Mod. A fine evening, really, for a cool thrust or two. Where is the warrior that is to entertain me here? Egad! I wish 'twas over; I don't like it; it sits but qualmishly upon my stomach. Oh! yonder he comes across the stile. Ho! that's a boy, I think. I suppose he has sent some formal country is raised; and the justices have sent their excuse: the women have locked him up; the warrants forth to stop all military proceedings, and make up the matter over a cup of October. Enter AURA in boy's clothes. Aura. Your servant, sir. Aura. I am invited hither, sir, to do justice to an injured beauty, whom I have the honour to be well with; and I suppose you are my man. Mod. Thy man, lovey! and what then? Aura. Why, then, sir, on the behalf of that fair one, I demand the honourable amends, sir. To use violence to a lady, is an affront not to be put up with. To tear the boughs, and offer to haul down the fruit before it was consenting kindly ripe. If you had climbed up the ladder of her affections, and gathered it regularly with the consent of the owner, there had been no harm done. Mod. Ha! thou art a very pretty metaphorical prigster. Harkye, child! go home presently, or I'll gather a handful of nettles under that hedge, and whip thee most unmercifully. Aura. I shall whip you through the guts, or make a pair of bellows of your lungs, for this arrogance. What are your weapons? Mod. Nettletops, infant; nettletops. Aura. What, are you for your country diversions of this sort-flails, cudgels, scythes, back-swords, oaken-towels, or wrestling? Mod. Wouldest thou have me wrestle with a bull-rush? Aura. Ah! I have brought a stouter man than you, down before now. Or are you for the town gallantries, single rapier, sword and dagger, sword and pistol, single pistol, blunderbuss, demi-cannon, culverin, mortar-piece, or a barrel of gunpowder. I am ready at any of these weapons to wait your commands. Mod. Look thee, thou impertinent insect! thou may'st be troublesome, though thou canst not be hurtful! therefore, if thou flyest about my face thus, I shall be forced to put thee down with my hand, and tread thee out. Aura. Humph! You are very pert. Mod. I am so. Pray tell me, though, what interest have you in this lady, that she has engaged your haughty littleness in her affairs? Aura. Who I, sir? Oh! I have been her first minister a great while. She is a fine woman, really, considering she has been rusticated from her birth, too. Her only fault is, poor creature, she is doatingly fond of me. Mod. Indeed! And so thou art her play-fellow; her gentle refreshment; her pretty pillow-boy; her afternoon's cordial, and her tea at breakfast; her evening's slumber, and her morning's indolence. Aura. Sir, the reputation of a lady is not thes impiously to be sported with. Oons! eat your words; up with them again this moment, or I'll ram them down your throat with the hilt of my sword. Mod. Cool thyself, Narcissus; cool thyself, child; relieve thy reason with a dram of reflection. 'Tis the town talk; the whole village, and all the parishes round, ring of it. I am sure thou wouldst not die a martyr to falsehood. Why, thy engagements there are known to every body; 'tis no secret, my prettyness. Aura. Ay, sir, 'tis true; but 'tis not so gallant to enter into particulars of that sort. Though, as you say, indeed, I am sensible 'tis no secret. The affair has made a noise; the fury of the poor creature's passion did now and then blind her discre tion. I think this is the seventh duel I have encisemen, a parson, the apothecary, and yourself. gaged in for her sake already. The seventh? no, the eighth. There were three justices, two ex Mod. Thou art the most impudent, wicked, little, bragging, lying son of a that ever I met with. Aura. D-, sir, son of a—, in your teeth! What, because I have reprieved you, suffered you to breathe a minute or two longer while I diverted you with my gallantries, you grow insolent! Mod. Thou art a very popgun charged with air. Aura. And thou art a wooden blunderbuss without any charge at all. Mod. Thou most insignificant, teazing terrier. By heaven! if thou dost provoke me, I will cat thee into minced meat, and have thee dished up for thy mistress's wedding dinner. (Draws his sword.) Aura. (Presenting