 | The recruiting serjeant |  |
25
SCENE THE LAST.
Here is introduced an Entertainment of Dancing, in the Characters of Light-Horse Men, Recruits, and Country Girls; after which the Serjeant comes out, with a Drinking Glass in his Hand, followed by his Party, to the Country-man, the Wife, and the Mother, who have been looking on the Dance.SERJEANT.
Well, countryman, art off the listing pin,
Yet, wilt thou beat a march?
WIFE.
Dear Joe! come in.
MOTHER.
Hang-dog be gone, and tempt my boy no more.
WIFE.
Do, Serjeant, pray now.
COUNTRYMAN.
Mother, Wife, give o'er.
I see the gentleman no harm intends.
26
I! Heav'n forbid; but let us part like friends.
We've got a bottle here, of humming ale.
'Tis the King's health.
COUNTRYMAN.
And that I never fail.
Lord love, and bless him, he's an honest man.
SERJEANT.
Lads, where's your music?
COUNTRYMAN.
Nay, fill up the can.
We'll drink the Royal Family.
SERJEANT.
So do:
King, Queen, and all.
COUNTRYMAN.
And Jane shall drink them too.
AIR.
[COUNTRYMAN.]
CHORUS.
WIFE.
CHORUS.
MOTHER.
CHORUS.
SERJEANT.
CHORUS.
[COUNTRYMAN.]
Here's a health to King George; peace and glory attend him;
He's merciful, pious; he's prudent and just;
Long life, and a race like himself, Heav'n send him,
And humble the foes to his crown in the dust.
He's merciful, pious; he's prudent and just;
Long life, and a race like himself, Heav'n send him,
And humble the foes to his crown in the dust.
27
Beat drums, beat amain:
Let the ear-piercing fife,
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
Let the ear-piercing fife,
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
WIFE.
Here's a health to the Queen; gracious, mild and engaging,
Accomplish'd in all that a woman should own;
The cares of her consort with softness asswaging,
Whose manners add splendor, and grace to a throne.
Accomplish'd in all that a woman should own;
The cares of her consort with softness asswaging,
Whose manners add splendor, and grace to a throne.
CHORUS.
Beat drums, beat amain:
Let the ear-piercing fife,
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
Let the ear-piercing fife,
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
MOTHER.
Here's a health to those beautiful babes, whom the nation
Regards as a pledge from the sire it reveres;
Heav'n sheild the sweet plants, from each rude visitation,
And rear them to fullness of virtue and years.
Regards as a pledge from the sire it reveres;
Heav'n sheild the sweet plants, from each rude visitation,
And rear them to fullness of virtue and years.
28
Beat drums, beat amain:
Let the ear-piercing fife
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
Let the ear-piercing fife
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
SERJEANT.
Here's success to his majesty's arms: ever glorious,
And great may they be, on the land and the main:
As just is their cause, may they still prove victorious,
And punish the rashness of France and of Spain.
And great may they be, on the land and the main:
As just is their cause, may they still prove victorious,
And punish the rashness of France and of Spain.
CHORUS.
Beat drums, beat amain:
Let the ear-piercing fife
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
Let the ear-piercing fife
To our measures give life;
While each British heart,
In the health bears a part,
And joins the loyal strain.
FINIS.
| The recruiting serjeant | |