University of Virginia Library

SCENE X.

Mrs. Briar enters.
Briar.
What have you done? Have you prevail'd on her
To bear her parting with a patient Mind?

Mrs. Briar.
So strong a Hold has Freeman on her Heart,
That neither you nor I can tear him thence.

Briar.
'Tis her first Love, and it must cost some Tears.

Mrs. Briar.
The Youth is lovely in his Person, and,
By her Account, possess'd of ev'ry Art
To captivate the Soul of Innocence:
He has such Virtues, and such Qualitys;
Which ever must, she says, secure the Heart
Which he by Tenderness and Honour won.

Briar.
You seem to dwell upon his Praise with Pleasure.—
You, I suppose, indulge the foolish Girl
In her fond Commendations of her Lover.—

Mrs. Briar.
I have exerted all th'Authority
Which, in a Case like this, a Mother ought;
All the Persuasions which I think are just
I've us'd, yet wou'd not use Authority
With Cruelty, nor wou'd persuade my Child
To that which may make all her future Life
Unhappy, and perhaps that Life but short.

Briar.
The Journey is not long, I'll to my Brother's
Go with the Girl myself, and see her marry'd
Before I leave the Place.

Mrs. Briar.
If ever I
Found Favour in your Eyes, if ever I
Have merited your Love, hear me this once
A tender Mother, and a faithful Wife.

Briar.
Be quick; I cannot hear long Speeches now.

Mrs. Briar.
This once, excuse my Tears, and I have done.
If to your Brother's Son you wed our Child,
You marry Poverty to Beggary,
And make the Girl a Slave, a wretched Slave,
Match'd to an abject Clown that she abhors:
Think therefore, for I know you love her well,
How you can bear to see her live a poor
Unhappy Wife, a Stranger to Content!
And if her Life's cut short, which Heaven forbid,
By Grief, how will you then bedew her Cheeks
With Tears, with frantic and with fruitless Tears!
Now turn your Eye, from this dark dismal Prospect,
To the fair Scene which Freeman's Love presents:
The Husband of her Choice will crown her Days
With Tenderness and Joy; and we, perhaps,
May share their Fortunes as we share their Love.
Distress, that seems approaching to our Door,
May by this Match be drove entirely from us.
I've done; I'll trouble you no more; and now
The Language of my Heart has pass'd my Lips,
I'm all Obedience to my Husband's Will.

Briar.
Thou tenderest Mother, and thou gentlest Wife,
That ever bless'd a Husband and a Child,
Lead in thy silken Bands this savage Man.
Thou last subdu'd me to thy Wish. Stand there,
And let me view the Treasure of my Soul,
Above all Price, to which I never ow'd
A restless Night, or an unpeaceful Day.
Fortune may throw her keenest Arrows here,
While you, the dear Physician of my Mind,
Shall heal the Wounds and Bruises which they give.
By that high Providence which gave thee to me,
I wou'd not for all Freeman's Wealth, nor for
The wide, the fruitful, and the rich, Possession
Of ev'ry Hill, and Grove, and Vale, in Kent,
Give up the Title that I have in thee.
Come, my sweet Monitor, my humble Guide,
Now you've subdued my Heart, direct my Hand;
For I'll this very Moment write to Freeman,
And offer your Proposals for the Marriage.

[They go.