502 Modern Italian Comedy : [MAY; 



Psctth. Oh, certainly. And do you serve for payment, or without pay^. 

 ment ? 



Ross. Signor, I should blush to think of being paid. 



Psctth. Well, that is very liberal. 



Ross, All I receive is two sequins a day, as a compliment for my atten- 

 tion. 



Psctth. Oh ! you take a compliment too, instead of payment? Well ! But 

 how much of our English money is two sequins? 



Ros. About a guinea. 



Psctth. A guinea a day ! Why, that's as much as I pay six of my best 

 workmen. And did Flutt pay you a guinea a day ? 



Ros. Without doubt. 



Psctth. Oh, well then I will do the same. And did Flutt have a car-* 

 riage ? 



Ros. Certainly". 



Psctth. Then I will have one, too. And had Flutt a valet de place ? 



Ros. Surely. 



Psctth. Then I will have one, too. And so now that is settled how can 

 we occupy ourselves this morning? Because I begin to get tired of Rome 

 rather already. 



Ros. We will go to the lady's house after you are dressed where I shall 

 introduce you. 



Psctth. Good! Is she young? 



Ros. Young and handsome. She is the same that introduced Mr. Flutt. 



Psctth. Good ! I'll get shaved and dressed directly. 



Ros. Shall I send you a barber ? 



Psctth. No my servant shaves me. 



Ros. But, if he is drunk ? 



Psctth. The wine goes into his head, if he is; it never touches his hand. 

 Adieu for the present ; and look to every thing. Do all now as you did it 

 for Flutt. I wish to do exactly in all things the same as Flutt. (Exit.) 



After the Englishman has disappeared, Rosbif calls in the lodging- 

 housekeeper and Trivella, and agrees with both as to the share he is to 

 receive of their profits. He then tells them that the stranger is called 

 " Lord Psctth :" and, after various efforts to pronounce the name [the 

 joke is the compounding it entirely of consonants], they both write it 

 on cards, to practice the utterance at their leisure. 



We then come to the entree of Mr. Psctth into the great world ; and 

 the Italian family, who are to manage his introduction, are of course tQ 

 plunder him (or share the plunder, rather, with Mr. Rosbif) for their 

 pains : but the manner in which all this affair is accomplished exhibits 

 some odd traits of national character. The principal gain is to be made 

 by the sale of antiquities to the stranger. But smaller game is not neg- 

 lected ; and, among other hits, the " Count" who patronizes, finding that 

 a carriage will be hired, proposes privately to furnish his own, and say 

 abroad that he has lent it to the English noble. A long argument passes 

 between his lordship and Robsif, as to the division of the money made 

 by this arrangement ; and some amusing scenes arise out of an under*, 

 plot played by Trivella, the valet de place, who desires to have a little 

 more of the pillage than belongs to him, and privately conducts his new 

 master to a low house of entertainment, where he purchases some rub- 

 bish at a high price, and is far more entertained than with his genteel 

 acquaintances. The best thing, however, in the piece is the conception 

 of the Englishman's character j the firmness and sturdy tone of which 

 is never let down, even in the most ridiculous positions. The scene of 

 his first visit to the " Count Ernesto's" house (the place where he is to 

 be introduced) is spiritedly treated. He meets an Italian officer, who is 



