SCENE II. The Bull and Gate Inn.

Enter HARRIOT.

Har. What will become of me? Among all my distresses, must confess that Charles's behaviour yesterday is not the least. So wild! so given up to excesses! And yet I am ashamed to own it even to myselfI love him and death itself shall not prevail on me to give my hand to sir Harry-But here he comes! What shall I do with him?

:

Enter SIR HARRY BEAGLE.

Sir H. Your servant, miss!- -What! Not speak! -Bashful, may hap-Why then I will-Lookye, miss, I am a man of few words-What signifies haggling? It looks just like a dealer. -What d'ye think of me for a husband?- -I am a tight young fellow-sound wind and limb-free from all natural blemishes-Rum all over, damme.

Har. Sir, I don't understand you. and I'll give you an answer.

Speak English,

Sir H. English! Why so I do and good plain English too. What d'ye think of me for a husband? -That's English-e'nt it?- -I know none of your French lingo, none of your parlyvoos, not I.-What d'ye think of me for a husband? The squire says you shall marry me.

Hur. What shall I say to him? I had best be civil. [Aside]- -I think, sir, you deserve a much better wife, and beg

Sir H. Better! No, no,-though you're so knowing, I'm not to be taken in so.- You're a fine thing

Your points are all good.

Har. Sir Harry! Sincerity is above all ceremony. Excuse me, if I declare I never will be your wife.

Sir H. Hey! how! what! be off!Why, it's a match, miss! -It's done and done on both sides.

Har. For heaven's sake, sir, withdraw your claim to me. I never can be prevailed on- -indeed I can'tSir H. What, make a match and then draw stakes!

That's doing of nothing-Play or pay all. the world

over.

Har. I am determined not to marry you, at all

events.

Sir H. But your father's determined you shall, miss -So the odds are on my side.-1 am not quite sure of my horse, but I have the rider hollow.

Har. Your horse! sir-d'ye take me for-but I forgive you.-1 beseech you, come into my proposal. It will be better for us both in the end.

Sir H. I can't be off.

Har. Let me entreat

you.

Sir H. I tell you, it's impossible.
Har. Pray, pray do, sir.

Sir H. I can't, damme.

Har. I beseech you. [Sir Harry whistles] How! laughed at?

Sir H. Will you marry me, dear Ally, Ally Croker? [Singing. Har. Marry you! I had rather be married to a slave, a wretch- You! [Walks about. Sir H. A fine going thing-She has a deal of foot -treads well upon her pasterns- -goes above her ground

Har. Peace, wretch!-Do you talk to me as if I were your horse?

Sir H. Horse! Why not speak of my horse? If your fine ladies had half as many good qualities, they would be much better bargains.

Har. And if their wretches of husbands liked them half so well as they do their horses, they would lead better lives.

Sir H. Mayhap so. -But what signifies talking to you? The squire shall know your tricks-He'll doctor you.- -I'll go and talk to him.

Har. Go any where, so that you go from me. Sir H. He'll break you in-If you won't go in a snaffle, you must be put in a curb--He'll break you, damme. [Exit. Har. A wretch!- But I was to blame to suffer his

brutal behaviour to ruffle my temper-I could expect nothing else from him, and he is below my anger..

Enter RUSSET.

Rus. Are not you a sad girl! a perverse, stubborn, obstinate

Hur. My dear sir

Answer

Rus. Lookye, Harriot, don't speak,—you'll put me in a passion-Will you have him?me that-Why don't the girl speak?-Will you have

him?

Har. Dearest sir, there is nothing in the world else

Rus. Why there!-there!-Lookye there!Zounds, you shall have him-Hussy, you shall have him--You shall marry him to-night--Did not you promise to receive him civilly? How came you to affront him?

Har. Sir, I did receive him very civilly; but his behaviour was so insolent and insupportable

Rus. Insolent!-Zounds, I'll blow his brains out. -Insolent to my dear Harriot!-A rogue, a villain! a scoundrel! I'll-but it's a lie-I know it's a lieHe durst not behave insolent-Will you have him? Answer me that. Will you have him?-Zounds, you

shall have him.

