,
will at last forget good ones.

_Vapid._ Bravo! encore, encore--it is the very best sentiment I ever
heard--say it again, pray say it again--I'll take it down, and blend it
with the incident, and you shall be gratified, one day or other, with
seeing the whole on the stage.--"The mind that too frequently forgives
bad actions will at last forget good ones."
[_Taking it down in his common place book._

_Lady._ This madman's folly is not to be borne--if my Lord too should
discover him. [_VAPID sits, and takes notes._] Here, the consequences
might be dreadful, and the scheme of Ennui's play all undone.--Sir, I
desire you'll quit my house immediately--Oh! I'll be revenged, I'm
determined. [_Exit._

_Vapid._ What a great exit!----Very well!--I've got an incident,
however.--'Faith, I have noble talents--to extract gold from lead has
been the toil of numberless philosophers; but I extract it from a baser
metal, human frailty--Oh! it's a great thing to be a dramatic genius!--a
very great thing indeed. [_As he is going,_

_Enter LORD SCRATCH._

_Vapid._ Sir, your most devoted,----How d'ye do?

_Lord._ Sir, your most obedient.

_Vapid._ Very warm tragedy weather, sir!--but, for my part, I hate
summer, and I'll tell you why,--the theatres are shut, and when I pass
by their doors in an evening, it makes me melancholy--I look upon them
as the tombs of departed friends that were wont to instruct and delight
me--I don't know how you feel--perhaps you are not in my way?

_Lord._ Sir!

_Vapid._ Perhaps you don't write for the stage--if you do,--hark
ye--there is a capital character in this house for a farce.

_Lord._ Why! what is all this--who are you?

_Vapid._ Who am I?--here's a question! in these times who can tell who
he is?--for aught I know I may be great uncle to yourself, or first
cousin to Lady Waitfor't--the very woman I was about to--but no
matter--since you're so very inquisitive, do you know who you are?

_Lord._ Look ye, sir, I am Lord Scratch.

_Vapid._ A peer! pshaw! contemptible;--when I ask a man who he is, I
don't want to know what are his titles, and such nonsense; no, Old
Scratch, I want to know what he has written, when he had the curtain up,
and whether he's a true son of the drama.--Harkye, don't make yourself
uneasy on my account--In my next pantomime, perhaps, I'll let you know
who