Harry. I am as much concerned as you to-Good b'ye!

Rover. I can't even bid him-I won't neither-If any cause could have given-Farewell.

Harry. Bless my poor fellow! Adieu. [Silently weeps.]

[Exeunt several ways.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

A Village, a Farm House, and near it, a Cottage.

Enter FARMER GAMMON and EPHRAIM.

F. Gam. Well, Master Ephraim, I may depend on thee, as you quakers never break your words.

Eph. I have spoken to Mary, and she, at my request, consenteth to take thy daughter, Jane, as her handmaid.

F. Gam. Very good of you.

Eph. Goodness I do like, and also-comely Jane. [Aside.] The maiden I will prefer, for the sake of — myself. [Aside.]

F. Gam. I intended to make a present to the person that does me such a piece of service; but I shan't affront you with it.

Eph. I am meek and humble, and must take affronts.

F. Gam. Then here's a guinea, master Ephraim. Eph. I expected not this; but there is no harm in a guinea.

[Exit. F. Gam. So I shall get my children off my Lands. My son, Sim, is robbing me day and night,-giving

away my corn and what not among the poor.My daughter Jane-when girls have naught to do, this love-mischief creeps into their minds, and then hey! they're for kicking up their heels,-Sim! [Calling.] Enter SIM.

Sim. Yes, feyther.

F. Gam. Call your sister.
Sim. Jane, feyther wants you.

Enter JANE, from the house, with linen she had been working.

Jane. Did you call me?

F. Gam. I often told you both, (but it's now settled) you must go out into the world, and work for your bread.

Sim. Well, feyther, whatever you think right, must be so, and I'm content.

Jane. And I'm sure, feyther, I'm willing to do as you'd have me.

F. Gam. There's ingratitude for you! When my wife died, I brought you both up from the shell, and now you want to fly off and forsake me.

Sim. Why no; I'm willing to live with you all my days.

Jane. And I'm sure, feyther, if it's your desire, I'll never part from you.

F. Gam. What, you want to hang upon me like a couple of leeches, ay, to strip my branches, and leave me a wither'd hawthorn? See who's yon. [Exit SIM. Jane, Ephraim Smooth has hired you for Lady Amaranth.

Jane. O lack! then I shall live in the great house. F. Gam. She has sent us all presents of good books, [Gives her one.] to read a chapter in. That, when one's in a passion, gives a mon patience. Jane. Thank her good ladyship.

one.

F. Gam. My being encumbered with you both is the cause why old Banks won't give me his sister. Jane. That's a pity. If we must have a stepmother, Madam Amelia would make us a very good But I wonder how she can refuse you, feyther, for I'm sure she must think you a very portly man, in your scarlet vest and new scratch. You can't think how parsonable you'd look, if you'd only shave twice a week, and put sixpence in the poor-box. [Retires reading.]

F. Gam. However, if Banks still refuses, I have him in my power. I'll turn them both out of their cottage yonder, and the bailiff shall provide them with a lodging.

Enter BANKS.

Well, neighbour Banks, once for all, am I to marry your sister?

Banks. That she best knows.

F. Gam. Ay, but she says she won't.

Banks. Then I dare say she won't, for though a woman, I never knew her to speak what she didn't think.

F. Gam. Then she won't have me? A fine thing this, that you and she, who are little better than paupers, dare be so damn'd saucy!

Banks. Why, farmer, I confess we're poor: but while that's the worst our enemies can say of us, we're

content.

F. Gam. Od, dom it! I wish I had now a good, fair occasion to quarrel with him; I'd make him content with a devil to him; I'd knock'en down, send him to jail and-But I'll be up with him!

Enter SIM.

Sim. Oh, feyther, here's one Mr. Lamp, a ringleader of showfolks, come from Andover to act in our

village. He wants a barn to play in, if you'll hire him yourn.

F. Gam. Surely, boy. I'll never refuse money. But, lest he should engage the great room in the inn, run thou and tell him-Stop, I'll go myself-A short cut through that garden.

Banks. Why you, or any neighbour is welcome to walk in it, or to partake of what it produces, but making it a common thoroughfare is—

1

F. Gam. Here, Sim, kick open that garden gate.
Banks. What?

F. Gam. Does the lad hear?

Sim. Why yes, yes.

F. Gam. Does the fool understand.

Sim. Dang it, I'm as yet but young; but if understanding teaches me how to wrong my neighbour, I hope I may never live to years of discretion.

F. Gam. What, you cur, do you disobey your feyther? Burst open the garden gate, as I command you. Sim. Feyther, He, that made both you and the gar den, commands me not to injure the unfortunate.

F. Gam. Here's an ungracious rogue ! Then I must do itmyself. [Advances.]

Banks. [Stands before it.] Hold, neighbour. Small as this spot is, it's now my only possession: and the man shall first take my life, who sets a foot in it against my wil.

F. Gam. I'm in such a passion.

Jane. [Comes forward.] Feyther, if you are in a passion, read the good book you gave me.

F. Gam. Plague of the wench! But, you hussy, I'll-and you, you unlucky bird!

[Exit SIM and JANE. [A shower of rain.]-Enter RoVER hastily. Rover. Zounds! here's a pelting shower, and no shelter! "Poor Tom's a-cold," I'm wet through-Oh, here's a fair promising house. [Going to GAMMON's.]

F. Gam. [Stops him.] Hold, my lad. Can't let folks in, till I know who they are. There's a public house

not above a mile on.

Banks. Step in here, young man ? my fire is small, but it shall cheer you with a hearty welcome.

Rover. [To BANKS.] The poor cottager! [To GAMMON.] And the substantial farmer! [Kneels.]“ Hear, Nature, dear goddess, hear! If ever you designed to make his corn-fields fruitful, change thy purpose? that, from the blighted ear no grain may fall to fat his stubble goose-and, when to town he drives his hogs, so like himself, ob, let him feel the soaking rain; then may he curse his crime too late, and know how sharper than a serpent's tooth 'tis"-Damme, but I'm spouting in the rain all this time.

[Jumps up, and runs into BANKS's.

F. Gam. Ay, neighbour, you'll soon scratch a beggar's head, if you harbour every mad vagrant. This may be one of the footpads, that, it seems, have got about the country; but I'll have an execution, and seize on thy goods, this day, my charitable neighbour! Eh, the sun strikes out, quite cleared up.

Enter JANE.

Jane. La, feyther, if there is'nt coming down the village

F. Gam. Ah, thou hussy!

Jane. Bless me, feyther! No time for anger now. Here's Lady Amaranth's chariot, drawn by her new grand long-tailed horses.-La! it stops!

F. Gam. Her ladyship is coming out, and walks this way. She may wish to rest herself in my house. Jane, we must always make rich folks welcome.

Jane. Dear me, I'll run in and set things to rights. But, feyther, your cravat and wig are all got so rumplified with your cross-grained tantarums. I'll tie your neck in a big beau, and for your wig, if there is