To the air, Silent woes, and looks of care, Ab, you little rogue! Lady W. Infinitely pretty! [End with the first Strain. [To Charlotte. Wit. But come, madam, now your promise [To Charlotte] can give a bonne bouche to our entertainment. Soph. I grow tired. Shall we walk into my library? There, we inay raise our thoughts. [To Granger. Gran. You charm me, madam; I thirst, methinks, for a clear draught of Helicon. Soph. Take no leave, but follow me. [Exeunt Sophronia and Granger. Wit. Your dancing is, I am told, all enchantment, madam! no ten thousand angels ever came up to it. Lady W. It cannot be denied but Charlotte has an external genius; she wants no personal accomplishments; but 'tis great pity the application they have cost her, was not laid out upon the improvement of her understanding. Wit. Oh, pardon me, madam! as long as there is a good understanding between her and me, what matters which of us has it, you know. Sir G. Ay, but there's the question, which of you 'tis that has it; for if one of you has it, I am sure you two will never come together. Frank. Well said! at him, sir. [Aside. Wit. Look you, sir Gilbert; you may fancy your fair daughter and I are a couple of fools, if you please; but if one of us had not been wiser than the father, we could never have had a right to come together, in spite of his teeth, that's certain. Ha, ha, ba! Lady W. Pardon me, Mr. Witling, you underrate your merit: for you had been sure of my consent without your contract. Wit. Ay, madam, that was only a foolish modesty that I could not shake off; therefore I hope you will excuse me, if I durst not think merit alone was a sufficient bait to bob sir Gilbert out of his consent. Ha, ha, ha! Sir G. You are a very merry grig, sir; but have a care you are not bobb'd yourself. Stay till you win, before you laugh; for you are not yet married, I pre sume. Wit. Why no, nor you have not supped yet; yet I hold gold to silver, we both eat before we sleep. Sir G. Why! dost thou think the girl is in haste to marry thee to-night? Wit. I don't say that neither; but, sir, as long as I have a sufficient deposit of the lady's inclinations, to answer for the rest of her promises, you will give me leave not to be afraid of her looking out for a new chap in the mean time, sir. Sir G. A deposit! why wouldst thou persuade me the girl can be fool enough to like thee? Wit. 'Egad, I don't know how it is, but she has wit enough, it seems, to make me think so-but if you won't take my word, let her answer for herself. Sir G. Ay, that I would be glad to hear. Wit. Ha, ha! 'Egad, this is a pleasant question indeed -Madam, are not you willing, (as soon as the churchbooks can be open) to make a transfer of your whole stock of beauty to your humble servant? Char. Indeed, papa, I won't suppose that can be a question. Wit. A hum! your humble servant, sir. Char. Beside, are not you obliged to sign a further deed of consent to Mr. Witling? Sir G. Yes, child; but the same deed reserves to a right of refusal, as well as to him. you Char. That I understand, sir; and there's one can witness for whom I have reserved that right of refusal. [Pointing to Frankly. Wit. Your humble servant, again, sir; ha, ha, ha! Lady W. I am amazed, Mr. Wrangle, you could think she could be under the least difficulty in the choice. Frank. And yet, madam, there are very innocent ladies, that have made a difficulty of changing their inclinations in half an hour. Lady W. A woman of strict virtue, sir, ought to have no inclinations at all: or, if any, those only of being obedient to the will of her parents. Wit. Oh, let him alone, madam; the more he rails, the more I shall laugh, depend upon't: the pain of a rival is the pleasantest game in the world: his wishing me at the devil, is just the same thing as if he wished me joy! ha, ha, ha! Sir G. Well, sir, all I shall say, is, that if the girl has common sense, thy contract must still be good for nothing. Wit. Right! and if you had common sense, I am sure you would never have made it; not but, to do you justice, sir Gilbert, I must own, you have wit in your way too, though it's of a very odd turn, I grant you. Sir G. Sir, you take a great deal of liberty with me; insomuch, that I must tell you, I am not sure I won't pay the forfeit of my contract rather than part with my daughter to a coxcomb--and so take it as you will. Lady W. Mr. Wrangle! what do you mean by this brutality? Frank. Mr. Witling, madam, will take nothing ill that I think fit to justify, I am sure. Wit. No, faith! you need not fear it; I'll marry before I'll fight, depend upon't. Ha, ha! Lady W. Mr. Witling, I beg you come away this moment- -I'll undertake to do your merit justice. I'll see who dares pretend to govern in this family beside myself. Charlotte, give him your hand-Come, sirWit. I am all obedience, madam-your humble servant, Mr. Frankly-Would you woo her [Exit singing, with Charlotte. Frank. Admirably well done, sir! Now, if you can but stand it out as stoutly with my lady, our business is done. Sir G. If!-Will you stand by me? Frank. Will you give me your authority, sir, to handle her roundly, and make her know who ought to be her master! Sir G. My authority! ay, and thanks into the bargain -Come along, I'll send for the lawyer now- Mr. Frankly, my blood rises at her; she shall find I'll vindicate the honour of the city, and, from this moment, demolish her petticoat government. Frank. Well said; I'll warrant you, sir. [Exeunt. Enter SIR GILBERT and FRANKLY. Sir G. My dear Frankly, I could not rest till I had thee alone again; thou hast gained upon me for ever: your vindicating the husband's authority, and taking my wife a peg lower before my face, has tickled my fancy to that degree, that, odzooks! I could wish in my heart thou hadst been married to her. Frank. Oh, I should be loath to have robbed you, sir, of that happiness. Sir G. A-hum! you are right, you are right; I did not think of that indeed. Well; it's a very odd thing now, that a wife will sooner be kept under by any man than her husband: why the deuce can't I govern her so? Frank. There's no great secret in the matter, sir; for take any couple in Christendom, you will certainly find, that the more troublesome of the two is always bead of the family. Sir G. By my troth, I believe you are right; and since the war is begun, I'll make a fair push for it. I E |