University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

An Apartment in Sir John Traffic's House.
Enter Sir John, Heartwell, and Edward Lacey.
Sir John.
This way, good gentlemen.—Who waits?
Enter Furbish.
Well, Furbish,
Where is your lady?

Furbish.
She is gone forth, Sir;
My lady Varnish call'd to give her notice
Of a great sale of Indian rarities,
Where all the quality will be assembled.

Sir John
(aside.)
Ever thus gadding, and consorting with
The vain and idle!—Tho' it may be better
Her interference should not interrupt us.
(To Furbish.)
Where are my daughters?

Furbish.
In their chamber, Sir.

Sir John.
Require them to come hither.

Furbish
(aside.)
As I live,
Two likely gentlemen—were they but lords—

Sir John.
Will you be pleas'd to call my daughters hither?

Furbish.
Yes, Sir.— (aside.)
Were I in my young ladies' place,
They should not ask me twice.
[Exit Furbish.

Sir John.
Well, gentlemen,
The absence of my lady will afford you
A freer opportunity to judge
How far my daughters merit your affections.
A father's fondness often may mislead him,
But I do think they are deserving of you.

Heartwell.
That's but a slender compliment, good Sir.
She, who can't merit praises far superior
To a comparison with my desert,
Were hardly worth the seeking,

E. Lacey.
Your fair daughters
Are treasures worthy of a king's ambition.

Sir John.
Why, they're good girls, and handsome too, I think;
A little spoilt, perhaps, by over fondness:
And as for fortune, you already know
What I can do for them.—But here they come.
Enter Maria and Eliza.
What think you now?

Heartwell.
That the reality
Surpasses all that expectation dar'd
To picture of perfection.

Sir John.
That is well.
Come hither, loves—these are the gentlemen
I told you of to-day.—Here, Master Heartwell,
And Master Lacey, pray ye know my daughters.
(To Maria and Eliza.)
Nay, draw not back—they are deserving of you.

Eliza.
Their presence, Sir, assures us they are so,
And in all courtesy they may expect
Such favour as becomes us to confer;
But, with observance of my lady's order,
They may not ask, nor can we grant them more.

E. Lacey.
Can such a sentence come from lips like those
Which Nature form'd so lovely?—Can disdain
Glance from those eyes where ambush'd cupids lurk?
Ah! kill not thus the rising hope which cheers
A heart already gone an age in love!

Eliza.
Were I to let you cherish idle hopes,
I might deserve reproach. My father knows
What I have said is true.

Sir John.
Aye, aye, I know it,
And am asham'd on't. 'Tis a silly whim
My lady has ta'en up, that nought beneath
Nobility, shall aim at our alliance.

Heartwell.
I can respect nobility as much
As her good ladyship; but know no cause
Why a plain honest gentleman should scruple
To aim at a fair lady, tho' his 'scutcheon
Boast not a coronet.— (To Maria)
If I may trust
Th' intelligence of that sweet countenance,
You'll not confirm this tyrannous decree.

Maria.
I pray you spare me, Sir. My lady's will
Leaves us no choice. Our duty is obedience.

Sir John.
Come, say no more; this def'rence is mistim'd.
I find I have been wanting to myself
In giving thus the way to idle fancies.
'Tis time to curb them now.— (To Heartwell and Edward.)
Be of good courage:
I will stand by you.

Maria.
Ah, Sir! so you say;
But when my lady comes, perhaps—

Sir John.
What then?
Shall I be govern'd in a case like this?
These are two noble gentlemen, whose wealth
And character are known, and whose alliance
Does us all honour.—Nay, you'll find them so.
I sanction their pretensions. Master Heartwell,
And you, the son of my much valued friend,
Speak for yourselves, and boldly urge your suit.
You've my full licence.

Maria.
Nay, Sir, since you please,
We must not disobey you. But remember,
'Tis your own doing; you must not desert us.

Sir John.
Well, well, depend on me. Here, gentlemen,
You'll have no interruption. Take their hands,
Plead well your cause, and Heaven prosper you.
I'm call'd away upon some urgent bus'ness;
But you can do without me.—So, that's well—
Gain but their hearts, and I'll secure the rest.

[Exeunt.