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Re-enter Jailor.

Jail. Miss Polly and Miss Lucy entreat a word with you.

Mac. Gentlemen, adieu !

Re-enter MACHEATH, with rabble, &c. bawling a Reprieve !

Mac. So, it seems, I am not left to my choice, but must have a wife at last-Look

[Exeunt BEN BUDGE and MAT of the MINT.ye, my dears, we will have no controversy now.

Enter Lucy and POLLY.

Mac. My dear Lucy! My dear Polly! whatsoever hath past between us, is now at an end.

AIR.-All you that must take a leap.
Lacy. Would I might be hanged!
Polly. And I would so too!

Lucy. To be hanged with you!
Polly. My dear, with you!

Mac. O leave me to thought! I fear! I
doubt! I tremble! I droop!-See, my courage
is out!
[Turns up the empty bottle.

Lucy. No token of love?

Polly. Adieu!

Lucy. Farewell!

Mac. But hark! I hear the toll of the bell! Jail. Four women more, captain, with a child -piece. See, here they come.

Enter Women and Children. Mac. What! four wives more!-this is too much-Here-tell the sheriff's officers I am [Exeunt.

ready.

Mob, (within.) A reprieve! a reprieve!

Let us give this day to mirth, and I am sure she, who thinks herself my wife, will testify her joy by a dance.

All. Come, a dance, a dance!

Mac. Ladies, hope you will give me leave to present a partner to each of you; and (if I may without offence) for this time I take Polly for mine-and for life, you slut, for we were really married-As for the rest-But at present keep your own secret. [To Polly.

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Rov. 'Sdeath! to be prevented, when I had brought my design so near perfection!

ROBIN Solus. Hear. Were you less open and daring in your Rob. WELL, though pimping is the most honourable and profitable of all professions, it is attempts, you might hope to succeed-The certainly the most dangerous and fatiguing; old gentleman, you know, is cautious to a debut of all fatigues, there's none like following a gree; his daughter under a strict confinement: virtuous mistress There's not one letter I carry, Fortune, perhaps, might throw an opportunity would you use more of the fox than the lion, but I run the risk of kicking, caning, or pump-in your way-But you must have patience. ing, nay, often hanging-Let me see; I have committed three burglaries to get one letter to her-Now, if my master should not get the gipsey at last, I have ventured my sweet person to a fair purpose-But, Basta! here comes my master and his friend Mr. Hearty- must hasten and get our disguises.

And if dame Fortune fails us now to win her.

Oh, all ye gods above! the devil's in her. [Exit.

Enter ROVEWELL and HEARTY.

Hear. Why so melancholy, captain? Come, come, a man of your gaiety and courage should never take a disappointment so much to heart.

Rov. Who can have patience when danger is what room there is for patience. so near? Read this letter, and then tell me

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[HEARTY reads.] 'To-morrow will prevent all our vain struggles to get to each other-I am 'then to be married to my eternal aversion! you know the fop; 'tis Cuckoo, who, having a large estate, is forced upon me-but my heart < can be none but Rovewell's. Immediately after the receipt of this, meet Betty at the old place; there is yet one invention left; if you pursue it closely, you may perhaps release ARETHUSA.

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her, who would be your

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Hear. Well, go thy way, and get her; for thou deserv'st her, o'my conscience-How have I been deceived in this boy? I find him the very reverse of what his step-mother represented him; and am now sensible it was only her illusage that forced my child away-His not having seen me since he was five years old, renders me a perfect stranger to him-Under that pretence I have got into his acquaintance, and find bim all I wish-If this plot of his fails, I believe my money must buy him the girl at last. [Exit. SCENE II-A chamber in ARGUS's house.

ARETHUSA Solus.
AIR.

Are. See! the radiant queen of night

Sheds on all her kindly beams;
Gilds the plains with cheerful light,
And sparkles in the silver streams.
Smiles adorn the face of Nature,
Tasteless all things yet appear,
Unto me a hopeless creature,
In the absence of my dear.

Enter ARGUS.

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Adod, he's a brisk young fellow, and a little Arg. Why, is not Mr. Cuckoo all this? feather-bed doctrine will soon put the captain out of your head; and, to put you out of his power, you shall be given over to the squire to

morrow.

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Enter BETTY.

O Betty! welcome a thousand times! what news? have you seen the captain?

Bet. Yes, madam; and if you were to see him in his new rigging, you'd split your sides with laughing-Such a hoyden, such a piece of country stuff, you never set your eyes on!

Arg. Pray, daughter, what lingo is that same But the petticoats are soon thrown off; and if you chant and sputter out at this rate?

