for his part; inasmuch that, after a short modest walk upon the
stage, he would fall at the first touch of Hydaspes, without
grappling with him, and giving him an opportunity of showing his
variety of Italian trips. It is said, indeed, that he once gave him
a rip in his flesh-colour doublet: but this was only to make work
for himself in his private character of a tailor. I must not omit
that it was this second lion who treated me with so much humanity
behind the scenes.

The acting lion at present is, as I am informed, a country
gentleman, who does it for his diversion, but desires his name may
be concealed. He says very handsomely, in his own excuse, that he
does not act for gain; that he indulges an innocent pleasure in it,
and that it is better to pass away an evening in this manner than in
gaming and drinking: but at the same time says, with a very
agreeable raillery upon himself, that if his name should be known,
the ill-natured world might call him "the ass in the lion's skin."
This gentleman's temper is made out of such a happy mixture of the
mild and the choleric, that he outdoes both his predecessors, and
has drawn together greater audiences than have been known in the
memory of man.

I must not conclude my narrative without taking notice of a
groundless report that has been raised to a gentleman's
disadvantage, of whom I must declare myself an admirer; namely, that
Signior Nicolini and the lion have been seen sitting peaceably by
one another, and smoking a pipe together behind the scenes; by which
their common enemies would insinuate that it is but a sham combat
which they represent upon the stage: but upon inquiry I find, that
if any such correspondence has passed between them, it was not till