Had scarcely fill’d her horns, when by her light

A band of merry mad-caps from the town

Rushed like a torrent to the water’s edge

Seeking the Margate hoy—with them I fled

For liberty and acting. Thus alone,

With walking strides, and bundle thin of linen,

Hover’d about the Kentish coast, and mark

What trade I took—I hasten’d to East-Bourne,

Where Richland,[119] and a troop of actor folks

I met advancing. Merry lives we led,