University of Virginia Library

SCENE XIII.

Freeman senr. enters with a Letter in his Hand.
Freeman senr.
Hail my lov'd Son, and my lov'd Daughter hail:
The Storm which held ye from the wish'd-for Shore
Is lay'd, and an unruffled Calm succeeds.

Y. Freeman.
Bless'd as I am, I'm sure my Father brings
Some heav'nly Tidings to enhance my Joy.

Charlotte.
As from a Night pass'd in uneasy Dreams,
I see the Dawning of a cheerful Morn.

Freeman senr.
Here, Lewis, take and read it to your Wife;
And pour into her Ear a Balm that soon
Will reach her tender Heart, and cure what Pains
May still be lurking in it.

Young Freeman
reads the Letter.
Sir, the Ills
Of Fortune, and the reasonable Persuasions
Of her whom I must call the best of Wives,
Join'd with a warm Affection for my Daughter,
Have brought me to a Sense of my Mistake,
When I oppos'd a Match on which depends
The Happyness of my dear Child. I don't
Presume to make any Proposals to you:
To you and your Family I commend her:
With a free Heart I give the Girl; and I
Shall yield myself contented to the Grave,
Whene'er the Day shall come that calls me there,
Being satisfy'd that I have made her happy
By this last Act of mine. My heart is now
Divested of all Enmity to you:
May with your Years your Happyness encrease,
Whate'er shall be the future Lot of Briar.

Charlotte
looks into the Letter.
'Tis my dear Father's Hand, and Blessings on him!
Excuse my Tears; for they are Tears of Joy.

Y. Freeman.
O! my much lov'd, and much deserving, Charlotte,
This Change, so unexpected, in your Father
Commands my Admiration and my Love:
I'm restless till I clasp him to my Breast,
And let him know how much he shares my Heart.

Freeman senr.
I'll rise To-morrow with the Sun, and pay
An early Visit to my Brother, and
I'll greet him truly with a Brother's Love:
I'll clear the Brow of Need; the Ills of Fortune,
Which he complains of, I will soon remove:
I will prevail on him, and on his Wife,
That fair Example of connubial Love,
To come and pass the joyful Day with us.
The merry Bells shall wake the cheerful Morn,
And call the Neighbours round to Freeman's Hall;
There shall they feast, and quaff the plenteous Juice,
Wishing the lovely Bride and Bridegroom Joy.
My Wife and I will, with unsparing Hands,
Attend our welcome Guests, and let no want
Of nuptial Merryment disgrace the Day.

Y. Freeman.
Now, Charlotte, thou art mine, and I am thine,
By ev'ry Ty of Duty and of Love.
What to our Parents do we owe? Our Lives,
And, what's more precious, that our Lives are bless'd.
When o'er the spacious Globe my Eyes I throw,
And view the various Sons of Pow'r below,
The fertile Soils where mighty'st Monarchs reign,
O'er eastern Beautys, and th'extended Plain,
I wou'd not change, to be of all possess'd,
The lovelyer Empire of my Charlotte's Breast.