Page images
PDF
EPUB

bread and water till he's examined, that's all; a court-martial afterwards, and then the halberds. Peggy. The first part will be a just retaliation for his roguery, the latter the interview with his father will prevent. (Aside.) Don't treat him hardly, poor fellow! Ha, ha, ha! (Archly.)

[Exit. Fnter CONTRAST, yawning; CORPORAL DRILL goes behind him, and taps him on the shoulder. Corp. D. Well overtaken, brother soldier! Con. Friend, I conclude you are of this neighbourhood, by the happy familiarity that distinguishes it; but at present it is misapplied. You mistake me for some other.

Corp. D. Mistake you! No, no, your legs would discover you among a thousand. I never saw a fellow better set upon his pins.

Con. Not so much out there.

(Looking at his legs.) Corp. D. But where have you been loitering so long? Is your knapsack packed?

Con. Sure, there is some mistake, or some strange quality in this air; the people are not only impudent, but mad.

Corp. D. I shall bring you to your senses though. Why did you pull your cockade out of your hat, you dog?

Con. Dog! You are an impudent puppy, by all that's canine! Cockade! what do you mean, fellow?

Corp. D. Don't fellow me; ar'n't you enlisted? have you not touched twenty guineas for the legs you are so proud of? pretty dearly bought!

Con. Now it's plain how well you know me; thy own gunpowder scorch me, if I'd lie two nights in & tent to be generalissimo of the united potentates of Europe.

Corp. D. The dog's insolence outdoes the common-But come, march. (Pushes him.)

Con. March! (Resisting.)

Corp D. Yes, and the rogue's march, too. (Contrast resists more.) Mutinous, eh!

(Whistles.)

Enter six Soldiers, one with a knapsack. 1 Sold. Here we are, corporal, what are your orders?

Corp. D. Lay hold of that fellow: he's a deserter, a thief, and the sauciest dog in the army; have you no handcuffs?

Enter MOLL FLAGGON.

Moll F. No occasion for 'em, Corporal: don't be too hard upon the young man; brandy be my poison, but I like the looks of him. Here, my heart, take a whiff. (Offers a pipe.) What! not burn priming? Come, load then.

(Gives him a glass of brandy.) Con. It's plain; a set of murderers! no help, no relief!

Moll F. Relief, sirrah! you're not a sentry yet. Corporal, give me care of him. Moll Flaggon never failed when she answered for her man.

Corp D. With all my heart, honest Moll, and see what you can make of him; he's an odd fish.

Moll F. An odd fish! I suppose, a little of the crab; but I'll make a true lobster of him before I've done. I'll make a soldier and a husband of him. Here, first of all, let's see. What a devil of a hat he's got! here, Jack, change with him. (Puts a cap on his head.) How it becomes him, fits him like a glove on the wrong hand.

Con. Why, only hear me, I'm a man of fashion. Moll F. Fashion! why, the fashion's altered now. I'll fashion thee. (Puts a knapsack on him.) There, now you look something like; and, in return for my having made you so smart, you must come down with the smart-money; so let's see what cash you have about you.

Con. Very little; but you shall have every farthing of it, if you will let me go.

Moll F. Go, you queer dog! ay, that you shall, through the world; you and I together. I'll stick to you through life, my son of sulphur.

Con. I'm a man of fashion, I tell you.

Moll F. You told me s before, and I am a woman of fashion, and we shall match as well as most fashionable couples do; so march, my dear. Moll Flaggon's commanding officer; eyes right's the word; so, follow your nose, or I'll knock you down. March, I say, march, or hand over the cash.

AIR.-(Original.)-MOLL FLAGGON.
Come on, my soul,
Post the cole,

I must beg, or borrow;
Fill the can,

You're my man,
'Tis all the same to-morrow.

Sing and quaff,
Dance and laugh,

A fig for care or sorrow;
Kiss and drink,

But never think,
'Tis all the same to morrow.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Moll F. He was delivered to me, your worship, by the honourable Corporal; and I wished to make him look soldierlike and genteel for the honour of the sarvice.

Sir J. I'll break your head for the honour of the service, you nondescrist beldam (Shakes his cane at her.)