Are. English, sir.

good luck attends us, you may easily conjure Miss Malkin, the squire's sister, into your own

Arg. English, quotha! adod I took it to be dear captain.

Consense.

Are. 'Tis a hymn to the moon.

Arg. A hymn to the moon! I'll have none of your hymns in my house-Give me the book, housewife.

Are. I hope, sir, there is no crime in reading a harmless poem?

Arg. Give me the book, I say? poems, with a pox! what are they good for, but to blow up the fire of love, and make young wenches wanton?-But I have taken care of you, mistress! for to-morrow you shall have a husband | to stay your stomach, and no less a person than 'squire Cuckoo.

Are. You will not, surely, be so cruel as to marry me to a man I cannot love!

Arg. Why, What sort of a man would you trive, Mrs Minx?

Are. But when will they come?

settle matters for our escape. He's in deep Bet. Instantly, madam; he only stays to consultation with his privy-counsellor Robin, who is to attend him in the quality of a country put-They'll both be here in a moment; be ready at once to leap into the saddle of so let's in, and pack up the jewels, that we may liberty, and ride full speed to your desires.

every moment an age, till I'm free from this Are. Dear Betty. let's make haste; I think bondage.

AIR.

When parents obstinate and cruel prove,
And force us to a man we cannot love,
'Tis fit we disappoint the sordid elves,
And wisely get us husbands for ourselves.

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Arg. You're woundy hasty, methinks, to knock at that rate-This is certainly some courtier come to borrow money; I know it by the saucy rapping of the footman-Who's at the door?

Rob. [Without.] Tummos!

Arg. Tummos! Who's Tummos? Who would you speak with, friend?

Rob. [Without.] With young master's vatherin-law, that mun be, master Hardguts.

Arg. And what's your business with master Hardguts?

Rob. [Without.] Why, young mistress is come out of the country to see brother's wife, that mun be, that's all.

[Exit hastily.

SCENE III-A chamber.

Enter BETTY.

Take this young lady to my daughter; 'tis squire Cuckoo's sister; and, d'ye hear? make much of her, I charge you.

Bet. Yes, sir- -Please to follow me madam.

Rov. Now, you rogue, for a lie an hour and a half long, to keep the old fellow in suspence. [Aside to ROBIN. Exit with BETTY.

Rob. Well, master! don't you think my mistress a dainty young woman? She's wonderfully bemired in our country for her shapes.

Arg. Oh, she's a fine creature, indeed! But, where's the squire, honest friend?

Rob. Why, one cannot find a man out in this same Londonshire, there are so many taverns and chockling housen; you may as well syek a needle in a hay fardel, as they say'n Arg. Odso, the squire's sister! I'm sorry I' the country. I was at squire's lodging yonder, made her wait so long. and there was nobody but a prate-apace whoreson of a foot-boy, and he told me maister was at a chockling house, and all the while the vixon did nothing but taunt and laugh at me: gi'n him a good whirrit in the chops. So, I I'cod I could have found in my heart to have went to one chockling-house, and t'other chockling-house, till I was quite weary; and I could see nothing but a many people supping hot suppings, and reading your gazing papers : we had much ado to find out your worship's house; the vixen boys set us o' thick side, and that side, till we were almost quite lost; an' it were not for an honest fellow that knowed your worship, and set us in the right way.

ARGUS introducing ROVEWELL in woman's
clothes, followed by ROBIN as a clown.
Arg. Save you, fair lady! your welcome to
town. [ROVEWELL curtseys.] A very modest
maiden, truly! How long have you been
in town?

Rob. Why, an hour and a bit or so we just put up horses at King's Arms yonder, and staid a crum to zee poor things feed, for your London ostlers give little enough to poor beasts; an' you stond not by 'em yourzell, and see 'em fed, as soon as your back's turned, adod, they'll cheat you afore your face.

Arg. Why, how now, Clodpate? are you to speak before your mistress, and with your hat on, too? Is that your country-breeding?

Arg. 'Tis pity they should use strangers so; but as to your young mistress, does she never speak?

Rob. Adod, sir, never to a mon; why, she wo'not speak to her own father, she's so main bashful.

Rob. Why, an' 'tis on, 'tis on, an' 'tis off, Arg. That's strange, indeed! But how 'tis off what cares Tummos for your false- does my friend, sir Roger? he's well, I hope? hearted London compliments? An' you'd Rob. Hearty still, sir-He has drunk down have an answer from young mistress, you six fox-hunters sin last Lammas! He holds his mun look to Tummos; for she's so main bash-old course still; twenty pipes a-day, a cup of ful, she never speaks one word but her prayers, and thos'n so softly that nobody can hear her.

