THE MAID OF THE MILL. putting yourself in a passion, feyther? I've pro- Fair. Well, son Ralph, run thy gait; but Ralph. Why, how shall I repent it? Mayhap you'll turn me out of your service; a match; with all hearts-icod, I don't care three brass pins. AIR.-RALPH. If that's all you want, who the plaque will be sorry? For my share, I'm weary of what is got by't: You're never content, but when folks are a toiling, And drudging like horses from morning till night. Enter PATTY, from the house. AIR-PATTY. In love to pine and languish, Can sharpen pangs like these? Yield not a moment's ease? Fair. Well, Patty, master Goodman, my lord's steward, has been with me just now, and I find we are like to bave great doings; his lordship has brought down sir Harry Sycamore and his family, and there is more company expected in a few days. Pat. I know Sir Harry very well; he is by marriage a distant relation of my lord's. Fair. Pray, what sort of a young body is the daughter there? I think she used to be with you at the castle, three or four summers ago, young lord was out upon his travels. when my : Pat. Oh! very often; she was a great favourite of my lady's pray, father, is she come down? Fair. Why, you know the report last night, about my lord's going to be married. By what I can learn, she is; and there is likely to be a nearer relationship between the families, ere long. It seems his lordship was not over willing for the match, but the friends on both sides in London pressed it so hard: then there's a swingeing fortune; master Goodman tells me, a matter of twenty or thirty thousand pounds. my Pat. If it were a million, father, it would not be more than Lord Aimworth deserves; I suppose the wedding will be celebrated here at the mansionhouse? Fair. So it is thought, as soon as things can be properly prepared. And now, Patty, if I could but see thee a little merry-Come, bless thee, pluck up thy spirits. To be sure, thou hast sustained, in the death of thy lady, a heavy loss; she was a parent to thee; nay, and better, inasmuch could not afford to do. Pat. Ah! dear father, don't mention what, perhaps, has been my greatest misfortune. have something to say to thee, which I would have would submit myself entirely to your direction; Fair. Why that's spoken like a dutiful, sensible Pat. Very true, father. Enter GILES. Giles. Well, master Fairfield, you and miss Pat have had a long discourse together; did you tell her that I was come down? Fair. No, in truth, friend Giles; but I mentioned our affair at a distance, and I think there is no fear. Giles. That's right; and when shall us—you do know I have told you my mind often and often. Fair. Farmer, give us thy hand; nobody doubts thy goodwill to me and my girl; and you may take my word, I would rather give her to thee than another; for I am main certain thou wilt make her a good husband. Giles. Thanks to your kind opinion, master make thee a choice wife. But thou know'st, friend Giles. Nay, nay, 'tis well enough known to all When his mother was taken off so suddenly, and to say, that my lord had a sort of a sneaking kind- Fair. Pob, poh! a pack of women's tales. your lad told me. Far. No! why then go up to my lord; let him know you have a mind to make a match with my daughter; hear what he has to say to it, and afterwards we will try if we can't settle matters. Giles. Go up to my lord? Ecod! if that be all, I'll do it with the biggest pleasure in life. But where's Miss Pat? Might not one ax her how she do? Fair. Never spare it, she's within there. Giles. I sees her; od rabbit it, this hatch is locked now. Miss Pat! Miss Patty! She makes believe not to hear me. Fair. Well, well, never mind; thou'lt come and eat a morsel of dinner with us. Giles. Nay, but just to have a bit of joke with her at present: Miss Pat, I say, won't you open the door? AIR.-GILES. Hark! 'tis I, your own true lover; There's at once an end of arguing: I'm her's, she's mine; Thus we seal, and thus we sign. duty taught me only gratitude and respect? Alas! who could live in the house with Lord Aimworth, see him, converse with him, and not love him? I have this consolation, however-my folly is yet undiscover'd to auy; else, how should I be ridicul'd and despis'd! nay, would not my lord himself despise me, especially if he knew that I have more than once construed his natural affability and politeness into sentiments as unworthy of him, as mine are bold and extravagant. Unexampled vanity! SCENE II.