"MACBETH by MR. HIGGS!"— They sometimes used to let him play it in the country; And then, odds wigs! How very great he felt! One night, while he was at it, The pot-boy, from the public-house at which he dealt, Being at _the wing_, quoth Higgs, aside, "Od 'rat it! I do lack spirits,—but that sha'n't fret me, Here, boy, take thou this coin, and go get me"— "Some bread and cheese, and porter, innions, Sir, or what?" "Nay, no prog! Expend the shilling all in glorious grog!" "With sugar, Sir?" "Ay, and very hot; Thou knowest, lout! I only take sixpenn'orths cold without!"
The pot-boy took the grog into the green-room, And left it there for Higgs:—but, as it came to pass, Lady Macbeth and Banquo having twigged it, First _she_ took a very _leetle_ sup,— _He_ fairly swigged it; And so between them both, alas! Lady Macbeth and Banquo mopped it up, And hid the glass!
Higgs, who all this time Had been upon the stage,— In that great scene where Macbeth's urged to crime By those foul witches,— Now strutted in,—but, oh! (excuse the rhyme,) Odds philibegs and breeches! How he did foam and rage, And writhe his face, And call the potboy hog, and dog, and log, On not perceiving his expected grog In its accustomed place.
The potboy, being summoned, vowed That he had duly brought it, And, if to speak his mind he was allowed, He thought it Might have vanish'd, Being partly spirits,—like the witches, "'Tis false!" roared Higgs, "Avaunt! Be banish'd! Visit no more this realm of milk and honey! Base caitiff! YOU'VE ABSCONDED with the money!"