a skin too, tho'f I mayn't go so gay; and now she's here, I'll tell her a piece of my mind. Hodge. Hold your tongue, will you? Mar. No, I'll speak if I die for it. 621 Hodge. Why nothing I tell you ;-MadgeMar. Yes, but it is something, it's all along of she, and she may be ashamed of herself. Ros. Bless me, child, do you direct to me? your discourse 629 Mar. Yes, I do, and to nobody else; there was not a kinder soul breathing than he was till of late; I had never a cross word from him till he kept you company, but all the girls about say, there is no such thing as keeping a sweetheart for you. Ros. Do you hear this, friend Hodge? Hodge. Why, you don't mind she, I hope; but if that vexes her, I do like you, I do; my mind runs upon nothing else; and if so be as you was agree. able to it, I would marry you to-night, before to640 Mar. You're a nasty monkey, you are parjur'd, you know you are, and you deserve to have your eyes morrow. tore out. Hodge. Let me come at her-I'll teach you to call names, and abuse folk. Mar. Do; strike me ;—you a man! Ros. Hold, hold-we shall have a battle here presently, and I may chance to get my cap tore off→→→→ Never exasperate a jealous woman, 'tis taking a mad bull by the horns-Leave me to manage her. Hodge. You manage her! I'll kick her. 650 Ros. No, no, it will be more for my credit, to get the better of her by fair means—I warrant I'll bring her to reason. Hodge. Well, do so then-But may I depend upon you? when shall I speak to the parson? Ros. We'll talk of that another time-Go. Hodge. Madge, good bye. Ros. The brutality of this fellow shocks me !-Oh man, man—you are all alike—A bumkin here, bred at the barn-door! had he been brought up in a court, could he have been more fashionably vicious; shew me the lord, 'squire, colonel, or captain of them all, can out-do him. AIR. Cease, gay seducer, pride to take, Where then to shun a shameful fate Shall helpless beauty go? In ev'ry rank, in ev'ry state, Poor woman finds a foe. 670 Mar. I am ready to burst, I can't stay in the place any longer. Ros. Hold, child, come hither. Mar. Don't speak to me, don't you. Ros. Well, but I have something to say to you of consequence, and that will be for your good; I suppose this fellow promised you marriage. Mar. Ay, or he should never have prevail'd upon me. 681 Ros. Well, now you see the ill consequence of trusting to such promises: when once a man hath cheated a woman of her virtue, she has no longer hold of him; he despises her for wanting that which he hath robb'd her of; and, like a lawless conqueror, triumphs in the ruin he hath occasioned.* Mar, Nan! Ros. However, I hope the experience, you have got, though somewhat dearly purchased, will be of use to you for the future; and, as to any designs I have upon the heart of your lover, you may make yourself easy, for I assure you, I shall be no dangerous rival; so go your ways and be a good girl. v. Mar. Yes I don't very well understand her talk, but I suppose that's as much as to say she'll keep him herself; well let her, who cares? I don't fear getting better nor he is any day of the year, for the matter of that; and I have a thought come into my head that, may be, will be more to my advantage. 700 1 AIR. Since Hodge proves ungrateful, no further I'll seek, And Register's office will get me a place: Bet Blossom went there, and soon met with a friend; Folks say in her she's now standing an end! Then why should not I the same maxim pursue, And better my fortune as other girls do? SCENE XII. Enter ROSSETTA and LUCINDA. Ros. Ha! ha ha! Oh admirable, mosť delectably ridiculous. And so your father is content he should to be al music-master, and will have him such, in spite I of all your aunt scan say to the contrary to cre ALLucu My father and he, child, are the best com. *panions you ever saw and have been singing together the most hideouss duets! Bobbing Juan, and Old Sir Simón the King: Heaven knows where Eustace could pick them up; but he has gone thro' Ꮭ F half the contents of Pills to purge Melancholy with him. 719 Ros. And have you resolved to take wing tonight. Luc. This very night, my dear: my swain will go from hence this evening, but no farther than the inn, where he has left his horses; and, at twelve precisely, he will be with a post-chaise at the little gate that opens from the lawn into the road, where I have pro mised to meet him. Ros. Then depend upon it, I'll bear you com J29 pany. Luc. We shall slip out when the family are asleep, and I have prepared. Hodge already. Well, I hope we shall be happy. Ros. Never doubt it. AIR. In love should there meet a fond pair, Whose wishes are warm and sincere, Whose words are th excess of the heart If ought of substantial delight, On this side the stars can be found, 'Tis sure when that couple unite, And Cupid by Hymen is crown'd. 740 |