-A Chamber in Lord Aimworth's house. Sir H. Well, but Theodosia, child, you are quite unreasonable. Theo. Pardon me, papa, it is not I am unreasonable but you. When I gave way to my inclinations for Mr. Mervin, he did not seem less agreeable to you and my mamma than he was acceptable to me. It is, therefore, you who have been unreasonable, in first encouraging Mr. Mervin's addresses, and [Exit. afterwards forbidding him your house; in order to bring me down here, to force me on a gentleman Re-enter PATTY from the cottage. Fair. Patty, child, why would'st not thou open the door for our neighbour Giles? Pat. Really, father, I did not know what was the matter. Fair. Well, our neighbour Giles will be here another time; he'll be here again presently. He's gone up to the castle, Patty: thou know'st it would not be right for us to do anything without giving his lordship intelligence, so I have sent the farmer to let him know that he is willing, and we are willing, and, with his lordship's approbation Pat. Oh, dear father! what are you going to say? Fair. Nay, child, I would not have stirred a step for fifty pounds, without advertising his lordship beforehand. Pal. But surely, surely, you have not done this rash, this precipitate thing? Fair. How rash? how is it rash, Patty? I don't understand thee. Pat. Oh, you have distress'd me beyond imagination! but why would you not give me notice; speak to me first? Fair. Why, ha'n't I spoken to thee an hundred times? No, Patty, 'tis thou that would'st distress me; and thou'lt break my heart. Pat. Dear father! Fair. All I desire is to see thee well settled; and now that I am likely to do so, thou art not contented. I am sure the farmer is as sightly a clever lad as any in the country; and is he not as good as we? Pat. 'Tis very true, father; I am to blame; pray forgive me. Fair. Forgive thee! Lord help thee, my child, I am not angry with thee; but quiet thyself, Patty, and thou'lt see all this will turn out for the best. [Exit. Pat. What will become of me? My lord will certainly imagine this is done with my consent. Well, is he not himself going to be married to a lady, suitable to him in rank, suitable to him in fortune, as this farmer is to me? and under what pretence can I refuse the husband my father has found for me? Shall I say that I have dared to raise my inclinations above my condition, and presumed to love where my Sur H. Force you, Dossy! what do you mean? By the la, I would not force you on the czar of Muscovy. Theo. And yet, papa, what else can I call it? for though Lord Aimworth is extremely attentive and obliging, I assure you he is by no means one of the most ardent of lovers. but Sir H. Ardent! ah, there it is; you girls never think there is any love, without kissing and hugging: is a polite man, and has been abroad in France and you should consider, child, my Lord Aimworth Italy, where these things are not the fashion: I remember when I was on my travels, among the madames and signoras, we never saluted more than the tip of the ear. Theo. Really, papa, you have a very strange opinion of my delicacy. Sir H. Well, come, my poor Dossy, I see you are chagrin'd, but you know it is not my fault; on the contrary, I assure you, I had always a great regard for young Mervin, and should have been very glad Theo. How, then, papa, could you join in forcing me to write him that strange letter, never to see me more? or how, indeed, could I comply with your commands? What must he think of me? Sir H. Ay, but hold, Dossy; your mamma convinced me that he was not so proper a son-in-law for us as Lord Aimworth. Theo. Convinced you! Ah, my dear papa! you were not convinced. Sir H. What, don't I know when I am convinced? Theo. Why, no, papa; because your good-nature and easiness of temper are such, that you pay more respect to the judgment of mamma, and less to your own, than you ought to do. Sir H. Well, but, Dossy, don't you see how your mamma loves me? If the tip of my little finger does but ache, she's like a bewitched woman; and if I was to die, I don't believe she would outlive the burying of me: nay, she has told me as much herself. Theo. Her fondness, indeed, is very extraordinary. Sir H. Besides, could you give up the prospect of being a countess, and mistress of this fine place? Theo. Yes, truly, could I. AIR. THEODOSIA. With the man that I love, were I destin'd to dwell, On a mountain, a moor, in a cot, in a cell; Retreats the most barren, most desert, would be More pleasing than courts or a palace to me. Let the vain and the venal in wedlock aspire To what folly esteems, and the vulgar admire; I yield them the bliss, where their wishes are plac'd, Insensible creatures! 