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SCENE IV.

YOUNG MEADOWS.

This girl is a riddle-That she loves me, I think there is no room to doubt; she takes a thousand opportunities to let me see it: and yet, when I speak to her, she will hardly give me an answer; and, if I attempt the smallest familiarity, is gone in an instant-I feel my passion for her, grow every day more and more violent-Well, would I marry her?-would I make a mistress of her if I could?-Two things, called prudence and honour, forbid either. What am I pursuing, then? A shadow. Sure my evil genius laid this snare in my way. However, there is one comfort, it is in my power to fly from it; if so, why do I hesitate? I am distracted, unable to determine any thing.

AIR.

Still in hopes to get the better
Of my stubborn flame I try;
Swear this moment to forget her,
And the next my oath deny.

Now, prepar'd with scorn to treat her,

Ev'ry charm in thought I brave,
Boast my freedom, fly to meet her,
And confess myself a slave.

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SCENE V.

A hall in Justice WOODCOCK's house. Enter HAWTHORN, with a fowling-piece in his hands, and a net with birds at his girdle: and, afterwards, Justice WOODCOCK.

AIR.

There was a jolly miller once,

Liv'd on the river Dee;

He work'd and sung, from morn till night;

No lark more blythe than he.

And this the burthen of his song,

For ever us'd to be,

I care for nobody, not I,

If no one cares for me.

240

House, here, house! what all gadding, all abroad! house, I say, hilli-ho, ho!

J. Wood. Here's a noise, here's a racket! William, Robert, Hodge! why does not somebody answer? Odds my life, I believe the fellows have lost their hearing! [Entering] Oh, master Hawthorn! I guessed it was some such mad cap-Are you there?

Haw. Am I here? Yes: and, if you had been where I was three hours ago, you would find the good effects of it by this time unwholesome London fashion, of lying a bed in a

:

but you have got the lazy

morning, and there's gout for you-Why, sir, I have not been in bed five minutes after sun-rise these thirty years, am generally up before it; and I never took a dose of physic but once in my life, and that was in compliment to a cousin of mine, an apothecary, that had just set up business.

J. Wood. Well but, master Hawthorn, let me tell you, you know nothing of the matter; for, I say, sleep is necessary for a man; ay, and I'll maintain it.

261

Haw. What, when I maintain the contrary ?Look you, neighbour Woodcock, you are a rich man, a man of worship, a justice of peace, and all that;. but learn to know the respect that is due to the sound from the infirm; and allow me that superiority a good constitution gives me over you-Health is the greatest of all possessions; and 'tis a maxim with me, that an hale cobler is a better man than a sick king. J. Wood. Well, well, you are a sportsman. Haw. And so would you too, if you would take my advice. A sportsman! why there is nothing like it : I would not exchange the satisfaction I feel, while I am beating the lawns and thickets about my little farm, for all the entertainments and pageantry in Christendom.

270

AIR.

Let gay ones and great

Make the most of their fate

From pleasure to pleasure they run:

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J. Wood. Call, sir; where have you and the rest of these rascals been? but I suppose, I need not ask— You must know there is a statute, a fair for hiring servants, held upon my green to-day; we have it usually at this season of the year, and it never fails to put all the folks here-about out of their senses.

Hodge. Lord, your honour, look out, and see what a nice show they make yonder; they had got pipers, and fidlers, and were dancing as I came along, for dear life-I never saw such a mortal throng in our village in all my born days again. 300

Haw. Why, I like this now, this is as it should be.

J. Wood. No, no, 'tis a very foolish piece of business; good for nothing but to promote idleness and the getting of bastards: but I shall take measures for preventing it another year, and I doubt whether I am not sufficiently authorised already; for by an act passed Anno undecimo Caroli primi, which impowers a justice of peace, who is lord of the manor

Haw. Come, come, never mind the act; let me tell you, this is a very proper, a very useful meeting; I want a servant or two myself, I must go see what your market affords ;—and you shall go, and the girls, my little Lucy and the other young rogue, and we'll make a day on't as well as the rest.

J. Wood. I wish, master Hawthorn, I could teach you to be a little more sedate: why won't you take pattern by me, and consider your dignity?-Odds heart, I don't wonder you are not a rich man; you laugh too much ever to be rich.

319

Haw. Right, neighbour Woodcock! health, goodhumour, and competence, is my motto: and, if my executors have a mind, they are welcome to make it my epitaph.

AIR.

The honest heart, whose thoughts are clear
From fraud, disguise, and guile,

Need neither fortune's frowning fear,
Nor court the harlot's smile.

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