pany, Mr. Lawyer, sure.

_Law._ Why I am sure you joked upon me, and shammed me all night
long.

_Man._ Shammed! prithee what barbarous law-term is that?

_Law._ Shamming! why, don't you know that? 'tis all our way of wit,
Sir.

_Man._ I am glad I don't know it, then. Shamming! what does he mean
by it, Freeman?

_Free._ Shamming is telling an insipid dull lie with a dull face,
which the sly wag, the author, only laughs at himself; and making
himself believe 'tis a good jest, puts the sham only upon himself.

Manly meets an Alderman.

_Man._ Here's a city-rogue will stick as hard upon us as if I owed
him money.

_Ald._ Captain, noble Sir, I am yours heartily, d'ye see; why
should you avoid your old friends?

_Man._ And why should you follow me? I owe you nothing.

_Ald._ Out of my hearty respects to you; for there is not a man in
England----

_Man._ Thou wouldst save from hanging at the expense of a shilling
only.

_Ald._ Nay, nay, but Captain, you are like enough to tell me----

_Man._ Truth, which you wont care to hear; therefore you had better
go talk with somebody else.

_Ald._ No, I know nobody can inform me better of some young wit or
spendthrift, who has a good dipped seat and estate in Middlesex,
Hertfordshire, Essex, or Kent; any of these would serve my turn;
now if you know of such an one, and would but help----

_Man._ You to finish his ruin.

_Ald._ I' faith you should have a snip----

_Man._ Of your nose, you thirty in the hundred rascal; would you
make me your squire-setter?

(_Takes him by the nose._)

Two lovers, Lord Plausible and Novel, have the following dialogue about
their chances of success with a certain lady who is wooed by both.

_Novel._ Prithee, prithee, be not impertinent, my lord; some of you
lords are such conceited, well assured impertinent rogues.

_Plausible._ And you noble wits are so full of shamming and
drollery, one knows not where to have you seriously.

_Nov._ Prithee, my lord, be not an ass. Dost thou think to get her
from me? I have had such encouragements--

_Plau._ I have not been thought unworthy of 'em.

_Nov._ What? not like mine! Come to an eclaircissement, as I said.

_Plau._ Why, seriously then; she told me Viscountess sounded
prettily.