty and laws, is for a time diverted; the haughty and revengeful Spaniard, disappointed of the loan on which he depended from Genoa, must now attend the slow return of wealth from his new world, to supply his empty coffers, ere he can execute his purposed invasion of our happy island; by which means time is gained to make such preparations on our part as may, Heaven concurring, prevent his malice, or turn the meditated mischief on himself.

Tr. He must be insensible indeed, who is not affected when the safety of his country is concerned.

Sir, may I know by what means-if I am too bold→→

Thor. Your curiosity is laudable; and I gratify it with the greater pleasure, because from thence you may learn how honest merchants, as such, may sometimes contribute to the safety of their country, as they do at all times to its happiness; that if hereafter you should be tempted to any action that has the appearance of vice or meanness in it, upon reflecting on the dignity of our profession, you may with honest scorn reject whatever is unworthy of it.

Tr. Should Barnwell, or I, who have the benefit of your example, by our ill conduct bring any imputation on that honourable name, we must be left with

out excuse.

Thor. You compliment, young man.

-of

[Trueman bows respectfully. Nay, I'm not offended. As the name of merchant never degrades the gentleman, so by no means does it exclude him; only take heed not to purchase the character of complaisant at the expence of your sincerity. But to answer your question,-The bank of Genoa had agreed at excessive interest and on good security, to advance the King of Spain a sum of money sufficient to equip his vast Armada,which our peerless Elizabeth (more than in name the mother of her people) being well informed, sent Walsingham, her wise and faithful secretary, to consult the merchants of this loyal city, who all agreed to direct their several agents to influence if possible, the Genoese to break their contract with the Spanish court. 'Tis done, the state and bank of Genoa, having maturely weighed and rightly judged of their true interest, prefer the friendship of the merchants of London, to that of a monarch, who proudly stiles himself King of both Indies.

Tr. Happy success of prudent councils! What an expence of blood and treasure is here saved! Excel