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ay extract gold from that dirt。
SHARP。 Say you so？ 'Faith I am as poor as a chymist； and would be as industrious。 But what was he that followed him？ Is not he a dragon that watches those golden pippins？
BELL。 Hang him； no； he a dragon！ If he be； 'tis a very peaceful one。 I can ensure his anger dormant； or should he seem to rouse； 'tis but well lashing him； and he will sleep like a top。
SHARP。 Ay； is he of that kidney？
BELL。 Yet is adored by that bigot； Sir Joseph Wittoll； as the image of valour。 He calls him his back； and indeed they are never asunderyet； last night； I know not by what mischance； the knight was alone； and had fallen into the hands of some night…walkers； who； I suppose； would have pillaged him。 But I chanced to come by and rescued him； though I believe he was heartily frightened； for as soon as ever he was loose； he ran away without staying to see who had helped him。
SHARP。 Is that bully of his in the army？
BELL。 No； but is a pretender； and wears the habit of a soldier； which nowadays as often cloaks cowardice； as a black gown does atheism。 You must know he has been abroadwent purely to run away from a campaign； enriched himself with the plunder of a few oaths； and here vents them against the general； who； slighting men of merit； and preferring only those of interest； has made him quit the service。
SHARP。 Wherein no doubt he magnifies his own performance。
BELL。 Speaks miracles； is the drum to his own praisethe only implement of a soldier he resembles； like that； being full of blustering noise and emptiness …
SHARP。 And like that； of no use but to be beaten。
BELL。 Right； but then the comparison breaks； for he will take a drubbing with as little noise as a pulpit cushion。
SHARP。 His name； and I have done？
BELL。 Why； that； to pass it current too； he has gilded with a title： he is called Capt。 Bluffe。
SHARP。 Well； I'll endeavour his acquaintanceyou steer another course； are bound …
For love's island： I； for the golden coast。 May each succeed in what he wishes most。
ACT II。SCENE I。
SIR JOSEPH WITTOLL； SHARPER following。
SHARP。 Sure that's he； and alone。
SIR JO。 UmAy； this； this is the very damned place； the inhuman cannibals； the bloody…minded villains； would have butchered me last night。 No doubt they would have flayed me alive； have sold my skin； and devoured； etc。
SHARP。 How's this！
SIR JO。 An it hadn't been for a civil gentleman as came by and frighted 'em awaybut； agad； I durst not stay to give him thanks。
SHARP。 This must be Bellmour he means。 Ha！ I have a thought …
SIR JO。 Zooks； would the captain would come； the very remembrance makes me quake； agad； I shall never be reconciled to this place heartily。
SHARP。 'Tis but trying； and being where I am at worst； now luck！ cursed fortune！ this must be the place； this damned unlucky place …
SIR JO。 Agad； and so 'tis。 Why； here has been more mischief done； I perceive。
SHARP。 No； 'tis gone； 'tis lostten thousand devils on that chance which drew me hither； ay； here； just here； this spot to me is hell； nothing to be found； but the despair of what I've lost。 ＇Looking about as in search。＇
SIR JO。 Poor gentleman！ By the Lord Harry I'll stay no longer； for I have found too …
SHARP。 Ha！ who's that has found？ What have you found？ Restore it quickly； or by …
SIR JO。 Not I； sir； not I； as I've a soul to be saved； I have found nothing but what has been to my loss； as I may say； and as you were saying； sir。
SHARP。 Oh； your servant； sir； you are safe； then； it seems。 'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody good。 Well； you may rejoice over my ill fortune； since it paid the price of your ransom。
SIR JO。 I rejoice！ agad； not I； sir： I'm very sorry for your loss； with all my heart； blood and guts； sir； and if you did but know me； you'd ne'er say I were so ill…natured。
SHARP。 Know you！ Why； can you be so ungrateful to forget me？
SIR JO。 O Lord； forget him！ No； no； sir； I don't forget you because I never saw your face before； agad。 Ha； ha； ha！
SHARP。 How！ ＇Angrily。＇
SIR JO。 Stay； stay； sir； let me recollecthe's a damned angry fellowI believe I had better remember him； until I can get out of his sight； but out of sight out of mind； agad。 ＇Aside。＇
SHARP。 Methought the service I did you last night； sir； in preserving you from those ruffians； might have taken better root in your shallow memory。
SIR JO。 Gads…daggers…belts…blades and scabbards； this is the very gentleman！ How shall I make him a return suitable to the greatness of his merit？ I had a pretty thing to that purpose； if he ha'n't frighted it out of my memory。 Hem！ hem！ sir； I most submissively implore your pardon for my transgression of ingratitude and omission； having my entire dependence； sir； upon the superfluity of your goodness； which； like an inundation； will； I hope； totally immerge the recollection of my error； and leave me floating； in your sight； upon the full…blown bladders of repentanceby the help of which； I shall once more hope to swim into your favour。 ＇Bows。＇
SHARP。 So…h； oh； sir； I am easily pacified； the acknowledgment of a gentleman …
SIR JO。 Acknowledgment！ Sir； I am all over acknowledgment； and will not stick to show it in the greatest extremity by night or by day； in sickness or in health； winter or summer； all seasons and occasions shall testify the reality and gratitude of your superabundant humble servant； Sir Joseph Wittoll； knight。 Hem！ hem！
SHARP。 Sir Joseph Wittoll？
SIR JO。 The same； sir； of Wittoll Hall in COMITATU Bucks。
SHARP。 Is it possible！ Then I am happy to have obliged the mirror of knighthood and pink of courtesie in the age。 Let me embrace you。
SIR JO。 O Lord； sir！
SHARP。 My loss I esteem as a trifle repaid with interest； since it has purchased me the friendship and acquaintance of the person in the world whose character I admire。
SIR JO。 You are only pleased to say so； sir。 But； pray； if I may be so bold； what is that loss you mention？
SHARP。 Oh； term it no longer so； sir。 In the scuffle last night I only dropt a bill of a hundred pound； which； I confess； I came half despairing to recover； but； thanks to my better fortune …
SIR JO。 You have found it； sir； then； it seems； I profess I'm heartily glad …
SHARP。 Sir； your humble servant。 I don't question but you are； that you have so cheap an opportunity of expressing your gratitude and generosity； since the paying so trivial a sum will wholly acquit you and doubly engage me。
SIR JO。 What a dickens does he mean by a trivial sum？ ＇Aside。＇ But ha'n't you found it； sir！
SHARP。 No otherwise； I vow to Gad； but in my hopes in you； sir。
SIR JO。 Humh。
SHARP。 But that's sufficient。 'Twere injustice to doubt the honour of Sir Joseph Wittoll。
SIR JO。 O Lord； sir。
SHARP。 You are above； I'm sure； a thought so low； to suffer me to lose what was ventured in your service； nay； 'twas in a manner paid down for your deliverance； 'twas so much lent you。 And you scorn； I'll say that for you …
SIR JO。 Nay； I'll say that for myself； with your leave； sir； I do scorn a dirty thing。 But； agad； I'm a little out of pocket at pre