a pistol.) Put up your sword; put it up, I say; 'sdeath, sir! this instant, or you die. (Modely sheathes his sword.) So, so! Mod. Ha! what have you these tricks, too, my little bully? Aura. Very well; now you have obeyed me, I'll use you like a gentleman. You have a longer reach than I; and therefore it may not be so reasonable to engage with single sword. Here, take one of these; this, or this. (Offering pistols.) You may change it, or draw it and re-charge it, if you suspect my honour. Mod. (Taking a pistol.) How are they loaded? Aura. Equally, sir, with a brace of balls. Mod. (Aside.) What can be the meaning of all this? Sure the young dog is not in earnest. Enter FREEHold. Free. Eh! my brave boy! my lad of mettle! my Cupid in arms! There! he stands his ground to an inch. I told you he would find you sport, my Covent-Garden friend. All I can say is, be shoots flying finely. Mod. Ha! I am glad you are come, farmer; we were just going to be serious here. This little huff-bluff hector will let nobody lie with your family but himself, it seems: so egad! if you like it, why Free. Oh! sir, he is a perfect Spaniard, with an English heart. I know him; nothing will satisfy him but your blood. Aura. No, sir; nothing but your blood-your blood, sir. Mod. Say you so? why, then, if nothing else will do, have at you, my boy. Aura. Look at your flint and your prime; are they in right order? Mod. I warrant you. Aura. Please to stand wide a little, sir; a ball may graze. (To Freehold.) Now, come on, sir. Let us retreat from each other five yards, then turn round upon our heels at one motion, and let fy. Are you ready? (They retire and turn round; Modely fres, and Aura drops.) Free. Oh, he is shot! he is killed! Enter Countryman, crying. This way, this way. Mod. Say you so? nay, then, 'tis time to save one. By your leave, as fast as my feet or my fears can carry me. [Exeunt all but Freehold and Aura. Free. This was admirably performed; I was afraid you durst not have stood the powder. Aura. No, no; I put in half a charge, and no wadding. I had really much ado to provoke him to fight; so, so, we'll shew him a little country play now. Free. I must wait upon his companion, honest Heartwell. He expects me to attend him to Sir John's, according to his wife's request. Aura. Do so; while I slip the back way through the orchard, into the hall house, that I may be with you time enough to finish my part. This is a day of business, i'faith. [Exit. Shack. Sir, with the greatest submission, if it shall be your worship's good pleasure, I will wait on the company at the hall, and know if it shall be their pleasure to receive you. [Exit. Free. Do so, old stiff-rump, do. This fellow keeps himself as regular as his day-book. Heart. Company! what company? Free. A friend or two, only, perhaps, that Sir John has invited to a dance, or so. Heart. A dance-a friend-'Sdeath! you distract me. Excuse me to him, I beg you. Free. No, no: you must bear with a little noise at first. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Hall in Sir John English's House. Enter HEARTWELL and FREEHOLD, meeting FLORA and Countrymen and Women. Heart. My love! my dear! I am surprised! Why bast thou changed thyself from what thou wert? Flora. To tell you, sir, the truth, then, I was obliged to change my dress. My landlord has obliged me to it; and you know we country folks must obey our landlords. Heart. Well, I am satisfied; you have obeyed him, then. Flora. Yes, sir; but he is a very obstinate, selfwilled-and I think, a little too barbarously insists Heart. Insists! upon what? Free. Why, sir, I'll tell you; in short, 'tis this: the lord of our manor has claimed, by prescription, time out of mind, and still does claim, the first favour from every tenant's daughter married here; and has sent for you to let you know his claim. Heart. Furies! damnation! What do you mean? Madam, what does all this tend to? Flora. Why 'tis even so, husband. Heart. Oh! very well, very well. Tell me, thou devil in an angel's form! wherefore was I chosen out to be thus abused? Free. Because you are a man of fortune, sir; because she hopes in a little time to break your heart, and enjoy the full third of two thousand pounds a-year. Heart. Pray madam, favour