L Ser. Does not that fhow a fweet temper in him now, to ask it of you, that are but his bare uncle? Sir Tho. I am ftruck all of a heap, and dumb. Ser. Come, Sir, don't be as obftinate as an old covetous father at the end of a comedy; confider, the main action's over, you had as good be reconcil'd. Sir Tho. Oons, Sir, I can't be reconcil'd. [Exit Sir Tho. Ser. Go thy ways, like a crofs-grain❜d old fool. Fri. Let him perfift in his obftinacy, it can be no bar to our happiness. You look melancholy, my love. Flo. I think I've reafon-You promis'd to carry me to a doctor that fhould cure me of my fears. But, on the contrary, I find that the malady increases; and in nothing more than the dread of your inconftancy.' I have for ever loft my uncle's favour, and have now no friend but you- Shou'd you hereafter eftrange your heart from me, I am wretched indeed- Reflect on what • I've faid, excuse my fufpicions, and remember there is ❝ no return of feafons in love. AIR XXIII. 'Twas on a funfhine fummer's day. Next, blooming hopes all fears remove; • Succeeded by eternal froft. Succeeded, &c.' Fri. Banifh thofe fears, and be affured they are groundlefs-Dick Ser. Sir. Fri. Run, and call our country-neighbours back again to their diverfions, in which they were interrupted by Sir Thomas; tell them they fhall be merry with me to day, to make them amends for being frighted. [Exit Dick.] 'Twas a happy interruption, for it gave us an opportunity to be for ever fix'd in love.--Look merry, my dear. Flo. My concern vanishes, now I've disclosed my fears, and cheerfulness will foon refume its throne. Fri. You fhall never have cause to mention thofe fears again Flo. It is eafy to talk thus now; but the difficulty will be to speak thefe fentiments, with truth, a year hence. However, as I have run all hazards for you, honour will oblige you to conceal your inconftancy from me-shou’di you be guilty of it. AIR XXIV. Red Houfe. Duetto. Flo. Let me not discover Fri. In thee a faithlefs lover.. I'll never prove a rover; But true as a turtle to thee, my dear Fri. My conduct ne'er fhall grieve thee, Flo. Fri. Flo. Fri. Flo. Let this fuffice; my heart's fincere.. In merriment; With the fweet cement Of foft content. -May our joys augment- Fri. -May no dire event Both. Difturb our mutual pleasure.: Enter Dick, Hob, and Country folks.. Hob. Is Zir Tomas-gone?? Fri. Ay, Hob; come in; what art afraid of? Hob. 'Sblead, I was woundily afraid of's zword; had! he kept to flick, I'd thrash 'en to mummy. Fri. I'm forry, neighbours, Sir Thomas's paffionate folly difturb'd your fports one way; I'll endeavour to make you all fatisfaction; this is my wedding-day, and confequently a day of jubilee. Coun. We wish you joy, Maifter Friendly and Miftrefs. Hob. I wish ye joy too. But when I was zopp'd i' th' well, I little thought I fhould live to tell you zo. Fri. Hob, thou fhalt laugh at thy danger-now 'tis over. -Come, we'll have a fong and dance, and hafte to my dwelling, and finish the day with mirth and hearty cheer: The night I'll dedicate to love and thee. [To Flora. E e 2 AIR AIR XXV. Friendly. Succefs this day has gain'd me poffeffion Of what I love much dearer than life: The coming night shall give me fruition Of all I can wish in a lovely wife. To enjoy the sweets the country affords, Who would not forego the fervile flatt'ry of courts; To hunt, fish, and fowl, And taste the full bowl, There is nothing so healthful as rural sports. Now from envy free, CHORUS. Our guardian divinity, Supplicate with me, To blefs the king and queen, and royal progeny. Send us peace, trade's increase, health and profperity. May Cupid's darts ftrike fure-But be the cause the cure; In virtuous deeds delightHappy all unite In friendship and love. [A dance, and exeunt. THE THE SPIRIT OF CONTRADICTION, IN TWO ACTS. By a GENTLEMAN of CAMBRIDGE. DRAMATIS PERSONA. MEN. Covent-Gardens Mr Partlet, a country-gentleman, father Mr Ridout. to Harriet, Lovewell, an officer in the army, in love? Mr Clarke. with Harriet, Steer, a gentleman grazier, in love with? Harriet.. Randal, Partlet's gardener, Ruin, a lawyer,, with? Mr Gibbs. Mr Shuter. WOMEN. Mifs Mowat.. Mrs Green.” SCENE; Partlet's Garden, at his country-house.. A A. CT I SCENE, Partlets Garden.. Enter Randal, vex'd, a Spade in his hand.. RANDAL. PLAGUE, and a double plague, upon all perverfe miftreffes, fay I! May the black blight take her!? -By the lord Harry, a poor man had better live in hell than in zervice; there he is quit for one zort of vexa-tion, here ch'ave a thousand... Enter Partlet. Part. Hey, hey! What, talking to thyfelf, Randab? ? Why, what art thou poffèfs'd, man? Rand. Truly ch'am, Meifter; and with one of the moft mifchievous zort of fpirits too. Part. Which is that, pr'ythee? Rand. Nay, a vemale one. By the welkin, a thoufand moles do not make fo much wafte in a garden as one woman. Part. Why, who is it that has been plaguing thee? Rand. Who? fhe who plagues every body, and herself too. Can any body bear to have a tulip taken vor an onion! Part. So my wife has been with you, I find. Good" Randal, you must have patience with her. Rand. Patience! Why, the order'd me yesterday to graft a peach upon a cabbage-ftalk, and faid 'twas the Italian method. Shortly fhe'll expect colly-vlowers vrom turnip-zeed, and parfly to produce ftrawberries. I marvel fhe does not order nectarines to be zown in hot-beds, that they may grow as big as melons. Part. 'Tis her way; but you must bear with her hu- mour. Rand. Oons, Zir, who can bear with zuch contra. dictions? Part. Contradiction is natural to her, Randal; she contradicts me, and all of us. Rand. Marry, it may be natural to contradict you, because you are her husband; but zure, Zir, it cannot be natural to contradict nature. Part. It was merely in contradiction to her friends, that, about twenty years ago, I got poffeffion of her hand; and then, in contradiction to me, fhe the fame night deny'd me that of her perfon. Rand. Blefs us! you did prevail though? Part. Ay, by contradiction, or I muft elfe have gone without her. I pretended, on a fudden, a most violent antipathy, and made a fham vow never to touch her while I breath'd; the understood this, and in pure fpite came to bed to me. Rand. Laud, what a fpirit fhe has!And yet, Meister, if you were to exert the hufband a little Part. Why, Randal, I love my wife: her only fatisfaction is to do every thing directly contrary to mine, and |