that upon my walking behind the scenes last winter, as I was
thinking on something else, I accidentally jostled against a
monstrous animal that extremely startled me, and, upon my nearer
survey of it, appeared to be a lion rampant. The lion, seeing me
very much surprised, told me, in a gentle voice, that I might come
by him if I pleased; "for," says he, "I do not intend to hurt
anybody." I thanked him very kindly and passed by him, and in a
little time after saw him leap upon the stage and act his part with
very great applause. It has been observed by several that the lion
has changed his manner of acting twice or thrice since his first
appearance, which will not seem strange when I acquaint my reader
that the lion has been changed upon the audience three several
times. The first lion was a candle-snuffer, who, being a fellow of
a testy, choleric temper, overdid his part, and would not suffer
himself to be killed so easily as he ought to have done: besides,
it was observed of him, that he grew more surly every time he came
out of the lion, and having dropped some words in ordinary
conversation, as if he had not fought his best, and that he suffered
himself to be thrown upon his back in the scuffle, and that he would
wrestle with Mr. Nicolini for what he pleased, out of his lion's
skin, it was thought proper to discard him: and it is verily
believed to this day, that, had he been brought upon the stage
another time, he would certainly have done mischief. Besides, it
was objected against the first lion, that he reared himself so high
upon his hinder paws, and walked in so erect a posture, that he
looked more like an old man than a lion.

The second lion was a tailor by trade, who belonged to the
playhouse, and had the character of a mild and peaceable man in his
profession. If the former was too furious, this was too sheepish