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249

Curtain rises to a soft Symphony, and discovers True-Blue and Nancy courting in an Arbour.
AIR I.
True-Blue.
To be gazing on those Charms,
To be folded in those Arms,
To unite my Lips with those,
Whence eternal Sweetness Flows;
To be lov'd by one so fair,
Is to be blest beyond Compare.

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Nancy.
On my Dearest to recline,
While his Hand is lock'd in mine,
In those Eyes myself to view,
Gazing still, and still, on you;
In thy Arms while thus I'm blest,
Of ev'ry Joy I am possess'd.

[While they are embracing, the Lieutenant enters with his Gang and presses him.
Dread-nought.
Sir, you must learn another Song to sing;
Come, come along with me, and serve the King.

AIR II.
Nancy.

[1.]

Oh! where will you hurry my Dearest!
Say, say, to what Clime, or what Shore?
You tear him from me, the sincerest
That ever lov'd Mortal before.

II.

Oh! cruel, hard-hearted, to press him,
And force the fond Swain from my Arms!
Restore him, that I may caress him,
And shield him from future Alarms.
[Here the Lieutenant pushes her away.

III.

In vain you insult, and deride me,
And make but a Scoff at my Woes;
You ne'er from my Dear shall divide me,
I'll follow where-ever he goes.
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IV.

Think not of the merciless Ocean,
My Soul any Terror can have;
For as soon as the Ship makes its Motion,
So soon shall the Sea be my Grave.

[All this while she makes a great Struggle to get to her Lover, but is kept back.
AIR III.
Dread-nought.
Honour calls, he must obey;
Love to Glory must give Way:
Loaden with the Spoils of Spain,
Triumphant he'll return again.

AIR IV.
DIALOGUE.
Nancy.
And canst thou leave thy Nancy,
And quit thy Native Shore?
It comes into my Fancy,
I ne'er shall see thee more.

True-blue.
Yes, I must leave my Nancy,
To humble haughty Spain;
Let Fear ne'er fill thy Fancy,
For we shall meet again.

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Nancy.
Amidst the foaming Billows,
Where thund'ring Cannons roar,
You'll think on these green Willows,
And wish yourself on Shore.

True-Blue.
I fear not Land, or Water,
I fear not Sword, or Fire;
For sweet Revenge, and Slaughter,
Are all my Heart's Desire.

Nancy.
May Guardian Gods protect thee,
From Water, Fire, or Steel;
And may no Fears affect thee,
Like those which now I feel.

True-Blue.
I leave to Heaven's Protection,
My Life, my only Dear;
You have my Soul's Affection,
So still conclude me here.

Nancy.
I leave to Heaven's Protection,
My Life, my only Dear;
So fond is my Affection,
That still I wish you here.

[While they are embracing, Nancy's Father comes behind her, and pulls her from him.
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AIR V.
Careful.

[I.]

Daughter, you're too young to marry;
'Tis too soon to be a Wife;
Yet a little longer tarry,
E'er you know the Cares of Life.
Wedlock is a fickle Station,
Sometimes Sweetness, sometimes Strife;
Oh! how great the Alteration,
'Twixt the Maiden and the Wife.

II.

Love and Courtship are but stupid,
Glory has superior Charms;
Mars should triumph over Cupid,
When Bellona calls to Arms.
As for you, Sir, do your Duty;
[To True-Blue.
Oh! were I but young again,
I'd not linger after Beauty,
But go play my Part with Spain.

[He takes Nancy off the Stage, she looking tenderly at True-Blue, who stands silent and pensive. When she is gone, he seems to pluck up a Spirit, cocks his Hat, and gives the Lieutenant his Hand as a Token of Consent and Resolution.
AIR VI.
True-Blue.
Death, or Victory, now must determinate
All Disputes with haughty Spain:
That proud Race we'll entirely exterminate,
Or be Masters of the Main.

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CHORUS.
Britons, rouze up your great Magnanimity;
Let your Courage now be shown,
'Till proud Spain shall, with Pusilanimity,
For its Insults past attone.

Dread-nought.
What your Ancestors won so victoriously,
Crown'd with Conquests in the Field,
Still maintain, while your Foes most ingloriously
To your just Resentment yield.

CHORUS.
Britons, &c.

[Exeunt Omnes.
The End of the Interlude.
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