Sir H. Better! No, no,-though you're so knowing, I'm not to be taken in so. -You're a fine thing——

Your points are all good.

Har. Sir Harry! Sincerity is above all ceremony. Excuse me, if I declare Į never will be your wife. And if you have a real regard for me, and my happiness, you will give up all pretension to me. Shall I beseech you, sir, to persuade my father not to urge a marriage, to which I am determined never to consent?

Sir H. Hey! how! what! be off!--Why, it's a match, miss? It's done and done on both sides. Har. For heaven's sake, sir, withdraw your claim to me. I never can be prevailed on indeed I

can't

.

Sir H. What, make a match and then draw stakes! That's doing of nothing-Play or pay all the world

over.

Har. I am determined not to marry you, at all

events.

Sir H. But your father's determined you shall, miss. -So the odds are on my side. -I am not quite sure

of my horse, but I have the rider hollow.

Har. Your horse! sir-d'ye take me for-but I forgive you. I beseech you, come into my proposal. It will be better for us both in the end.

Sir H. I can't be off.

Har. Let me intreat you.

Sir H. I tell you, it's impossible.

Har. Pray, pray do, sir.

Sir H. I can't, damme.

Har. I beseech you. [SIR HARRY whistles.] How! laughed at?

Sir H. Will you marry me, dear Ally, Ally Croker?

[Singing. Har. Marry you? I had rather be married to a slave, a wretch--You!

[Walks about.

Sir H. A fine going thing-She has a deal of foot -treads well upon her pasterns-goes above her

ground

Har. Peace, wretch !-Do you talk to me as if I were your horse?

Sir H. Horse! Why not speak of my horse? If your fine ladies had half as many good qualities, they would be much better bargains.

Har. And if their wretches of husbands liked them half so well as they do their horses, they would lead better lives.

-He'll

Sir H. Mayhap so.--But what signifies talking to you?--The 'squire shall know your tricksdoctor you. I'll go and talk to him.

Har. Go any where, so that you go from me.

Sir H. He'll break you in-If you wont go in a snaffle, you must be put in a curb

damme.

-He'll break you,

[Exit.

Har. A wretch! How much trouble has this odious fellow caused both to me and my poor father!— I never disobeyed him before, and my denial now makes him quite unhappy. In any thing else I would be all submission; and even now, while I dread his rage, my heart bleeds for his uneasinesscould resolve to obey him.

Enter RUSSET.

-I wish I

Rus. Are not you a sad girl! a perverse, stubborn, obstinate

Har. My dear sir

Rus. Lookye, Harriet, don't speak,

me in a passion- -Will you have him?

you'll put -Answer

me that-Why don't the girl speak?-Will you have him?

Har. Dearest sir, there is nothing in the world else

-Lookye there!

Rus. Why there!—there! Zounds, you shall have him- -Hussy, you shall have him-You shall marry him to-night-Did not you promise to receive him civilly ?-How came you to affront him?

Har. Sir, I did receive him very civilly; but his behaviour was so insolent and insupportable

Rus. Insolent!-Zounds, I'll blow his brains out.

-Insolent to my dear Harriet !-A rogue, a villain! a scoundrel! I'll-but it's a lie-I know it's a lieHe durst not behave insolent-Will you have him? Answer me that. Will you have him?-Zounds, you shall have him.

Har. If you have any love for me, sir

Rus. Love for you!-You know I love you-You know your poor fond father dotes on you to madness. I would not force you, if I did not love yoùDon't I want you to be happy? -But I know what you would have. You want young Oakly, a rakehelly, drunken

Har. Release me from Sir Harry, and if I ever marry against your consent, renounce me for ever.

Rus. I will renounce you, unless you'll have Sir Harry.

Har. Consider, my dear sir, you'll make me miseraable. I would die to please you, but cannot prostitute my hand to a man my heart abhors.- -Absolve me from this hard command, and in every thing else it will be happiness to obey you.

Rus. You'll break my heart, Harriet, you'll break my heart-Make you miserable!-Don't I want to make you happy? Is not he the richest man in the county? That will make you happy.- -Don't all the pale-faced girls in the country long to get him?-And yet you are so perverse, and wayward, and stubborn -Zounds, you shall have him.

Har. For heaven's sake, sir

-I'll hear none

Rus. Hold your tongue, Harriet! of your nonsense.- -You shall have him, I tell you, you shall have him- He shall marry you this very night I'll go for a license and a parson immediately. Zounds! Why do I stand arguing with you? An't I your father? Have not I a right to dispose of you? You shall have him.

Har. Sir!

Rus. I won't hear a word. You shall have him.

[Exit, Har. Sir!-Hear me !-but one word !-He will not hear me, and is gone to prepare for this odious marriage. I will die before I consent to it. You shall have him! Oh that fathers would enforce their commands by better arguments! And yet I pity him, while he afflicts me. He upbraided me with Charles, his wildness and intemperance-Alas! but too justly-I see that he is wedded to his excesses; and I ought to conquer an affection for him, which will only serve to make me unhappy.

Enter CHARLES, in a frock, &c.

Ha! What do I see! [Screaming. Charles. Peace, my love!-My dear life, make no noise!I have been hovering about the house this hour- I just now saw your father and Sir Harry go out, and have seized this precious opportunity to throw myself at your feet.

Har. You have given yourself, sir, a great deal of needless trouble. I did not expect or hope for the favour of such a visit.

Charles. O my dear Harriet, your words and looks cut me to the soul. You can't imagine what I suffer, and have suffered since last night-But may I perish, if my joy at having delivered you from a villain was not the cause! My transport more than half intoxicated me, wine made an easy conquest over me.I tremble

to think lest I should have behaved in such a manner as

you cannot pardon.

Har. Whether I pardon you or no, sir, is a matter of mighty little consequence.

Charles. Consider, my Harriet, the peculiarity of your situation; besides, I have reason to fear other designs against you.

Har. From other designs I can be no where so secure as with my father.

Charles. Consider, my angel!

Har. I do consider, that your conduct has made it absolutely improper for me to trust myself to your care. Charles. My conduct!-Vexation! 'Sdeath!- -But then, my dear Harriet, the danger you are in, the necessity

Enter CHAMBERMAID.

Chamb. O law, ma'am !--Such a terrible accident! -As sure as I am here, there's a pressgang has seized the two gemmin, and is carrying them away, thof so be one an 'em says as how he's a knight and baronight, and that t'other's a 'squire and a housekeeper.

Har. Seized by a pressgang! impossible. Charles. Oh, now the design comes out.balk his lordship.

-But I'll

Chamb. Lack-a-daisy, ma'am, what can we do? There is master, and John Ostler, and Bootcatcher, all gone a'ter 'em.--There is such an uproar as never was!

[Exit. Har. If I thought this was your contrivance, sir, I would never speak to you again.

Charles. I would sooner die than be guilty of it.— This is Lord Trinket's doing, I am sure. I knew he had some scheme in agitation, by a letter I intercepted this morning. [HARRIET screams.] Ha! here he comes. Nay then, it's plain enough. Don't be frightened, my