MARGARET. Why, numfkull, that's nothing: her ladyfhip's wine, JENNY. Then for poultry, and fuch like-good Lord, what a ftore! I faw Goodman Gander fix baskets full cramming; Then fuch comfits and jellies! why one fuch feast more Would certainly breed in the village a famine. CHORUS. What the meaning can be We fhall presently fee, For yonder's old Ruffet, who certainly knows; Our wifh fhall be ftill, Joy and health to the Duchefs, wherever she goes! Jen. I'll give you while 1 wind up this bottom and another, and you tha'nt find it out.. Sim. Why then if you know fo well, why don't you tell us what it is? Jen. Ah, I thought you would none of you guefs it: this grand feafting at the Duchefs's is because the king's coming to the camp. Marg. Who told you fo? Jen. I had it from Gaffer Ruffet himself. Sim. Does the King come to the camp to day? Sim. Then as fure as can be, I know what will happen. Jen. Why, what will happen? Sim. There will be two weddings in the village before to-morrow night. Marg. How fo? Sim. Why, is not Henry, the young foldier, to marry Louifa, Gaffer Ruffet's daughter, as foon as the review's over? Jen. Not if I can prevent it. Marg. Well, that's but one wedding! Sim. Yes, but Jenny can tell you whofe wedding t'other's to be. fen. Jen. How fhould I know? Sim. Ah, you wont fay any thing before folks, be, cause you're afham'd! Jen. What do you mean? Sim. As if you did not know- Sim. Why did not you promise me, that when Henry married Louifa, you'd marry me? Jen. Yes, yes, and I'll keep my word; whenever Henry marries Louifa, I'll marry you. Enter Ruffet and Louifa. AIR II. Lou. Why muft I appear fo deceitful? Lou. Indeed, father, 'tis impoffible; I never can confent to fuch a thing. Ruf. Odds heart, Louifa, there's no harm in it. Neighbours, come round here, I'll tell you the whole affair ; you know what a dear good lady the Duchefs is. Marg. Ah, fhe's a dear good lady, indeed, and we all of us ought to do every thing fhe orders us. Ruf. I and my family in particular ought, for many's the good thing fhe has given me and my old dame; then how kind fhe was to all my poor children! fhe ftood godmother to this, and had her chriftened after her own name. Sim. Louifa. Ruf. Well, now we come to the point: Henry, you know, who was bred up with my girl, and intended from his infancy for her husband, is a foldier. Sim. So he is. Ruf. And because she has a value for every thing that belongs to me, this good lady, about three weeks ago, fent fent to the colonel for his difcharge, that the young folks may live at home at their case, and be as happy as the day is long. Marg. That will be charming and comfortable for you, neighbour. Ruf. Yes: but now comes the mischief of it; what has occafion'd it, I don't know; I never faw any harm. of the lad, but there are always bufy tongues in this village, doing people ill offices; and fuch reports, within thefe few days, have reached the Duchefs's ears, that she is determined to see farther into this business, before she gives Louifa the portion fhe promised her. Jen. You may thank me for that. [Afide. Lou. But he'll be here to-day; and fo well I know his heart, that I'm fure he'll clear himself to their confufion who could fo vilely traduce him. Jen. Perhaps not. [Afide. Ruf. Well, child, I am fure you can't wish it more than I do; nothing has ever pleased me so much as the thought of your coming together: I wish to fee you married with all my heart; for then I fhall have nothing to do but to listen to the prattle of your children, and prepare myself to follow poor Dorothy. AIR III. My life's three parts diminish'd, Ding dong! Swing fwong! Methinks my old companions fay, That though his hairs are now grown grey, When all was mirth and jollity, When sports went round, and bells did ring, His ruftic feats-'twas who but he? I C Could a Could I fee this, I'd yield, content, A life, I hope, not badly spent. But as I was telling you, the Duchefs hearing of these reports, is determin'd that we fhall make a trial of his affections. Lou. Indeed, father, there's no neceffity for it; he loves me moft fincerely. Ruf. Nay, nay, child, I really think your love carries you too much away in this affair; it can do no harm; 'tis only an innocent frolic: you are to make believe as if you were a bride; and let me fee who-oh, you hall be the bridegroom. Sim. Shall I? I'cod I'm glad of that. Ruf. But above all, I muft inftruct you, Jenny, in your part; you are to fit here, and tell Henry, when he comes, that Louisa and Simkin were married yesterday. Jen. The very thing I wish'd. [Afide. Lou. I am vex'd to death that this trick fhould be. play'd him; I can judge by myself what he'll feel; if I was told fuch a thing of him, how miferable I fhould be! Ruf. But he'll be fo much the happier when he finds out the deceit, child. Though prudence may prefs me, Againft inclination, O, what can they do! No longer a rover, His follies are over ; My heart, my fond heart, fays my Henry is true. From fweet to sweet ranging, A rofe fhould he light on, ne'er wifhes to ftray; In one every bleffing, 'Till torn from her bofom, he flies far away. Ruf. Well, well, don't make yourself uneafy; I dare fay he loves you as fincerely as you think he does; if fo, he'll foon be undeceived, and we fhall finifh the day as happily happily as we could wish: in the mean time, let us think of what we have to do; we are to pretend we came from the church; the fiddles and bagpipes are to go first, then the lads and laffes follow; after which, mind this now, we are to go to the Duchefs's manfion in grand proceffion, and there to be feafted like so many princes and princeffes. Sim. I'cod that will fuit me nicely.-But, Gaffer Ruffet, Jenny fays you told her the feafting was to be for the king. Ruf. For us and the king; yes, yes, the king, after he and his courtiers have had an entertainment at the Duchefs's, goes to review the camp, where the foldiers are all to appear under arms-Ah, girls! that's what none of you know any thing about; when the king goes to the camp, then's the time-the drums beat-the fifes play the colours are flying-and-and- -LordLord! what a charming thing war is! Sim. It must be then when one comes home again, and it's all over. Ruf. There's no life like the life of a foldier; and then for love! let the girls take care of their hearts; I remember I won my Dorothy juft after I came from fuch a review now as there may be to-day. Marg. Ah, indeed, the foldiers make fad work with young womens hearts, fure enough. Ruf. And how can it be otherwife? AIR One conduct's for Both love and war, ལ་. The point's to gain poffeffion; Make towns or hearts In love the only battery, Ca To |