 | Poor Vulcan |  |
SCENE I.
A Rural Prospect.Enter Joe.
RECITATIVE.
While thus a rustic swain I rove,
I envy not the realms above;
What more can Jove himself bestow,
Than what I now enjoy below?
Freedom to chaunt my rural strains,
And sing my love around the plains.
AIR.
[I.]
A shepherd become, with my pipe and my crook,What pleasure to loiter beside the clear brook;
While carelessly lying,
Fond birds round me flying,
The sun's glowing fervor allay'd by the breeze,
Oh! who would forego such enjoyments as these!
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II.
Ye roses and woodbinds, so sweetly that bloom,Preserve all your charms till my fairest shall come;
With beauty inviting,
With fragrance delighting,
Your brighest perfections to greet her display,
Oh! say 'tis for her you look lovely and gay.
RECITATIVE.
Enter Maudlin.
JOE.
May hills and dales a plain appear,
If my dear Maudlin is not here;
May sheep ne'er bleat, nor oxen low—
MAUDLIN.
—Nay, nay, no raptures, dearest Joe;
But come to me at nine at night,
I've manag'd all things for our flight;
When Crump gets drunk, as soon he will,
I easily can seize the till:
But if I ever am forsook—
JOE.
Oh! may I loose my pipe and crook;
May Cupid break his bow and quiver,
Wither'd be grass, dry be each river;
May all the sheep die with the rot,
When Maudlin is by me forgot!
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I faithfully believe thee, sweeting;
But I must go—the club is meeting.
JOE.
Ah, Maudlin, Maudlin! that there club
Is in my way a monstrous rub;
For Pike, and Stud, and all those fellows—
I own it makes me dev'lish jealous.
AIR in DIALOGUE.
Joe.
When the serjeant, encourag'd by wine,
To your lips once presum'd to advance,
Oh! how did I sicken and pine,
That you deign'd to bestow him a glance!
And again, when the 'squire from the chace
Returning, bestow'd you the spoil;
From my mem'ry I cannot erase,
That the prize you repaid with a smile.
Maud.
Ah, my Joey! one day in my place,
(The truth on't you cannot gainsay)
When I sent my suivante, pretty Grace,
You kiss'd her all on the new hay;
Nay, for selfish designs, dar'd to own,
You pretended a passion for me;
But attractions and charms I had none,
For Grace was your favourite she.
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The charge to be true, I allow,
'Twas to try if you jealous could prove;
For no other purpose, I vow,
They alone can be jealous who love.
Maud.
And, for me, if I smil'd on the squire,
'Twas in hope of the profit in view;
Or from Crump to conceal the fond fire,
Which I bear in my bosom for you.
Both.
We have each other on the hip,
Be jealous then no longer;
But rather let a little slip
Tie the knot the stronger.
[Exeunt Dancing.
| Poor Vulcan | |