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AIR.

I am young, and I am friendless,
And poor, alas! withal;
Sure my sorrows will be endless ;
In vain for help I call.
Have some pity in your nature,
To relieve a wretched creature,
Though the gift be ne'er so small.

[MERVIN gives her Money.

May you, possessing every blessing,
Still inherit, sir, all you merit, sir,
And never know what 'tis to want ;

Sweet Heaven, your worship all happiness grant.

[Exit.

Ralph. Now I'll go and take that money from her; and I have a good mind to lick her, so I have. Mervin. Pho! pr'ythee, stay where you are.

Ralph. Nay, but I hate to see a toad so devilish greedy.

Mervin. 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.

Mervin. How so?

Ralph. How so! why, she's as cunning as the devil.

Mervin. Oh, she is!-I fancy I understand you. Well, in that case, friend Ralph-Your name's Ralph, I think?

ter.

Ralph. Yes, sir, at your service, for want of a bet

Mervin. 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.

Mervin. Really!

Ralph. Yea, but for your life don't say a word of it to any christian-I am in love with her. Mervin. 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.

Mervin. 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 but in the Christmas holidays.

Mervin. No matter: manage this for me, and manage it with secrecy; 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're 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.

Merein. That will do very well. [Exit RALPH.]By means of this disguise, I shall probably get a sight of her; and I leave the rest to love and fortune.

[Exit.

D

SCENE IV.

Outside of the Mill.

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.

to

Patty. I know not what business you had to go my lord's at all, Farmer.

Giles, Nay, I only did as I was desired

-Master Fairfield bid me tell you moreover, 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.

Patty. Brother, I shall obey my father.

Lie still my heart; oh! fatal stroke,
That kills at once my hopes and me,
Miss Pat!

-What?

Nay, I only spoke :

Take courage, mon, she does but joke.
Come, suster, somewhat kinder be.

Giles.

Patty.

Giles.

Ralph.

Fanny.

Ralph

and

To be in their place,

This is a thing the most oddest,
Some folks are so plaguily modest;

Were we in the case,

Fanny. We'd carry it off with a different face.

Thus I take her by the lily hand,

Giles.

So soft and white,

Ralph.

Why, now that's right;
And kiss her too, mon, never stand.

Patty and

Giles.

What words can explain
My pleasure-my pain?
presses, it rises,

It

My heart it surprises,

I can't keep it down, tho' I'd never so fain.

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All.

What torments exceeding, what joys are above, The pains and the pleasures that wait upon love?

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

A Marble Portico, ornamented with Statues, which opens from LORD AIMWORTH'S House; two Chairs near the Front.

Enter LORD AIMWORTH, reading.

Lord A. In how contemptible a light would the situation I am now in show me to most of the fine men of the present age. In love with a country girl! rivalled by a poor fellow, one of my meanest tenants, and uneasy at it!

Enter PATTY.

Patty. Now comes the trial: no, my sentence is already pronounced, and I will meet my fate with prudence and resolution.

Lord A. Who's there?
Patty. My lord!

Lord A. Patty Fairfield!

Patty. I humbly beg pardon, my lord, for pressing so abruptly into your presence; but 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 lifetime.

Patty. 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 humblecome, sit down-nay, I will have it so. What is it I have been told to-day, Patty? It seems, you are going to be married?

Patty. 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.

Patty. Your lordship is pleased to overrate my lit tle 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 distinctions, unworthy the regard of those who consider justly; the

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