Fit. [Sternly] Pray, my friend, were you ever brought to the halberts! Pat. Sir! Fit. How came you absent from your regiment? Have you a furlough? Pat. [Confused.] Not about me, sir. Fit. Because, you must know, I have the honour to bear the king's commission, and am obliged to take you up for a deserter. Pat. Sir, it was a reliance on your honour and goodnature that trepanned me here; therefore, sir you. Fit. No talk, sir; it was for the good of the service I trepann'd you hither, as you call it. I've a proper person prepared here, into whose custody I shall deliver [Unlocks the door. Pat. (L.) What a cruel piece of treachery! [Aside. Fit. [Presenting Norah.] Since you reject me, madam, here's one that will know how to deal with you. Nor. My Patrick! Pat. Oh, Norah! let's kneel and thank our deliverer. Fit. No, Patrick, you were my deliverer; I am that very officer whose life you saved. Is it possible, that, seeing me now without uniform, you should not recollect me? Take from me the reward of your generosity, valour, and constancy. F. Luke. [Without, R.] No, I can't find the runaway rascal. Pat. Your uncle! Nor. Oh, heavens ! Fit. Don't be alarm'd. Enter FATHER LUKE, DERMOT, DARBY, and KATHLANE, R.-Dermot and Kathlane cross behind to L. F. Luke. What's here? Patrick! Dermot and Darby, lay hold of him. Der. Not I. Dar. I'm no constable. F.Luke. I say, take him. The sergeant shall lay hold of him. Dar. Why, sir, the white sergeant has laid hold of him. Fit. Dear sir, don't be so violent against a young man that you'll presently marry to your niece. F. Luke. Me! Fit. Don't you wish to be a bishop? F. Luke. A fine road to bring a foot soldier into my family; then a halbert must be my crosier, and my mitre a grenadier's cap,-a common soldier indeed! Fit. He's no longer so: I have a commission to dispose of, and I cannot set a higher value on it, than by bestowing it on one so worthy. F. Luke. An officer! Oh, that's another thing. Dar. Pat an officer! I'll list to-morrow, in spite of the black patch. Kat. [To Norah.] My dear Norah, I wish you joy. Dar. [Apart to Kathlane.] How dare you make so free with an officer's lady? F. Luke. But, Captain, why do you give up my niece? Fit. Sir, the captain thought himself unworthy of her, when he found superior merit in the poor soldier. Put. Kat. Dar: FINALE. With my commission, yet, dearest life, My charming wife, When drum and fife Shall beat up to arms, The plunder your charms, In love your poor soldier you'll find me. Thus, love my wishes has granted: When good Father Luke To my own little Dermot has join'd me. You impudent hussy, a pretty rate Of love you prate; Your dear little lad Will find that his pad Has got a nice-kick in her gallop. F Luke. Now, Darby, upon my salvation, In love but agree, And shortly, you'll see, In marriage I'll soon tie you all up Der. Nor. Fit. The devil a bit o' me cares a bean, For neat and clean We'll both be seen, Next Sunday at mass, And there we'll be coupled for ever. No future sorrows can grieve us, We lowly bend [Courtesies. Your pardon-with joy we're delighted. More true felicity I shall find When those are join'd, [To Pat. & Nor. How pleasing to me, So happy to see Such merit and virtue united. DISPOSITION OF THE CHARACTERS AT THE FALL OF THE CURTAIN. DAR. F. LUKE. PAT. NOR. FIT. ΚΑΙ. DER. R.] [L. THE END. |