Arg. I like her the better for that; silence is a heavenly virtue in a woman, but very rare to be found in this wicked place. Have you seen your brother, pretty lady, since you came to town? [ROVEWELL curtseys.] 0; miraculous modesty! would all women were thus? Can't you speak, madam?

[ROVEWELL curtseys again.] Rob. An' you get a word from her, 'tis more nor she has spoken to us these fourscore and seven long miles; but young mistress will prate fast enough, an' you set her among your women volk.

mum in the morning, a tankard of ale at noon, and three bottles of stingo at night. The same mon now he was thirty years ago; and young squire Yedward is just come from varsity; lawd he's mainly growd sin you saw him! he's a fine proper tall gentleman now; why he's near upon as tall as you or I, mun

Arg. Good now, good now! But woulds't drink, honest friend.

Rob. I don't care an' I do, a bit or so; for to say truth, I'm mortal dry. Arg. Here, John!

Enter Servant.

Take this honest fellow down, and make him welcome. When your mistress is ready to go,

Arg. Say'st thou so, honest fellow? I'll send her to those that have tongue enough, I'll war-we'll call you. rant you. Here, Betty!

Rob. Ah! pray, take care and make much

of me, for I am a bitter honest fellow, an' you did but know me. [Exit ROBIN, with servant. Arg. These country fellows are very blunt, but very honest. I would fain hear his mistress talk. He said she would find her tongue when she was amongst those of her own sex. I'll go listen for once, and hear what the young uts have to say to one another. [Exit.

Enter ROVEWELL, ARETHUSA, and BETTY. Rove. Dear Arethusa, delay not the time thus; your father will certainly come in and surprise us.

Bet. Let us make hay while the sun shines, madam: I long to be out of this prison.

Are. So do I; but not on the captain's conditions, to be his prisoner for life.

Rove. I shall run mad if you trifle thus: name your conditions; I sign my consent before-hand. [Kisses her. Are. Indeed, captain, I am afraid to trust

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Arg. So, so; this is as it should be; they are as gracious as they can be already-How the young tit smuggles her! Adod, she kisses with a hearty good-will.

Are. I must confess, captain, I am half inclined to believe you.

Arg. Captain! how is this! bless my eyesight! I know the villain now; but I'll be even with him. 1.1side. Bet. Dear madam, don't trifle so; the parson is at the very next door, you'll be tacked

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together in an instant; and then I'll trust you to come back to your cage again, if you can do it with a safe conscience.

Arg. Here's a treacherous jade! but I'll do your business for you, Mrs. Jezebel. [Aside. Bet. Consider, madam, what a life you lead here; what a jealous, ill-natured, watchful, covetous, barbarous, old cuff of a father you have to deal with-What a glorious opportunity this is, and what a sad, sad, very sad thing it is, to die a maid!

AIR.

Would you live a stale virgin for ever?
Sure you are out of your senses,
Or these are pretences;
Can you part with a person so clever?
In troth you are highly to blame.
And you, my lover, to trifle;

I thought that a soldier,

Was wiser and bolder!
A warrior should plunder and rifle ;
A captain! Oh, fie for shame!

Arg. If that jade dies a maid, I'll die a martyr. [Aside.

Bet. In short, madam, if you stay much longer, you may repent it every vein in your heart -The old hunks will undoubtedly pop in upon us and discover all, and then we're undone for

ever.

Arg. You may go to the devil for ever, Mrs. Impudence! [Aside. Are. Well, captain, if you should deceive

me!

Rov. If I do, may heaven

Are. Nay, no swearing, captain, for fear you should prove like the rest of your sex.

Rov. How can you doubt me, Arethusa, when you know how much I love you? Arg. A wheedling dog! But I'll spoil his sport anon. [Aside.

Bet. Come, come away, dear madam I have the jewels; but stay, I'll go first, and sec if the coast be clear. [ARGUS meets her. Arg. Where are you a-going, pretty maiden? Bet. Only do-do-do-down stairs, sir. Arg. And what hast thou got there, child? Bet. Nothing but pi-pi-pi-pins, sir. Arg. Here, give me the pins, and do you go to hell, Mrs. Minx! D'ye hear? out of my house this moment! these are chamber jades, forsooth!--O tempora! O mores! what an age is this! Get you in forsooth; I'll talk with you anon, [Erit ARETHUSA.] So, captain, are those your regimental clothes? I'll assure you they become you mightily. If you did but see yourself now, how much like a hero yon look! Ecce signum! ha, ha, ha!

Rove. Blood and fury! stop your grinning, or I'll stretch your mouth with a vengeance.

Arg. Nay, nay, captain Belswagger, if you're so passionate, 'tis high time to call aid and assistance: here, Richard, Thomas, John! help

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