'tis all they can taste. Enter LADY SYCAMORE. Lady S. Sir Harry, where are you? Lady S. I am just come from looking over his lordship's family trinkets. Well, Miss Sycamore, you are a happy creature, to have diamonds, equipage, title, and all the blessings of life, poured thus upon you at once. Theo. Blessings, madam! Do you think then, I am such a wretch as to place my felicity in the possession of any such trampery y? Lady S. Upon my word, miss, you have a very disdainful manner of expressing yourself; I believe there are very few young women of fashion, who would think any sacrifice they could make too much for them. Did you ever hear the like of her, Sir Harry? Sir H. Why, my dear, I have just been talking to her in the same strain; but whatever she has got in her head Lady S. Oh, it is Mr. Mervin, her gentleman of Bucklersbury.-Fie, miss! marry a cit! Where is your pride, your vanity? Have you nothing of the person of distinction about you? Sir H. Well but, my lady, you know I am a piece of a cit myself, as I may say, for my greatgrandfather was a dry-salter. Theo. And yet, madam, you condescended to marry my papa. Lady S. Well, if I did, miss, I had but five thousand pounds to my portion, and Sir Harry knows I was past eight-and-thirty before I would listen to him. Sir H. Nay, Dossy, that's true; your mamma own'd eight-and-thirty before we were married : but by the la, my dear, you were a lovely angel; and by candle-light, nobody would have taken you for above five-and-twenty. Lady S. Sir Harry, you remember the last time I was at my lord duke's? Sir H. Yes, my love, it was the very day your little bitch, Minxey, pupped. Lady S. And pray, what did the whole family say? my lord John, and my lord Thomas, and my lady duchess in particular? Cousin, says her grace to me, for she always called me cousin Theo. Well, but madam, to cut this matter short at once, my father has a great regard for Mr. Mervin, and would consent to our union with all his heart. Lady S. Do you say so, Sir Harry? Sir H. Who? I, love? Lady S. Then all my care and prudence are come to nothing. Sir H. Well, but stay, my lady; Dossy, you are always making mischief. Theo. Ah! my dear sweet Lady S. Do, miss; that's right, coax- meanness. Lady S. 'Tis very civil of you to contradict me, however. Sir H. Eh! what's that? hands off, Dossy, don't come near me. AIR. SIR HARRY. Why, how now, miss Pert, My anger by fawning and stroking? Would you make me a fool, Your plaything, your tool? Was ever young minx so provoking? Go out of my sight! 'Twould be serving you right, To lay a sound dose of the lash on: Contradict your mamma! I've a mind, by the laBut I won't put myself in a passion. [Exit Theo. "Enter LORD AIMWORTH and GILES. Lord A. Come, farmer, you may come in; there are none here but friends.-Sir Harry, your servant. Sir H. My lord, I kiss your lordship's hands hope he did not overhear us squabbling. (Aside.) Lord A. Well, now, master Giles, what is it you have got to say to me? If I can do you any service, company will give you leave to speak. this Giles. I thank your lordship; I has not got a great deal to say; I do come to your lordship about a little business, if you'll please to give me the hearing. Lord A. Certainly, only let me know what it is. Giles. Why, an't please you, my lord, being left alone, as I may say, feyther dead and all the business upon my own hands, I do think of settling and taking a wife, and am come to ax your honour's consent. Lord A. My consent, farmer! if that be necessary, you have it with all my heart; I hope you have taken care to make a prudent choice. Giles. Why, I do hope so, my lord.. Lord A. Well, who is the happy fair one? Does she live in my house? Giles. No, my lord, she does not live in your house, but she's a parson of your acquaintance. Lord A. Of my acquaintance! Giles. No offence, I hope, your honour. Lord A. None in the least: but how is she an acquaintance of mine? Giles. Your lordship do know miller Fairfield? Giles. And Patty Fairfield, his daughter, my lord? Giles. Why, if so be as your lordship has no objection; to be sure, we will do nothing without your consent and approbation. Lord A. Upon my word, farmer, you have made an excellent choice. It is a god-daughter of my mother's, madam, who was bred up under her care; and I protest, I do not know a more amiable young woman. But are you sure, farmer, that Patty herself is inclinable to this match? Giles. O yes, my lord, I am sartain of that. Lord A. Perhaps then she desired you to come and ask my consent? Giles. Why as far as this here, my lord; to be sure, the miller did not care to publish the banns, without making your lordship acquainted: but I hope your honour's not angry with I. Lord A. Angry, farmer! why should you think so? What interest have I in it to be angry? Sir H. And so, honest farmer, you are going to be married to little Patty Fairfield? She's an old acquaintance of mine: how long have you and she been sweethearts? Giles. Not a long while, an't please your worship. Sir H. Well, her father's a good warm fellow; I suppose you take care that she brings something to make the pot boil? Lady S. What does that concern you, Sir Harry? How often must I tell you of meddling in other people's affairs? Sir H. My Lord, a penny for your thoughts. Lord A. I beg your pardon, Sir Harry; upon my word, I did not think where I was. Giles. Well then, your honour, I'll make bold to be taking my leave; I may say you gave consent for Miss Patty and I to go on? Od's my life, search England over, Do but feel my heart a-beating, When she makes the music tingle, 'Tis a feast to hear and see. [Exit. Sir H. By dad! this is a good, merry fellow; is not he, love? with his pitty, patty.