University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A Rural Prospect.
CHORUS.

[Exeunt.
[The Dragon crosses the Stage.
SCENE, A Hall.
Gubbins, Margery, and Chorus.
Gub.
What wretched Havock does this Dragon make!
He sticks at nothing for his Belly's Sake:
Feeding but makes his Appetite the stronger,
He'll eat us all, if he 'bides here much longer!

CHORUS.
Houses and Churches,
To Him are Geese and Turkies.

Marg.
O Father! Father! as our noble 'Squire
Was sate at Breakfast by his Parlour Fire,
With Wife and Children, all in pleasant Tattle,
The Table shook, the Cups began to rattle;
A dismal Noise was heard within the Hall,
Away they flew, the Dragon scar'd them all:
He drank up all their Coffee at a Sup,
And next devour'd their Toast and Butter up.
AIR.

Gub.
This Dragon very modish, sure, and nice is:
What shall we do in this diast'rous Crisis?

Marg.
A Thought, to quell him, comes into my Head;
No way more proper than to kill him dead.

Gub.
O Miracle of Wisdom! rare Suggestion!
But how, or who to do it, that's the Question.

Marg.
Not far from hence there lives a valiant Knight,
A Man of Prowess great, and mickle Might:
He has done Deeds St. George himself might brag on;

Marg.
This very Man is he shall kill the Dragon.
AIR.

CHORUS.
Let's go to his Dwelling,
With Yelping and Yelling;
We'll move him to Pity,
And tell him, and tell him a sorrowful Ditty.

[Exeunt.
SCENE, Moore-Hall.
Symphony.
Moore and his Companions.
Moore.
Come, Friends, let's circulate the cheerful Glass;
Let each true Toper toast his favourite Lass.
Sound all your Instruments of Joy, and play:
Let's drink and sing, and pass the Time away.


AIR.

Enter Gubbins, Mauxalinda, Margery, and others.
CHORUS.

AIR.
Marg.
Gentle Knight! all Knights exceeding,
Pink of Prowess, and good Breeding,
Let a Virgin's Tears inspire thee;
Let a Maiden's Blushes fire thee.

Moore.
(aside)
Her Looks shoot thro' my Soul, her Eyes strike Fire;
I'm all a Conflagration of Desire.
(To her)
Fair Maid, I grant whatever you can ask,
The Deed is done, when once you name the Task.

Marg.
The Dragon, Sir, the Dragon!

Moore.
Say no more,
You soon shall see him weltring in his Gore.

Marg.
Most mighty Moore! do but this Dragon kill,
All that we have is wholly at your Will.

Moore.
The only Bounty I require, is this,
That thou may'st fire me with an ardent Kiss;
That thy soft Hands may 'noint me over Night,
And dress me in the Morning e'er I fight.

AIR.
Marg.
If that's all you ask,
My Sweetest,
My Featest,
Compleatest,
And Neatest,
I'm proud of the Task.

Maux.
(overhearing.)
A forward Lady! she grows fond apace,
But I shall catch her in a proper Place.

Moore.
Leave her with me; conclude the Dragon dead:
If I don't maul the Dog, I'll lose my Head.

[All go off but Moore and Margery.
DUETTO.
Moore.
Let my Dearest be near me;

Marg.
I'll ever be near thee.

Moore.
To warm me, to cheer me;

Marg.
To warm thee, to cheer thee.

Moore.
To fire me, inspire me;

Marg.
To fire thee, inspire thee

Both.
With Kisses and Ale.

Moore.
Your Fears I'll abolish;

Marg.
This Dragon demolish.

Moore.
I'll work him;

Marg.
Ay, work him.

Moore.
I'll jerk him;

Marg.
Ay, jerk him

Both.
From Nostril to Tail.


[Let my, &c.

Moore leads off Margery; Mauxalinda enters, and pulls him back by the Sleeve.
Maux.
O Villain! Monster! Devil! Basely base!
How can you dare to look me in the Face?
Did you not swear last Christmas we should marry?
Oh, 'tis enough to make a Maid miscarry!
Witness this Piece of Six-pence, certain Token
Of my true Heart, and your false Promise broken.

Moore.
The Devil's in the Woman! What's the Matter?

Maux.
Now you insult me; Time was, you cou'd flatter.

Moore.
Upon my Soul, I don't know what you mean!

Maux.
Don't you know Margery of Roth'ram-Green?

Moore.
Not I, upon my Honour.

Maux.
That's a Lie.
What do you think I've neither Ear nor Eye.
Villain! I will believe my Eyes and Ears!
She whom you kiss'd, and call'd ten thousand Dears.

Moore.
(aside.)
By Jove! I'm blown. Zounds! how came this about?
However, I'm resolv'd to stand it out.
To Maux.
I only out of Policy was civil;
But, 'faith, I hate her as I hate the Devil.
You're all I value, witness this close Hug,
I'm yours, and only yours.

Maux.
Ah Coaxing Pug!

Moore.
My pretty Mauxy, prithee don't be jealous.

Maux.
Dear me! you Men are such bewitching Fellows;
You steal into our Hearts by sly Degrees,
Then make poor Girls believe just what you please.

AIR.
Moore.
By the Beer, as brown as Berry;
By the Cyder and the Perry,
Which so oft has made us merry,
With a Hy-down, Ho-down-derry,
Mauxalinda's I'll remain,
True Blue will never stain.

Maux.
But do you really love me?

Moore.
By this Kiss,
By Raptures past, and Hopes of future Bliss.


DUETTO.
Pigs shall not be
So fond as we;
We will out-cooe the Turtle Dove.
Fondly toying,
Still enjoying,
Sporting Sparrows we'll out-love.