Moll F. Nondescript! I'm no nondescript, nor any such a thing, your worship; I'm a poor hardworking creature, with nothing but my reputation to depend on; and, as that's a delicate point to touch on, I hope your magnanimous worship won't injure it by any ungenteel observations.

Sir J. Begone, thou cargo of contraband commodities! thou retailer of run goods! thou-anything

but woman.

Moll F. Anything but woman! he doubts my sex! (Aside.) I'll begone, your worship; but allow me to say, with all difference to your opinion, (Affects to cry.) that I hope I'm no disgrace to my sect; that I sell nothing but the true neat as imported; pay the duty honourably; and, though times are hard, to get an honest bit of bread, I never do more than double it on my customers. So, I hope your worship will bury all animosity, and in token of good-will, honour me with a chaste salute.

Sir J. A what! It you don't get out of my sight, I'll salute your head with this cane. (In a rage.)

Moll F. Don't put yourself in a passion, your worship; I'll withdraw: a poor, lone, brokenhearted, injured woman!

(Retires, sobbing audibly.)

Sir J. How dare you, rascal, lay hands on the son of a baronet? (To Corporal Drill.)

Enter MOLL FLAGGON, who courtesies to Sir John. to be pardoned, your worship. But here comes the

[blocks in formation]

Corp. C. A perfect innocent mistake, as I hope baggage that put him into my hands.

Enter PEGGY.

Peggy. Only a little retaliation, your worship. A wolf was in full chase of an innocent lamb, that, to be sure, I had foolishly helped to expose to its paws; a trap offered to my hand, and I must own I did set it, and the wolf was caught, as you see. stead of clearing. Con. Plague on you all! mystery thickens, in

Serg S. It's clear, however, my party is out of the scrape, and as for the fellow who was really enlisted

Enter TRUMORE and RENTAL.

Tru. He is here to fulfil all his engagements. Serg. S. Well said, my lad of truth; my twenty guineas are alive again, since you have not broken your parole.

Tru. Here are your twenty guineas; you shall lives rather than have wanted them. (To Sergeant see them employed; I would have mortgaged ten Sash.) Mr. Rashly is charged with informations assistance of this gentleman I have made up the for killing game to the amount of forty pounds; by sum: the law is cruel to him, to me it is kind; it enables me to shew him the heart he perhaps has doubted. (To Sir John. Lays down the money.) He is free; and now, (to Sergeant Sash) sir, I am your man, and will follow wherever the service of my country leads.

Rent. Brave, generous fellow!

Sir J. Oh, Rental! I'm glad you're come; you find me in a wilderness here.

Rent. A moment, sir, and I'm sure you'll not mistake your path. Peggy. (Opening the rouleau.) The twist is magical indeed, I think, for I can't undo it. Oh! there it is at last. (Pours money on the table.) Put up yours again, Mr. Trumore; poor fellow! you'll want it in your new life.

Con. One of my rouleaus! I have been robbed, I see, as well as kidnapped.

Sir J. Hussy! how came you by all that money? Peggy. Perfectly honest: I sold my mistress and myself for it; it is not necessary to deliver the goods, for his honour is provided with a mistress. Sir J. Rental, do you see into this?

Rent. Clearly, sir; and it must end with reconciling you to your son.

Sir J. How! reconcile me to bribery and debauchery! Never! If the dog could succeed with a girl by his face, or his tongue, or his legs, or any advantage nature has given him, why, there's a sort of fair play that might palliate; but there's an unmanliness in vice without passion. But where is this Rashly and his girls?

Enter RASHLY, between his Daughters, they throw themselves at Sir John Contrast's feet. A long pause.

This Rashly! this the father of these girls! Do not his features deceive me? who is it I see?

(In great surprise.) Rent. The son I meant to reconcile, who offended upon principles the most opposite to those you just now condemned.

Con. My elder brother come to light!

Sophia and Ann. Gratitude, lovė, and joy! (Kneeling.)

Sir J. Up, ye little charmers! your looks have asked my blessing this hour. Rent. And now for Trumore to complete the happiness. Sir John, permit me your ear apart. (Takes him aside.