-And so, my lord, you have given your consent that he shall marry your mother's old housekeeper. Ah, well, I can see Lord A. Nobody doubts, Sir Harry, that you are very clear-sighted. Sir H. Yes, yes; let me alone, I know what's what; I was a young fellow once myself; and I should have been glad of a tenant to take a pretty girl off my hands now and then, as well as another. Lord A. I protest, my dear friend, I don't understand you. Lady S. Nor nobody else.-Sir Harry, you are going at some beastliness now. Sir H. Who? I, my lady? Not I, as I hope to live and breathe; 'tis nothing to us, you know, what my lord does before he's married. When I was a bachelor, I was a devil among the wenches myself; and yet I vow to George, my lord, since I knew my Lady Sycamore, and we shall be man and wife eighteen years, if we live till next Candlemas-day, I never had to do did Lady S. Sir Harry, come out of the room, I desire. Sir H. Why, what's the matter, my lady, not say any harm. Lady S. I see what you are driving at ; you want to make me faint. Sir H. I want to make you faint, my lady? Lady S. Yes, you do; and if you don't come out this instant, I shall fall down in the chamber; I beg, my lord, you won't speak to him. Will you come out, Sir Harry? Sir H. Nay but, my lady! [Exeunt Sir Harry and Lady Sycamore. Lord A. This worthy baronet and his lady are certainly a very whimsical couple; however, their daughter is perfectly amiable in every respect and yet I am sorry I have brought her down here; for can I in honour marry her, while my affections are engaged to another? To what does the pride of condition and the censure of the world force me! Must I then renounce the only person that can make me happy; because-because what? because she's a miller's daughter. Vain pride and unjust censure! Has she not all the graces that education can give her sex, improved by a genius seldom found among the highest? Has she not modesty, sweetness of temper, and beauty of person, capable of adorning a rank the most exalted? But it is too late to think of these things now; my hand is promised, my honour engaged: and if it were not so, she has engaged herself; the farmer is a person to her mind, and I have authorized their union by my approba tion. Enter RALPH, with MERVIN in a riding dress, followed by FANNY. Fan. Ah, pray, your honour, try if you have not something to spare for poor Fanny the gipsey! Ralph. I tell you, Fan, the gentleman has no change about him; why the plague will you be so troublesome? Fan. Lord! what is it to you, if his honour bas a mind to give me a trifle? Do, pray, gentleman; put your hand in your pocket. Mer. I am almost distracted! Ungrateful Theodosia, to change so suddenly, and write me such a letter! However, I am resolved to have my dismission face to face; this letter may be forced from her by her mother, who I know was never cordially my friend: I could not get a sight of her in London, but here they will be less on their guard; and see her I will, by one means or other. Fan. Then your honour will not extend your charity? AIR.-FANNY. I am young, and I am friendless, Though the gift is ne'er so small. Exit. Ralph. Now I'll go and take that money from her; and I have a good mind to lick her, so I have. Mer. Poh! pr'ythee stay where you are. Ralph. Nay, but I hate to see a toad so devilish greedy. Mer. Well, come, she has not got a great deal, and I have thought how she may do me a favour in her turn. Ralph. Ay; but you may put that out of your head, for I can tell you she won't. Mer. How so? Ralph. How so, why she's as cunning as the devil. Mer. Oh, she is? I fancy I understand you. Well, in that case, friend Ralph-Your name's Ralph, I think? Ralph. Yes, sir, at your service, for want of a better. Mer. I say then, friend Ralph, in that case, we will remit the favour you think of, till the lady is in a more complying humour, and try if she cannot serve me at present in some other capacity; there are a good many gipsies hereabout, are there not? Ralph. Softly! I have a whole gang of them here in our barn; I have kept them about the place these three months, and all on account