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Fan. Shall I though, if I does as you bids me?
Mer. You shall.

Fan. Precious heart! He's a sweet gentleman
Icod I have a great mind-

Mer. What art thou thinking about?

Fan. Thinking, your honour ?-Ha, ha, ha!

Mer. Indeed, so merry.

490

Fan. I don't know what I am thinking about, not I-Ha, ha, ha !-Twenty guineas!

Mer. I tell thee thou shalt have them.

Fan. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Mer. By Heaven I am serious.

Fan. Ha, ha, ha!-Why then I'll do whatever your honour pleases.

Mer. Stay here a little, to see that all keeps quiet : you'll find me presently at the mill, where we'll talk farther.

500

AIR.

Yes, 'tis decreed, thou maid divine!

I must, I will possess thee:

Oh, what delight within my arms to press thee!

To kiss, and call thee mine!

Let me this only bliss enjoy ;

That ne'er can waste, that ne'er can cloy:

All other pleasures I resign.

Why should we dally;

Stand shilli shally:

Let fortune smile or frown?
Love will attend us;

Love will befriend us;
And all our wishes crown.

519

SCENE X.

FANNY, RALPH.

Fan. What a dear kind soul he is-Here comes Ralph-I can tell him, unless he makes me his lawful wife, as he has often said he would, the devil a word more shall he speak to me.

Ral. So, Fan, where's the gentleman ?

Fan. How should I know where he is; what do you ask me for?

520 Ral. There's no harm in putting a civil question, be there? Why you look as cross and ill-naturedFan. Well, mayhap I do-and mayhap I have where-withal for it.

Ral. Why, has the gentleman offered any thing uncivil? Ecod, I'd try a bout as soon as look at him.

Fan. He offer-no-he's a gentleman every inch of him; but you are sensible, Ralph, you have been promising me, a great while, this, and that, and t'other; and, when all comes to all, I don't see but you are like the rest of them.

Ral. Why, what is it I have promised ?

531

Fan. To marry me in the church, you have, a hundred times.

Ral. Well, and mayhap I will, if you'll have patience.

Fan. Patience! me no patience; you may do it now if you please.

Ral. Well, but suppose I don't please? I tell you, Fan, you're a fool, and want to quarrel with your bread and butter; I have had anger enow from feyther already upon your account, and you want me to come by more. As I said, if you have patience, mayhap things may fall out, and mayhap not.

Fan. With all my heart, then; and now I know your mind, you may go hang yourself.

Ral. Ay, ay.

Fan. Yes, you may-who cares for you?

Ral. Well, and who cares for you, an you go to that?

559

Fan. A menial feller-Go mind your mill and your drudgery; I don't think you worthy to wipe my shoes-feller.

Ral. Nay, but Fan, keep a civil tongue in your head odds flesh! I would fain know what fly bites all of a sudden now.

:

Fan. Marry come up, the best gentlemen's sons in the country have made me proffers; and if one is a miss, be a miss to a gentleman, I say, that will give one fine clothes, and take one to see the show, and put money in one's pocket.

561

Ral. Whu, whu-[Hits him a slap.] What's that for?

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Fan. What do you whistle for, then? Do you think I am a dog?

Ral. Never from me, Fan, if I have not a mind to give you, with this switch in my hand here, as good a lacing

Fan. Touch me, if you dare: touch me, and I'll swear my life against you.

570 Ral. A murrain! with her damn'd little fist as hard as she could draw.

Fan. Well, it's good enough for you; I'm not necessitated to take up with the impudence of such a low-lived monkey as you are. -A gentleman's my friend, and I can have twenty guineas in my hand, all as good as this is.

Ral. Belike from this Londoner, eh?

Fan. Yes, from him-so you may take your promise of marriage; I don't value it that- [spits] and if you speak to me, I'll slap your chops again. 581

AIR.

Lord, sir, you seem mighty uneasy;
But I the refusal can bear :

I warrant I shall not run crazy,
Nor die in a fit of despair.
If so you suppose, you're mistaken;
For, sir, for to let you to know,
I'm not such a maiden forsaken,

But I have two strings to my

bow.

589

SCENE XI.

RALPH.

Indeed! Now I'll be judg'd by any soul living in the world, if ever there was a viler piece of treachery than this here; there is no such thing as a true friend upon the face of the globe, and so I have said a hundred times! A couple of base deceitful- -after all my love and kindness shewn! Well, I'll be revenged; see an I be'nt-Marster Marvint, that's his name, an he do not sham it: he has come here and disguised unself; whereof 'tis contrary to law so to do besides, I do partly know why he did it; and I'll fish out the whole conjuration, and go up to the castle and tell every syllable; a shan't carry a wench from me, were he twenty times the mon he is, and twenty times to that again; and moreover than so, the first time I meet un, I'll knock un down, tho'f 'twas before my lord himself; and he may capias me for it afterwards an he wull.

606

AIR.

As they count me such a ninny,

So to let them rule the roast;

I'll bet any one a guinea

They have scor'd without their host.

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