Con. The chances are against me, and my last stake's at hazard: the run of the last twelve hours exceeds all calculation, strike me pennyless! Where is that dog, La Nippe?

Enter LA NIPPE, covered with mud.

La N. Here he is in a pleasant plight! essence of cabbage-water, and otto of assafoetida's fool to it! Psha!

Con. From whence, in the name of filth, com'st thou?

La N. From the bottom of a black ditch. How I got there, I know no more than the man in the moon. I waked and found myself half smothered with dirt, lying like king log in the fable, with a congress of frogs on my back.

Peggy. Very good companions for a toad, eh! I hope, my dear, you are satisfied with your bargain; I did my best to settle your business completely. La N. Oh! thou witch of Endor!

[They retire, acting in dumb shew. Sir J. Another plot upon me, Rental! But does the young fellow himself say nothing for his pretensions?

Tru. I have none, sir: they aspired too high when directed to Sophy Rashly; they must cease Sir J. Rise till I'm sure I'm awake; this is the for ever when I think of Miss Contrast. confusion of a delirium. Sir J. Now, for the blood of me, I can't see that distinction. Can you, Contrast?

Rent. Why do you not speak, sir?

(To Rashly.) Rash. What form of words will become me? To say I repent, would be an injury to the dead and living. I have erred, but I have been happy. One duty I can plead, resignation to your will, sir; so may I thrive in the decision of this anxious moment, as I never taxed your justice.

Sir J. (After a pause.) Rental, do you expect I ever shall retract?

Kent. No, sir; for I was a witness to your vows, that you would protect the father of your little clients against all his enemies; right or wrong they should yield.

Sir J. Yes; but I never thought how very stubrn an old fellow I should have to deal with. Rent. Come forward, clients.

Sophia. I am overcome with dread.

(To Rushly.)

Rash. So far from it, sir, that I think the purity of his attachment to the poor farmer's daughter, is the best recommendation to the fortune of the heiress.

Sir J. I confirm the decree. I am now convinced mutual affection makes the only true equality in marriage. What say you, man of fashion?

Rash. Dear sir, don't treat my brother's foibles too severely; his zeal to be eminent only wants a right turn.

Sir J. Let him find that turn, and he knows I have wherewithal to keep him from the inconvenience of a younger brother, though he loses Castle Manor.

Con. I resign it with all its appendages; and with

Sir J. Come, I'll make short work of it, as usual; all my faults, my brother shall find I am neither hear all, my decree is made.

Rent. Now, justice and parental feeling!
Sophia. Memory and tenderness!
Con. Caprice and passion! (Aside.)

envious nor mercenary.

Sir J. And now to turn to my recruit: I promised he should be attested to-night, and so he shall to his bride; and if afterwards his country demands his assistance, get him a commission, Sophy, and pray for a quick end to the war, a prayer in which every good subject in the nation will join you.

Sir J. Decision and consistency! I discarded one son for a marriage; 1have brought up a second to attempt to debauch his own niece. I'll try what sort of vexation the other sex will produce; so, girls, listen, take possession of this castle, it is yours. Nay, I only keep my word. You remember how I promised to treat the old obstinate your Sir J. Then open the doors, and let old English father was afraid of. This is the house of self-hospitality be the order of the day at Castle correction, and I give you the key.

Rent. Sir, the tenants from the wake, in eager. ness of their joy, press to be admitted.

Manor.

[blocks in formation]

AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDY, IN FIVE ACTS.-BY GEO. LILLO.

[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

Some fancied right. Michael, the trencher fav'rite;
A bastard, bred of Arden's charity;
He has been privy to our secret joys,
And, on that trust presuming, loves my sister;
Maria is his price. I've plac'd her here,
Winks at adultery, and may at murder.
Companion of my sweet Alicia's hours,
To spread her charms for ever in his eye:
To her are all my visits. But Alicia-

She must, she shall comply: when to my arms
Her honour she resign'd, her fond reluctance
whisper'd

She could deny me nothing.

This to try.

[Exit into Arden's house.

« EelmineJätka »