of she. Mer. Really! Ralph. Yes; but for your life don't say a word of it to any Christian; I am in love with her. Mer. Indeed! Ralph. Feyther is as mad with me about it as old Scratch; and I gets the plague and all of anger; but I don't mind that. Mer. Well, friend Ralph, if you are in love, no doubt you have some influence over your mistress; don't you think you could prevail upon her, and her companions, to supply me with one of their habits, and let me go up with them to-day to my Lord Aimworth's. Ralph. Why, do you want to go a-mumming? We never do that here but in the Christmas holidays. Mer. No matter; manage this for me, and manage it with secresy, and I promise you shall not go unrewarded. Ralph. Oh, as for that, sir, I don't look for any thing I can easily get you a bundle of their rags; but I don't know whether you'll prevail on them to go up to my, lord's, because they are afraid of a big dog that's in the yard: but I'll tell you what I can do; I can go up before you and have the dog fastened, for I know his kennel. [Exit Mer. That will do very well. By means of this disguise I shall probably get a sight of her; and I leave the rest to love and fortune. AIR. MERVIN. Why quits the merchant, blest with ease, 'Midst freezing cold, or scorching heat? SCENE IV.-The Mill. [Exit. Enter PATTY, RALPH, GILES, and FANNY. Giles. So his lordship was as willing as the flowers in May; and as I was coming along, who should I meet but your father, and he bid me run in all haste and tell you; for we were sure you would be deadly glad. Pat. I know not what business you had to go to my lord's at all, farmer. Giles. Nay, I only did as I was desired; master Fairfield bid me tell you as how he would have you go up to my lord, out of hand, and thank him. Ralph. So she ought; and take off those clothes, and put on what's more becoming her station: you know my father spoke to you of that this morning too. Pat. Brother, I shall obey my father. QUARTETTO.-PATTY, GILES, RALPH, and Pat. Giles. Pat. Giles. Ralph. Fan. FANNY. Lie still, my heart; oh! fatal stroke, Nay, I only spoke. Ralph. To be in their place, Fan. Giles. We'd carry it off with a different face. Why now that's right; Ralph. What words can explain Pat. My pleasure—my pain? Giles. It presses, it rises, My heart it surprises, Fan. Ralph. Fan. Giles. Pat. Hush! Tush! Nah! Psha! ACT II. SCENE. I.-A marble Portico, ornamented with statues, which opens from Lord Aimworth's house. Enter LORD AIMWORTH, reading. AIR. LORD AIMWORTH. By what standards false we measure; Seeking bliss, and finding pain! Enter PATTY. Pat. Now comes the trial: no, my sentence is already pronouced, and I will meet my fate with prudence and resolution. Lord A. Who's there? Lord A. Patty Fairfield! Pat. I humbly beg pardon, my lord, for pressing so abruptly into your presence: but I was told I might walk this way; and I am come by my father's commands to thank your lordship for all your favours. Lord A. Favours, Patty! what favours? I have done you none: but why this metamorphosis! I protest, if you had not spoke, I should not have known you; I never saw you wear such clothes as these in my mother's life-time. Pat. No, my lord, it was her ladyship's pleasure I should wear better, and therefore I obeyed; but it is now my duty to dress in a manner more suitable to my station and future prospects in life. Lord A. I am afraid, Patty, you are too humble; come, sit down-nay, I will have it so. (They sit.) What is it I have been told to-day, Patty? It seems you are going to be married. Pat. Yes, my lord. Lord A. Well, and don't you think you could have made a better choice than farmer Giles? I should imagine your person, your accomplishments, might have entitled you to look higher. Pat. Your lordship is pleased to over-rate my little merit: the education I received in your family does not entitle me to forget my origin; and the farmer is my equal. Lord A. In what respect? The degrees of rank and fortune, my dear Patty, are arbitrary distinetions, unworthy the regard of those who consider justly; the true standard of equality is seated in the mind: those who think nobly, are noble. Pat. The farmer, my lord, is a very honest man. Lord A. So he may: I don't suppose he would I can't keep it down, though I'd never so fain. break into a house, or commit a robbery on the So here the play ends; All. What torments exceeding, what joys are above highway. What do you tell me of his honesty for? Pat. I did not mean to offend your lordship. Lord A. Offend! I am not offended, Patty-not at all offended: but is there any great merit in a man's being honest? Pat. I don't say there is, my lord. booby; and what happiness can you propose to Lord A. The farmer is an ill-bred, illiterate |