me-you see I bear this affair very calmly-pray tell me, though I suppose 'tis no unreasonable request, what particular obligations you have to this landlord? Flora. Such sir, of such a nature-as nothing lieve his affection for me is mutual; nay, I hope it can dissolve-I love him passionately; and I bewill endure to the last moment of my life. Heart. (Singing.) Tol, lol, lol, Pray, ma'am, what's o'clock? I have been married but four hours, and I am breeding already. Get my horses ready; I'll ride post to Japan, but I'll be rid of this affair; but first I'll cut this toll-taking rascal's throat. What's his name? where is he? who is the landlord? of this demesne and me. Flora. You are this landlord, sir; the sole lord This morning I was mistress of this house, these servants, and all the country within three miles round us: now they are your's; you are their master now. have his due or no? Free. What say you, sir? Shall the landlord Heart. My heart, my tongue, my eyes, my soul, overflow with joy. Flora. I was resolved, fully resolved, never to venture on a husband, till I was certainly convinced my person, and not my fortune, was his aim; that proof you have most generously given me; and I hope you will pardon the little deceits I have used to procure these assurances. Heart. Give me thy hand, thy heart; there let me dwell for ever. Free. But see your friend in bonds,-Mr. Modely. (Modely brought in by two Countrymen and a Constable.) Heart. What! in captivity, George? Const. An it please your worship, we have catched a vagrom man here, who has committed a murder, as I may say, in neighbour Freehold's five acres; and so, sir, an like you, we bring him hither, to take his exhibition upon the said bulglary afore Sir Jaun. Heart. Murdered! who has he murdered? Const. Nea, nea, I know not. The young fellow and he beliken ha' had some words abouten their sweethearts; and so he shot 'en, that's aw. Heart. I always told you, George, what these still run riot upon every thing. What could you wild ways would bring you to; but you would expect? Mod. Yes faith, we have made a very pretty expedition; one of us is married, and t'other's going to be hanged. My comfort is, I shall be out of my pain first. However, I don't doubt, as this was a gentleman's duel, I shall have gentleman's play for my life. Keep my chamber a month or two, touch could iron, and come out as free as liberty. While you, having beat your poor wings in vain against the bar of your conjugal cage, sit sullenly molting the remainder of your feathers, and sicken to death of the pip. Free. I believe I shall secure that affair; I can prove premeditated malice. I can prove the challenge; and you know very well, I saw you shoot him before his pistol was cocked. Mod. So, so; nay then my business is done! Thou devil, what have I done to thee, that thou tormentest me thus? If I could come at thee, I'd pawn my credit for one sin more, and send thee down to the father of falsehood, with a lie in thy mouth. Flora. Don't vex the poor man so; all his time will be little enough. Don't put him into a passion now. Mod. Insulting devil! Free. Have you no feeling: no sense of your condition? Mod. What, Mr. Constable, am I to be set up here like a shrovetide cock, to be pelted by every clown in the hundred? Enter SIR JOHN. Sir John. Give you joy, cousin! give you joy! Codso! you prog very well for yourself. I did not know you went a husband hunting all this while. Give you joy, sir! give you joy! Heart. Sir, here's an angry person, an acquainttance of mine, who has committed a gentleman's murder, and is in great haste for his mittimus; pray despatch him. Enter another Constable and two Countrymen, with AURA prisoner. 2 Const. An it please your worship, here's another vagrom that we have taken upon deposition of his concerns in the said murder. Sir John. Bring him nearer; shew me his face. Codso! a pretty young fellow! Let me look! What? How! Madam Aura! as I live! Mod. Ha! Aura! Harkye, my little reprobate bully! I am surprisingly rejoiced to see thee; 'faith I am. 