Har. If you have any love for me, sir

Rus. Love for you! You know I love you-You know your poor fond father dotes on you to madness. -I would not force you, if I did not love youDon't I want you to be happy?—But I know what you would have. You want young Oakly, a rakehelly, drunken

Har. Release me from sir Harry, and if I ever marry against your consent, renounce me for ever.

Rus. I will renounce you, unless you'll have sir Harry.

Har. Consider, my dear sir, you'll make me miserable. -Absolve me from this hard command, and in every thing else it will be happiness to obey you.

Rus. You'll break my heart, Harriot, you'll break my heart-Make you miserable!-Don't I want to make you happy? Is not he the richest man in the county? That will make you happy.-Don't all the pale-faced girls in the country long to get him?-And yet you are so perverse, and wayward, and stubborn -Zounds, you shall have him. Har. For heaven's sake, sir

Rus. Hold your tongue, Harriot!—I'll hear none of your nonsense.- -You shall have him, I tell you, you shall have him- He shall marry you this very night -I'll go for a licence and a parson immediately. Zounds! Why do I stand arguing with you? An't I your father? Have not I a right to dispose of you? You shall have him.

Har. Sir!

Rus. I won't hear a word. You shall have him.

[Exit. Har. Sir!-Hear me !-but one word!-He will not hear me, and is gone to prepare for this odious marriage. I will die before I consent to it.

Enter CHARLES, in a Frock, &c.

Ha! What do I see? [Screaming. Charles. Peace, my love!-My dear life, make no noise! I have been hovering about the house this hour I just now saw your father and sir Harry go out, and have seized this precious opportunity to throw inyself at your feet.

Har. You have given yourself, sir, a great deal of needless trouble. I did not expect or hope for the

favour of such a visit.

Charles. O, my Harriot, upbraid me, reproach me, do any thing but look and talk with that air of coldness and indifference. Let me, while their absence allows it, convey you from the brutal violence of a constrained marriage.

Har. No, I will wait the event, be it what it may ;— Oh, Charles, I am too much inclined--they shan't force me to marry sir Harry-but your behaviour

-Not half an hour ago, my father reproached me with the looseness of your character. [Weeping.

Charles. I see my folly, and am ashamed of it;-you have reclaimed me, Harriot, on my soul you have. If all women were as attentive as yourself to the morals of their lovers, a libertine would be an uncommon character. But let me persuade you to leave this place while you may. Major Oakly will receive us at his house with pleasure. I am shocked at the thoughts of what your stay here may reserve you to.

Har. No, I am determined to remain. To leave my father again, to go off openly with a man, of whose libertine character he has himself so lately been a witness, would justify his anger, and impeach my reputation.

Enter Chambermaid.

Chamb. O law, ma'am !- -Such a terrible accident! --As sure as I am here, there's a pressgang has seized the two gemmin, and is carrying them away, thof so be one an 'em says as how he's a knight and baronight, and that t'other's a squire and a housekeeper.

Har. Seized by a pressgang! impossible!

Charles. Oh, now the design comes out.- -But I'll balk bis lordship.

Chamb. Lack-a-daisy, ma'am, what can we do? There is master, and John Ostler, and Bootcatcher, all gone a'ter 'em.-There is such an uproar as never was!

[Exit. Har. If I thought this was your contrivance, sir, I would never speak to you again.

Charles. I would sooner die than be guilty of it.This is lord Trinket's doing, I am sure. I knew he had some scheme in agitation, by a letter I intercepted this morning. [Harriot screams] Ha! here he comes. Nay then, it's plain enough. Don't be frightened, my love! I'll protect you. But now I must desire you to follow my directions.

Enter LORD TRINKET.

Lord T. Now, madam.--Pox on't, he here again!