АСТ III.

SCENE I:

LADY AMARANTH'S Houfe.

Enter LADY AMARANTH, and EPHRAIM SMOOTH.

LADY AMARANTH.

THO' thou haft fettled that diftreffed gentleman's debt, let his fifter come unto me, and remit a quarter's rent unto all my tenants.

Eph. As thou biddeft, I have discharged from the pound the widow's cattle; but fhall I let the lawsuit drop against the farmer's fon, who did fhoot the pheafant?

Lady Am. Yea; but inftantly turn from my fervice the gamekeeper's man that did kill the fawn, while it was eating from his hand. We fhou'd hate guile, tho we may love venison.

Eph. I love a young doe,-(afide) Since the death of friend Dovehouse, who, tho' one of the faithful, was an active magiftrate, this part of the country is infefted with covetous men, called robbers, and I have in thy name faid unto

the

the people, whoever apprehendeth one of these, I will reward him, yea with thirty pieces of gold. (A loud knocking without). That beating of one brafs against another at thy door, proclaimeth the approach of vanity whofe pride of heart fwelleth at an empty found. [Exit.

Lady Am. But my heart is poffeffed with the idea of that wandering youth, whofe benevolence induced him to part with (perhaps) his all, to free the unhappy debtor. His perfon is amiable, his addrefs (according to worldly modes) formed to please, to delight. But he's poor: is that a crime? Perhaps meanly born; but one good act is an illuftrious pedigree. I feel I love him, and in that word are contained birth, fame, and riches.

Enter JANE.

Jane. Madam, my lady, an't please you. Lady Am. Didft thou find the young man, that I may return him the money he paid for my tenant?

Jane. I found him ma'am, and I found him, and he talked of-what he said.

Lady Am. What did he say?

Jane. He faw me, ma'am-and called me Blowfabella, and faid he would-I'll be hanged, ma'am, if he didn't fay he would-Now, think of that—but if he hadn't gone to London in the ftage coach.

Lady Am. Is he gone? (With emotion.)

Enter JOHN DORY.

John. Oh, my lady, mayhap John Dory is

not

not the man to be fent after young gentlemen that scamper from school, and run about the country play acting! Pray walk up stairs, Mafter Thunder. (calls off.)

Lady Am. Haft thou brought my kinfman hi ther?

John. Well, I havn't then.

Jane. If you havn't, what do you make fuch

a talk about it?

John. Don't give me your palaver-Will you only walk up, if you please, Mafter Harry? Jane. Will you walk up if you please, Master Harry?

Lady Am. Friendship requireth, yet I am not disposed to commune with company.-(afide.) Jane. Oh, blefs me, ma'am ! if it isn't

Enter ROVER, dreft.

Rov." "Tis I, Hamlet the Dane!"-" Thus far, into the bowels of the land, have we march'd on."" John, that bloody and devouring boar !"

John. He called me bull in the coach.

Jane. I don't know what brought fuch a bull into the coach!

Rov. This the lady Amaranth! By heavens, the very angel quaker!

Lady Am. (Turns.) The dear, generous youth, my coufin Harry!

John. There he's for you, my lady, and make the most of him:

Jane. Oh, how happy my lady is! he looks fo charming now he's fine.

John. Harky! he's as rich as a Spanish India

VOL. II.

H

man

E.T.Harris

man, and I tell you, your father wishes you'd grapple her by the heart-court her, you mad devil. (apart to Rover.) There's an engagement to be between thefe two veffels; but little cupid's the only man that's to take minutes, so come. (to Jane.)

Jane. Ma'am, an't I to wait on you?

John. No, my lafs, you're to wait on me. Jane. Wait on this great fea-bull! am I ma'am?

John. By this, Sir George is come to the inn, without letting the younker know I'll go bring him here, and smuggle both father and fon into a joyful meeting. (afide.)—(To Jane.) Come now ufher me down like a lady. Jane. This way, Mr. Sailor Gentleman.

[Exeunt John Dory and Jane. Rov. By heavens a moft delectable woman!

(afide.) Lady Am. Coufin, when I faw thee in the village free the fheep from the wolf, why did'st not tell me then thou wert fon to my uncle, Sir George?

Rov. Becaufe, my lady, then I didn't know it myself (afide.)

Lady Am. Why wou'dft thou vex thy father, and quit thy fchool.

Rev. "A truant difpofition, good, my lady, brought me from Wirtemberg.'

Lady Am. Thy father defigns thee for his danger us profeffion; but is thy inclination turned to the voice of trumpets, and fmites of mighty flaughter?

Rov. " Why, ma'am, as for old Boreas, my "dad, when the blaft of war blows in his ears, "he's a tyger in his fierce refentment."-But

for

for me,

"I think it a pity, and fo it is, that villainous faltpetre fhould be digg'd out of the "bowels of the harmless earth, which many a "good tall fellow has deftroyed, with wounds "and guns, and drums, heaven fave the mark!" Lady Am. Indeed thou art tall, my coulin, and grown of comely ftature. Our families have long been feparated.

Rov. They have.-Since Adam, I believe(afide.) Then, lady, let that fweet bud of "love now ripen to a beauteous flower!" Lady Am. Love!

Rov." Excellent lady! perdition catch my "foul, but I do love thee, and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again."

Lady Am. Thou art of an happy disposition.

Rov." If I were now to die, 'twere now to "be most happy.". "Let our fenfes dance in "concert to the joyful minutes, and this and this "the only difcord make." (kisses her hand.)

Enter JANE, with cake and wine.

Jane. Ma'am, an't please you, Mr. Zachariah bid me

Rov. "Why, you fancy yourself Cardinal "Wolfey in this family."

Jane. No, fir, I'm not a Cardinal, I'm only my lady's maid here-Jenny Gammon, at your fervice.

Rov. "A bowl of cream for your Catholic Majefty."

Jane. Cream! La, Sir, it's wine and water. Rov." You get no water, take the wine, great Potentate."-(Prefents a glass to Lady Amaranth.)

Jane.