"Tis certain she does all she can,
And we had form'd a charming plan
To take her from the quaker-man.

Lub. Nay, pr'ythee tell it.

Flor.

Never.

Enter GILLIAN.

Flor. Here she is; now let her speak for herself. Gil. Oh, Lubin! why would you not hear me speak to you yesterday? I did not sleep a wink all night for thinking on't.

Lub. Why, had I not reason, Gillian, to be angry, when every one I met told me what a fool you had made of me?

Gil. Why what could I do? Floretta here, knows that I have done nothing but abuse old Steady from morning till night about it.

Flor. Come, come, don't let us dispute about what's past, but make use of the present opportunity; we have not a moment to lose. Get you to my master, make up a plausible story how ill you have been us'd by an old fellow, who has run away with your sweetheart; and tell him, that you come to complain to him, as you know 'tis a custom for every body to do when they are us'd ill.

Gil. What a rare girl you are, Floretta. But are you sure he won't know him?

Flor. No; I heard your father say he never saw him in all his life.

Lub. That's lucky; leave me alone for a plausible story. [Exit.

Enter SOLOMON.

Flor. Here comes my formal messenger. Well, Solomon, where's your master?

Sol. In the great hall, waiting your approach.

Gil. I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Solomon. Sol. Words cost us nothing. If I have done thee service, thank me by deeds,

Gil. Oh, what you want me to coax Floretta to marry you?

Sol. I do.

Flor. Solomon has it very much in his power to make me love him.

Sol. How, I pray thee?

Flor. Why, I have said a hundred times, that I never would marry a man who had always a proverb in his mouth.

Gil. So you have, Floretta; I have heard you.

Sol. And thou wouldst have me leave off mine-a word to the wise-thou shalt hear them no more. Flor. Why that sounded something like one. Sol. It must be done by degrees. Word by word

great books are written.

Flor. Again!

Sol. I pray thee to pardon me; I shall soon conquer them but Rome was not built in a day.

Flor. Oh! this is making game of one.

Sol. I protest I meant no ill. I shall forget them, I say. "Tis a long lane that hath no turning. Gil. Poor Solomon! He can't help it.

Flor. Have you any desire to marry me?
Sol. Ask the vintner if the wine be good.

Flor. Because I will have my way in this; and I think it very hard you won't strive to oblige me.

Sol. I protest, I strive all I can; but custom is second nature; and what is bred in the bone-Verily, I bad like to have displeased thee again.

Flor. Oh! what you found yourself out, did you? Then there's some hopes of amendment.

Sol. It shall be amended. A thing resolved upon is half done; and 'tis an old saying-but what have I to do with old sayings?

Flor. Very true.

Sol. But I must attend on the green.

Flor. Well, go; and by the time I see you next, take care that you get rid of all your musty old sayings. I wonder how so sensible a man as you could give in to such nonsense.

Sol. Evil communication corrupts good manners; and a dog-Pies on the dog! Well, thou shalt be obeyed, believe me-Pies on the dog!

[Exit. Gil. For goodness' sake, what excuse do you intend to make to him when he has left off his proverbs?

Flor. Why desire him to leave off something else; and at the rate of one in a month, he won't have parted with all his particularities in seven years.

Gil. Well, how we do use men in love with us, when we take it into our heads!

Flor. And yet they are fools to be used so by us. But I am sure you will never use Lubin ill-he will make you the happiest girl in the world.

AIR*.

The face which frequently displays
An index of the mind,

Dame Nature has her various ways

To stamp on humankind.

Purs'd brows denote the purse-proud man,

Intent on some new scheme;

Clos'd eyes the politician,

For ever in a dream.

But features of ingenuous kind,
Which semblance bear of truth,

Display, methinks, in face and mind,

The portrait of this youth.

SCENE II. A Hall.

Enter STEADY and LUBIN.

Lub. Your servant, sir.

Steady. Thine, friend.

[Exeunt.

Lub. I hope, sir, you'll excuse my rudeness?
Steady. I don't perceive thee guilty of any.

Lub. May be not; but I made bold to ask, if I might not trouble your worship about a little affair concerning my being sadly used."

Steady. Speak freely.

*This Air is omitted in representation.

Lub. Why, there's a covetous old hunks, and like your worship, that because he is rich, would fain take away a young woman that I was to be married to, without her consent or mine.

Steady. Has the old hunks, thou speakest of, the consent of her friends?

Lub. They have no consent to give, and please you. Steady. And why, I pray thee?

Lub. Because, as I take it, if any body gives a thing, 'tis not theirs any longer: and they gave me their consent long ago.

Steady. Thou speakest the truth. But what wouldst thou have me do in this business?

Lub. Why please you, sir, I have often heard it said of your worship, that there were three things you'd never suffer in our village if you could help it-The maidens to go without sweethearts-the industrious without reward-and the injured without redress-and to be sure it made me think, that if you were once acquainted with the rights of this affair, you would not suffer it to go on; "For," says I, "set in case it was his worship's own concern, how would he like to have the young woman taken away from him, that he is going to marry?

Steady. There thou saidst it.

Lub. Why yes, I thought that was bringing the case home.

Steady. Well, attend on the lawn; make thy claim known, and if the parties concerned are present, deliver to them what I now write thee for that purpose.

[Goes to the Table. Lub. This is better and better still.-How they'll all be laughed at. He little thinks he is signing his consent to part with Gillian.

Steady. Do thou direct it; thou knowest to whom it is to be given.

Lub. Yes, I am sure the person will be upon the lawn.

Steady. And fear not to tell him thy mind.

Lub. I shan't be sparing of that, I warrant you.

Steady. Urge thy ill usage.
Lub. Never fear me.

Steady. And tell him, that by endeavouring to prevent thy happiness, he hath done thee an injury he can never repair. For that riches are given us to comfort and not distress those beneath us.

AIR. LUBIN.

With respect, sir, to you be it spoken,
So well do I like your advice,
He shall have it, and by the same token,
I don't much intend to be nice.
There's something so comical in it,
I ne'er was so tickled by half;
And was I to die the next minute,
I verily believe I should laugh.
Affairs happen better and better,
Your worship, but mind the old put,
When first he looks over the letter,
what a figure he'll cut.

I say,

Enter GILLIAN and FLORETTA.

[Exit.

Flor. Yonder he goes-I wonder how he succeeded? Steady. Come, Gillian, I was anxious to see theethe time draweth near, and the sports will shortly begin upon the lawn.

Gil. I long to be there as much as you do.

Steady. I doubt it not.-And when thou seest thyself the queen of such a set of happy mortals, I know thou wilt consent that this shall be thy bridal-day.

Flor. Yes, sir, if you'll consent to her having Lubin. Gil. And I can tell you he's to be there.

Steady. Lubin, I'm sure, will not oppose what I decree.

Gil. I'm sure he won't part with me quietly.

Steady. Thou shalt see that he will not dare to murmur at my will and pleasure. But come, we are expected. Verily, I find myself exalted even to transport, in that I am going this day to make thee a bride.