Barn. Ay, I do, Sir. Sight. Then, Sir, I will not give it in a falfehood for my intereft; the young lady is perfectly innocent, and this only a scheme to incline you to confent to our marriage. Prif. Oh, you fool. Barn. Hold your tongue, impudence-You are a brave young fellow, I believe, and more deferving of her than my own relation; therefore I give her to you; and let this teach you for the future to use candour on all occafions. (Runs and kiffes him. Prif. Oh my dear guardian! Barn. You spoil my wig-Let me hear no more of · you. Hark you, child (To Mifs La Blond.) Do you think if a husband was thrown in your way, old enough. to be your father, that old Nic would not tempt youYou understand me? La Blond. Sir, I think I fhould make him a good wife. Barn. Say'st thou fo, my girl? when then I will marry you myself to-morrow morning-Ladies and gentlemen, you are heartily welcome-Pray falute the young bride and bridegroom. And now let us forget all paft bickerings and mifunderstandings, and be as merry as mufic and good cheer can make us. r. Cock. Hear, city youths, this friendly rhime, Sight. 'Tis worthy well attending; O go not on, your precious time In vain delights mifpending: Bucks, bloods, and smarts, reform your ways, Nor be afham'd of mending. I have been naughty, I confefs; Prif. And now our scenic task is done, Your ancient friends and fervants we, [Exeunt omnes. THE MAID OF THE OAK S. Altered into an AFTER-PIECE of Two Acts, by a GENTLEMAN of the Theatre-Royal, Edinburgh. Enter Sir Harry Groveby and Mr Dupeley meeting. Sir Har. Dand doubly welcome to Oldworth's EAR Charles, welcome to England! Oaks Friendship, I fee, has wings as well as love you you arrive at the moment I wished. I hope in your hafte you have not forgot a fancy drefs. Dup. No, no; I am a true friend, and prepared for all your whimfies, amorous and poetical. Your fummons found me the day after my arrival, and I took poft immediately-next to my eagerness to see you, was that of being in time for the Féte Champétre-Novelty and pleasure are the beings I purfue-They have led me half the world over already; and for aught I know they may fome time or other carry me to the Otaheite. Sir Har. You have pursued but their shadowshere they reign in the manners of this New Arcadia, and the fmiles of the fweet Maid of the Oaks. Dup. Who, in the name of curiofity, is fhe that bears this romantic title? for your letter was a mere eclogue; the devil a thing could I make out, but a rhapfody upon rural innocence, and an invitation from a gentleman I did not know, to an entertainment I never faw-What, are we to have a reprefentation of the Paftor-fido in a Garden? Sir Har. The Paftor-fido is before you in propria perfona; the bufinefs of the day is a wedding; and Charles Dupeley is invited to fee his friend Sir Harry Groveby united to the moft charming of her fex. Dup. The devil it is! What a young fellow of your hopes and fortune, facrificed to a marriage of romance! But, prithee, relieve my impatience, and tell me who fhe is. Sir Har. An orphan ward of the worthy old gentleman at whofe feat you now are: His character is fingular, and as amiable in its way as hers. Inheriting a great eftate, and liberally educated, his difpofition led him early to a country life, where his benevolence and hofpitality are boundless; and thefe qualities, joined with an imagination bordering upon the whimsical, have given a peculiar turn to the manners of the neighbourhood, that, in my opinion, degrades the polish of courts. -But judge of the original. Enter Oldworth. Mr Oldworth, I prefent you my friend; he is just arrived from abroad; I will not repeat how much he is worthy of your friendship. Old. To be worthy of yours, Sir Harry, is the best recommendation. (To Dupeley.)-Sir, your friend is going to receive from my hands a lovely girl, whofe merit he has difcern'd and lov'd for its own fake: Such nuptials should recal the ideas of a better age: He has permitted me to celebrate them upon my own plan, and I fhall be happy to receive the judgment of an accomplish'd critic. Dup. Sir, by what I already fee of Oldworth's Oaks, and know of the character of the mafter, I am perfuaded the talent most neceffary for the company will be that of giving due praise. Enter Hurry. Hur. Lord, Sir, come down to the building directly —all the trades are together by the ears-it is for all the world like the tower of Babylon--they have drove a broad-wheel waggon over two hampers of wine, and it is all running among lilies and honey-fuckles-one of the cooks ftumbled over one of the clouds, and threw a ham and chickens into a tub of white wafh-a lamp-lighter fpilt a gallon of oil into a cream'd apple-tart-and they have fent for more roses, and there is not one left within twenty miles. Old. Why, honeft Hurry, if there is none to be had, you need not be in fuch haste about 'em- Mercy on us ! my Féte has turn'd this poor fellow's head already; he will certainly get a fever. Hur. Get a favour, Sir!-why there has not been one left these three hours; all the girls in the parish have been ferambling for them, and I muft get a hundred yards more -Lord a mercy! there is fo much to do at once, and nobody to do it, that it is enough to moider one's head.- -Law, Sir, if you loiter longer, I tell you they will all be at loggerheads-they were very near it when I came away. (Exit. Old. Mr Dupeley, you'll excufe me-Hurry convinces. me my presence is neceffary elsewhere--this is a bufy day! Dup. The greatest compliment you can pay me is not to look upon me as a stranger. Old. I forgot to tell you, Sir Harry, that Lady Bab Lardoon is in the neighbourhood, and I expect her every VOL. VI. Ꮓ + - moment |