udience gave a
loud Clap; to which Sir Roger added, On my Word, a notable
young Baggage!

As there was a very remarkable Silence and Stillness in the Audience
during the whole Action, it was natural for them to take the Opportunity
of these Intervals between the Acts, to express their Opinion of the
Players, and of their respective Parts. Sir Roger hearing a Cluster of
them praise _Orestes_, struck in with them, and told them, that he
thought his Friend _Pylades_ was a very sensible Man; as they were
afterwards applauding _Pyrrhus_, Sir Roger put in a second time; And let
me tell you, says he, though he speaks but little, I like the old Fellow
in Whiskers as well as any of them. Captain Sentry seeing two or three
Waggs who sat near us, lean with an attentive Ear towards Sir Roger, and
fearing lest they should Smoke the Knight, pluck'd him by the Elbow, and
whisper'd something in his Ear, that lasted till the Opening of the
Fifth Act. The Knight was wonderfully attentive to the Account which
_Orestes_ gives of _Pyrrhus_ his Death, and at the Conclusion of it,
told me it was such a bloody Piece of Work, that he was glad it was not
done upon the Stage. Seeing afterwards _Orestes_ in his raving Fit, he
grew more than ordinary serious, and took occasion to moralize (in his
way) upon an Evil Conscience, adding, that _Orestes, in his Madness,
looked as if he saw something_.

As we were the first that came into the House, so we were the last that
went out of it; being resolved to have a clear Passage for our old
Friend, whom we did not care to venture among the justling of the Crowd.
Sir Roger went out fully satisfied with his Entertainment, and we
guarded him to his Lodgings in the same manner that we brought him to
the Playhouse; being highly pleased, for my own part, not only with the
Performance of the excellent Piece which had been Presented, but with
the Satisfaction which it had given to the good old Man. L.

A VISIT TO SIR ROGER DE COVERLEY

From the Spectator, No. 106

Having often received an Invitation from my Friend Sir Roger de Coverley
to pass away a Month with him in the Country, I last Week accompanied
him thither, and am settled with him for some time at his Country-house,
where I intend to form several of my ensuing Speculations. Sir Roger,
who is very well acquainted with my Humour, lets me rise and go to Bed
when I please, dine at his own Table or in my Chamber as I think fit,
sit still and say nothi