University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

SCENE the Fields.
Young Freeman and Charlotte Briar.
Young Freeman.
Why, Charlotte, hangs this Melancholly on thee?
Why droops my Love? Why droops my ev'ry Flow'r
Compris'd in one? Why on this happy Day,
Indulgent to our Wish, wilt thou indulge
Unseasonable Sorrow? 'Tis unkind:
Why on this Day in which the pious Man
Has join'd in Wedlock's Bands the Hands of two
Whose Hearts by Love were long before united?

Charlotte.
Ah! Freeman, there's the Thorn that goads my Side.
I must confess, since first our mutual Vows
Were plighted, each Day seem'd to me an Age,
Till I secur'd you mine; and now I have
Obtain'd the Purchase of a thousand Sighs,
I have a thousand Fears of losing you.

Y. Freeman.
And whence arise those Fears? From no Distrust,
I hope, of one whose Honour's dearer to him
Than is his Life, of one who places you
In the same Ballance with his Life and Honour.

Charlotte.
No, my much lov'd, and ever honour'd, Husband,
I cannot entertain a Thought of Ill
Of you, yet when I think of my poor Father,
My Fears arise like an unfriendly Frost,
And seem to blight my Joys e'en in their Spring.

Y. Freeman.
Thou art the lovely'st Rose that ever blow'd.
'Tis true the Diff'rence which has long subsisted
Betwixt our Fathers is the only Cause
Why we have thus conceal'd our Passion from them,
And why we keep our Marriage still unknown;
But shou'd Dissention reign among our Parents,
And everlasting Strife be sow'd betwixt them,
Yet shall our Loves immaculate remain.
Banish all dismal Apprehensions from you:
Our Loves perhaps may take a happyer Turn,
And be the Cement of perpetual Union
Betwixt our present jarring Familys.
I know my Father's ever gentle Nature
Is prone to pardon Injurys, and to excuse
The little Failings of unwary Youth:
He looks not with the rigid Eye of Age,
But ever makes such kind Allowances
As by the wise and good are always made:
In short, I know that 'tis his greatest Pleasure
On all deserving Persons to bestow
What Happyness he can.

Charlotte.
Wou'd I cou'd say
The same of my unhappy Father! Then
My Bosom wou'd be free from many Fears
With which 'tis burden'd now: but he, poor Man,
Has by his froward Temper loss'd his Friends,
All, but his ever duteous Wife and Child;
And our Endeavours are to cheer his Days
With gentle Words and tender Offices:
But, my dear Freeman, let me now intreat you
To tell the Cause of the long Difference
Betwixt our Parents; for I never cou'd
Discover it at Home.

Y. Freeman.
'Twas on a Trespass;
For which we offer'd ample Recompence,
Which being not receiv'd, a Suit of Law
Commenc'd: your Father has already been
At more Expence than he can bear with Ease:
My Father has propos'd a Gentleman,
A Neighbour and a Person of known Worth,
To be the Arbitrator, and abide
By his Determination rather than
To feed Contention: and this is the Day
That was appointed for the Arbitration.

Charlotte.
Heav'n make it fortunate; for upon that,
I fear, our Fate, or mine at least, depends.

Y. Freeman.
Your Fate depends on me, and mine on you.
Presume not, Charlotte, to affront my Love
With a Distrust: 'tis of as pure a Sort
As is the Zeal of Saints who know no Sin.
My Father comes this Way: sweet Excellence,
Retire beneath these Shades, while I enquire
After the Arbitration, and th'Event,
And while I try the gentlest, best, of Fathers
With a Relation of my Passion for you:
As he receives it, and I know he will,
All corresponding with his Love to me,
I will soon after chuse a fav'ring Hour
In which I'll pour my tenderest Concerns,
Our marriage Vows, into his friendly Ear.

Charlotte.
Success and everlasting Love be with you.

[She retires.