Rover. Part!

Harry. Rover, you wish me well.

Rover. Well, and suppose so. Part, eh! What mystery and grand? What are you at? Do you forget, you, Muz, and I, are engaged to Truncheon, the manager, and that the Bills are already up with our names to-night to play at Winchester ?

Harry. Jack, you and I have often met on a stage in assumed characters; if it's your wish we shou'd ever meet again in our real ones, of sincere friends, without asking whither I go, or my motives for leaving you, when I walk up this road, do you turn down that.

Rover. Joke!

Harry. I'm serious. Good b'ye!

Rover. If you repent your engagement with Truncheon, I'll break off too, and go with you wherever (Takes him under the arm.)

Harry. Attempt to follow me, and even our acquaintance ends.

Rover. Eh!

Harry. Don't think of my reasons, only that it must be.

Rover. Have I done any thing to Dick Buskin? leave me! (Turns and puts his handkerchief to his eyes.)

Harry. I am as much concern'd as you to Good b'ye!

Rover. I can't even bid him-I won't neither If any cause cou'd have given-Farewell. Harry. Bless my poor fellow ! Adieu. (Silently weeps.)

[Exeunt feveral ways.

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A Village, a Farm Houfe, and near it, a Cottage.

Enter Farmer GAMMON and EPHRAIM.

Farmer Gammon.

WELL, Master Ephraim, I may depend on thee, as you Quakers never break your words. Eph. I have spoken to Mary, and she, at my request, consenteth to take thy daughter, Jane, as her handmaid.

F. Gam. Very good of you.

Eph. Goodness I do like, and also-comely Jane. (Aside) The maiden I will prefer, for the sake of-myself (Aside).

F. Gam. I intended to make a present to the person that does me such a piece of service; but I shan't affront you with it.

Eph. I am meek and humble, and must take affronts.

F. Gam. Then here's a guinea, master Ephraim. Eph. I expected not this; but there is no harm in a guinea. [Exit.

F. Gam. So I shall get my children off my hands. My son, Sim, is robbing me day and night, giving away my corn, and what not among the poor.-My daughter Jane-when girls have nought to do, this love-mischief creeps into their minds, and then, hey! they're for kicking up their heels.-Sim! (Calling.)

Enter SIM.

Sim. Yes, feyther.

F. Gam. Call your sister.
Sim. Jane, feyther wants you.

Enter JANE from the Houfe, with Linen she had been working.

Jane. Did you call me.

F. Gam. I often told you both, but it's now settled; you must go out into the world and work for your bread.

Sim. Well, feyther, whatever you think right, must be so, and I'm content.

Jane. And I'm sure, feyther, I'm willing to do as you'd have me.

F. Gam. There's ingratitude for you! When my wife died, I brought you both up from the shell, and now you want to fly off and forsake me.

Sim. Why, no; I'm willing to live with you all my days.

Jane. And I'm sure, feyther, if it's your desire I'll never part from you.

F. Gam. What, you want to hang upon me like a couple of leeches, ay, to strip my branches, and leave me a withered hawthorn! See who's yon. [Exit Sim.

Jane, Ephraim Smooth has hired you for Lady Amaranth.

Jane. O Lack! Then I shall live in the great house.

F. Gam. Ay, and mayhap come in for her cast clothes.

Jane. But she's a quaker; and I'm sure, every Sunday for church, I dress much finer than her ladyship.

F. Gam. She has sent us all presents of good books, (Gives her one) to read a chapter in. That, when one's in a passion, gives a mon patience.

Jane. Thank her good ladyship.

F. Gam. My being incumbered with you both is the cause why old Banks won't give me his sister. Jane. That's a pity. If we must have a stepmother, Madam Amelia would make us a very good one. But I wonder how she can refuse you, feyther, for I'm sure she must think you a very portly man in your scarlet vest and new scratch. You can't think how parsonable you'd look, if you'd only shave twice a week, and put sixpence in the poor-box (retires reading).

F. Gam. However, if Banks still refuses, I have him in my power. I'll turn them both out of their cottage yonder, and the bailiff shall provide them with a lodging.

Enter BANKS.

Well, neighbour Banks, once for all, am I to marry your sister?

Banks. That she best knows.

F. Gam. Ay, but she says she won't.

Banks. Then I dare say she won't, for tho' a woman, I never knew her to speak what she didn't think.

F. Gam. Then she won't have me? A fine thing this, that you and she, who are little better than paupers, dare be so damn'd saucy!

Banks. Why, farmer, I confess we're poor: but while that's the worst our enemies can say of us, we're content.

F. Gam. Od, dom it! I wish I had now a good, fair occasion to quarrel with him; I'd make him content with a devil to him; I'd knock'en down, send him to jail and-But I'll be up with him!

Enter SIM.

Sim. Oh, feyther, here's one Mr. Lamp, a ringleader of Showfolks, come from Andover to

B

act in our village. He wants a barn to play in, if you'll hire him your'n.

F. Gam. Surely, boy. I'll never refuse money. But, lest he should engage the great room in the inn, run thou and tell him-Stop, I'll go myselfA short cut through that garden-

Banks. Why you, or any neighbour, is welcome to walk in it, or to partake of what it produces, but making it a common thoroughfare is

F. Gam. Here, Sim, kick open that garden gate. Banks. What?

F. Gam. Does the lad hear?

Sim. Why yes, yes.

F. Gam. Does the fool understand.

Sim. Dang it, I'm as yet but young; but if understanding teaches me how to wrong my neighbour, I hope I may never live to years of discretion.

F. Gam. What, you cur, do you disobey your feyther? Burst open the garden gate as I command you.

Sim. Feyther, he that made both you and the garden, commands me not to injure the unfor

tunate.

F. Gam. Here's an ungracious rogue! Then I must do it myself (advances).

Banks. (Stands before it.) Hold, neighbour. Small as this spot is, it's now my only possession: and the man shall first take my life who sets a foot in it against my will.

F. Gam. I'm in such a passion

Jane. (Comes forward.) Feyther, if you're in a passion, read the good book you gave me.

F. Gam. Plague of the wench! But, you hussey, I'll-and you, you unlucky bird!

[Exit Sim and Jane.