shall I be; the rascal shall know your kindness to him, and how little he deserves it-it shall be done, and the village shall know it is all your doings. And here they come! now for it! Iam ten times happier than I was this morning! Enter all the Lads and Laffes.

Come, where is my son, where is Scapegrace?
Glod. Here, Master William !

Enter WILLIAM.

Here's Scapegrace, Sir.

Fur. Now you shall know what a fine lady this is, or rather how unlike a fine lady she is. This pilferer, wretch baggage, and so on-she vows not to be made happy till you are so and so being prevail'd upon by her—and her alone I give you my consent to marry the girl you were so fond of, or any girl of character, and before all my neighbours here, on this joyful holiday, the first of May; and I likewise consent to give you the Bilberryfarm to maintain her and my grand children.

Wil. If you indulge, my inclination, I have no right to find fault with yours-Be my choice where it will, you will be satisfy'd.

Fur. More than satisfy'd-I will rejoice at it, and reward it-Name the party, bov.

(The girls stand all round with great seeming

anxiety.

Wil. I always did obey you, and will now.

[Looking at, and passing by the other girls.

This this is my choice.

Takes the Little Gipsy by the band. Clod. Zooks! here's a fine overturn in a horse-pond.

Fur. He's crack'd, sure!

[Aside.

Wil. I was, Sir, and almost broken hearted; but your kindness, consent, and generosity, have made me a man again, and thus we thank you. (They kneel to him. Fur. This is some Mav-game-Dɔ you know herAnd does she know you?

Wil, We have known each other long-This is she, father, I saw, lov'd, and was betroth'd to; but your command separated us for a time-In my absence to London,

fhe

she was here under the name of Belton; you saw her oft ten, and lik'd her, nay lov'd her-It was our innocendevice, that you might see her merits, and not think 'em unworthy of your son-You over-run our expectations, and we delay'd the discovery till this, we hope, happy

moment.

Clod. You must forgive 'em, Measter.

All. To be sure.

Fur. I can't I am trick'd and cheated-I cant recal the farm; but I can, and I will.

[Walks about angrily. Clod. Be more foolish if you please-You have trick'd and cheated yourself, Measter-But heav'n has been kind to you, and set all to rights again

Gipsy.

[Addressing herself to Furrow.]

I.

Love reigns this season, makes his choice,
And shall not we with birds rejoice?
O calm your rage, hear nature say,
Be kind with me the first of May.

II.

Would you, like misers, hate to bless,
Keep wealth from youth you can't possess?
To nature, hark, you'll hear her say,

Be kind with me the first of May.

III.

Oh! then, be bounteous, like the spring,
Which makes creation sport and sing;
With nature let your heart be gay,
And both be kind this first of May.

Fur. I won't be sung out of my senses

Enter DozEY, drunk.

Doz. Where is he? where is the bridegroom? I have it, I have it-October has done it!-It has inspir'd me! and the legacy shall be old George Furrows, or I will VOL. III. L

never

never taste October again—I have got you the money, old boy! [Claps him on the shoulder. Fur. You are got drunk, you old foel, and I don't want the money.

[Sulky. Dox. What, you are sick of marriage, and don't want the wife perhaps-Did not I tell you it was not fit? was not I free enough to tell you so it is not fit.

Fur. This drunken old fool completes my misery.

Dox. Old fool! what, Mr Pot, do you abuse your friend kettle?-Old fool am I? Now judge, neighbours I have been drinking October to make this a joyful May-day, and he wants to marry a young girl to turn it into sackcloth and ashes-Who's old fool now?

Fur. Take him away.

Doz. I shall take myself away-Lasses, if any of you long for the legacy, and are not engag'd, I am your manthat old fellow there would have married a child in sober sadness; but I have been courting a good bottle of October; and now, having lost my senses, I am free and fit to marry any body[Exit reeling.

All. Ha, ha, ha!

Fur. Where's Dolly ?—was she in this plot ?

Wil. In that part of it you gave her she perform'd the Old Gipsy to a miracle, as these lasses can testify, and then

went home to prepare the May feast.

Fur. I will have no feast.

Jen. Was she the old Gipsy ?

.Bet. It is all a dream to me!

Fur. I can't come to rights again.

[Sulky.

(The lads and lasses push the Gipsy and William towards him, saying-to bim, to him. Clod. Never was known such a thing as ill-nature and unkindness in our village, on the first of May, for these ten thousand y years.

FINAL E.

Clod. Shall our hearts on May-day.

Lack and-a-well-a-day!

Want their recreation

No, no, no, it can't be so,

Love with us must bud and blow,
Unblighted by vexation.

› Wil. Shall a maid on May-day,
Lack and a-well-a-day!

Die of desperation?
No, no, no; for pity's sake
To your care a couple take,

And give 'em consolation.

Gip. Shall a youth on May-day,
Lack and a-well-a-day!

Lament a separation?

No, no, no; the lad is true,
Let him have of love his due,
Indulge his inclination.

Fur. Shall my heart on May-day,
Lack and a-well-a-day,

Refuse its approbation?

No, no, no, within our breast,
Rage, revenge, and such like guests,

Should ne'er have habitation.
William and Gipsy.

We no more on May-day,

O, what a happy day!

Shall never know vexation;

No, no, no, your worth we'll sing,
Join your name to bounteous spring,
In kind commemoration!

GRAND CHORUS.

"Cold winter will fly,

"When spring's warmer sky,

"The charms of young nature display; "When the heart is unkind,

"With the frost of the mind,

"Benevolence melts it like May."

L 2

1

THEATRICAL CANDIDATES.

A

MUSICAL PRELUDE.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

MEN.

Mercury, Mr Vernon.

Harlequin, Mr Dodd.

WOMEN.

Tragedy, Mrs Smith.

Comedy, Mrs Wrighten.

Followers of Tragedy, Comedy, and Harlequin.

Enter MERCURY.

MERCURY.

GOD of Wits and Thieves-birds of a feather,
of

(For Wit and Thieving often go together)
Am sent to see this House's transformation,
Ask if the Critics give their approbation;
Ur, as in other cases" Yawn at alteration."
Old Lady Drury, like some other ladies,
To charm by false appearances, whose trade is,
By help of paint, new boddice, and new gown,
Hopes a new face to pass upon the town:
By such like art, stale toasts and Maccaronies,
Have made out many a Venus and Adonis :
To business now-Two Rival Dames above,
Have pray'd for leave to quit their father Jove ;.
And hearing in the papers-we have there,
Morning and Evening as you have 'em here;
Juno loves scandal, as all good wives do,
If it be fresh, no matter whether true;
Momus writes paragraphs, and I find squibs,
And Pluto keeps a press to print the fibs:

Healing this house was now made as good as new,
And thinking each that she was sure of you;
They came full speed, these Rival Petticoats,

To