THE CITIZEN; FARCE, IN TWO ACTS. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. BY ARTHUR MURPHY, Esq. THE CITIZEN. ACT I-SCENE I. Young WILDING, BEAUFORT, and WILL following. Wild. Ha, ha, my dear Beaufort! a fiery young fellow like you, melted down into a sighing love-sick dangler after a high heel, a well-turned ancle, and a short petticoat! Beau. Prithee, Wilding, don't laugh at me-Maria's charms Wild. Maria's charms! and so now you would fain grow wanton in her praise, and have me listen to your raptures about my own sister! ha, ha, poor Beaufort!-Is my sister at home, Will? Will. She is, sir. Wild. How long has my father been gone out? Wild. Very well. Pray give Mr Beaufort's conpliments to my sister, and he is come to wait upon her. [Exit WILL.] You will be glad to see her, I suppose, Charles? Beau. I live but in her presence. Wild. Live but in her presence! how the devil could the young baggage raise this riot in your heart? 'tis more than her brother could ever do with any of her sex. Beau. Nay, you have no reason to complain; you are come up to town, post haste, to marry a wealthy citizen's daughter, who only saw you last season at Tunbridge, and has been languishing for you ever since. Wild. That's more than I do for her; and, to tell you the truth, more than I believe she does for me. This is a match of prudence, man! bargain and sale! my reverend dad and the old put of a citizen finished the business at Garraway's by inch of candle-a mere transferring of property!" Give your son to my daughter, and I will give my daughter to your son. That's the whole affair; and so I am just arrived to consummate the nuptials. Beau. Thou art the happiest fellow Wild. Happy! so I am what should I be otherwise for? if Miss Sally-upon my soul I forget her name Beau. Well; that is so like you-Miss Sally Philpot Wild. Ay! very true-Miss Sally Philpot-she will bring fortune sufficient to pay off an old incumbrance upon the family estate, and my father is to settle handsomely upon me; and so I have reason to be contented, have not I? Beau. And you are willing to marry her, without having one spark of love for her? Wild. Love!-why I make myself ridiculous enough by marrying, don't I? without being in love into the bargain! what! am I to pine for a girl that is willing to go to bed to me?-love of all things !My dear Beaufort, one sees so many people breathing raptures about each other before marriage, and din |