'Gad, I never was so much in love with thee in my life. Heartwell, how dost? Flora. Ah! if they could but frighten you into sobriety once, Mod. I should sink into a husband; though faith, I find a strange stir within me about that whimsical girl there. Harkye! madam, dare you venture upon a rake, in full assurance (as some ladies have) that your charms will reform him? Aura. And so fall a martyr to my pride instead of my virtue? Free. Hold, sir, I have some interest here, and I don't think you tame enough yet to be married; but if the girl is foolish enough to venture, why let her own inclination lead her. Aura. Thank you, sir. I think I claim the wildest hawk that ever flew. you? Dare you venture on me? would re What say Mod. I'd marry thee, though I wrought with my hands for thy daily support; my whole soul, all my wishes, are centered in thee. Aura Ay, but when we are married, they'll perhaps move eccentrically again. Marriage is a tefellow, who set out briskly at first, has been hordious journey in a heavy road. Many an honest ribly tired before he reached his inn at night. Mod. Try me, trust me. Aura. I tell you, before I try and trust you, you must serve me faithfully at least two whole inonths together; and, then, if we like one another as well as we do now-why we'll settle our fortunes and our inclinations. Mod. And jog on in the road of our fathers. A TRAGEDY, IN FIVE ACTS.-BY THOMAS OTWAY. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Street in Venice. Enter PRIULI and JAFFIER. Pri. No more: I'll hear no more. Be gone, and Jef. Not hear me? By my sufferings but you shall! throws Me back so far, but I may boldly speak My house, my table, nay, my fortune, too; Jaf. 'Tis to me you owe her: In right, though proad oppression will not hear me? Since in your brigantine you sail'd to see Pri. Have you not wrong'd me? Jaf. Could my nature e'er Have brook'd injustice, or the doing wrongs, Pri. Yes, wrong'd me! In the nicest point, And urge its baseness) when you first came home The Adriatic wedded by our duke; 46 Rose in her soul: for from that hour she lov'd me, | Oh, Belvidera! Oh! she is my wife; Till for her life she paid me with herself. Pri. You stole her from me; like a thief you stole her. At dead of night! that cursed hour you chose vain: Heav'n has already crown'd our faithful loves With a young boy, sweet as his mother's beauty: May he live to prove more gentle than his grandsire, And happier than his father. Pri. Rather live, To bait thee for his bread, and din your ears Jaf. Would I were in my grave! Pri. And she too with thee: For, living here, you're but my curst remembrancers, I once was happy. Jaf. You use me thus, because you know my soul Is fond of Belvidera. You perceive My life feeds on her, therefore thus you treat me. Jaf. Indeed, my lord, I dare not. My heart, that awes me, is too much my master: Three years are past, since first our vows were plighted, During which time, the world must bear me witness, I've treated Belvidera like your daughter, Pri. No more. Jaf. Yes, all; and then adieu for ever. There's not a wretch, that lives on common charity, But's happier than me: for I have known The luscious sweets of plenty; every night Have slept with soft content about my head, And never wak'd, but to a joyful morning; Yet now must fall, like a full ear of corn, Whose blossom 'scap'd, yet's wither'd in the ripening. Pri. Home, and be humble; study to retrench; Reduce the glitt'ring trappings of thy wife And we will bear our wayward fate together, But ne'er know comfort more. Enter PIERRE. Pier. My friend, good morrow; Call'd honesty, got footing in the world. Pier. Why, powerful villany first set it up, For its own ease and safety. Honest men Are the soft easy cushions on which knaves Repose and fatten. Were all mankind villains, They'd starve each other; lawyers would want practice, Cut-throats reward: each man would kill his brother To bind the hands of bold, deserving rogues, Like wit, much talk'd of, not to be defin'd: Pier. So, indeed, men think me; A fine, gay, bold-fac'd villain, as thou seest me. Yet, Jaffier, for all this, I'm a villain. Pier. Yes, a most notorious villain; Of liberty, which yet they ne'er must taste of. power, Whilst no hold's left to save us from destruction. I dare not speak, but my heart bleeds this moment. Jaf. Curs'd be the cause, though I thy friend be part on't: Let me partake the troubles of thy bosom, |