Classic Poem

SCENE IX.

KITTY.

It is his ghost — or is it he indeed?
Wert thou not sent to war? hah, dost thou bleed?
No — — 'tis my Filbert .

FILBERT.

— — — Yes, 'tis he, 'tis he,
Dorcas confess'd; the Justice set me free.
I'm thine again. — —

KITTY.

— — — I thine — —

FILBERT.

— — — Our fears are fled.
Come, let's to Church, to Church. — —

KITTY.

— — — To wed.

FILBERT.

— — — To bed.

CHORUS of HAYMAKERS.

A wedding, a bedding; a wedding, a bedding.
Sir Roger . Ay now for the Wedding. Where 's he that plays the Parson? Now, neighbours, you shall see what was never shewn upon the London stage. — Why, heigh day! what 's our Play at a stand?
Countryman . So please your worship, I should have play'd the Parson, but our Curate would not lend his gown, for he says it is a profanation.
Sir Roger . What a scrupulous whim is this? an innocent thing! believe me, an innocent thing.
Stave . Master Doctor saith he hath two and twenty good reasons against it from the Fathers, and he is come himself to utter them to your Worship.
Sir Roger . What, shall our Play be spoil'd? I'll have none of his reasons — call in Mr. Inference .
Stave . Sir, he saith he never greatly affected stage Plays.
[ Within .] Stave, Stave, Stave .
Sir Roger . Tell him that I say —
[ Within .] Stave, Stave.
Sir Roger . What, shall the Curate controul me? have not I the presentation? tell him that I will not have my Play spoil'd; nay, that he shall marry the couple himself — I say, he shall.
Stave . The steward hath persuaded him to join their hands in the parlour within — but he saith he will not, and cannot in conscience consent to expose his character before neighbouring gentlemen; neither will he enter into your worship's hall; for he calleth it a stage pro tempore .
Sir Humphry . Very likely; The good man may have reason.
Justice Statute . In troth, we must in some sort comply with the scrupulous tender conscienc'd doctor.
Sir Roger . Why, what 's a Play without a marriage? and what is a marriage if one sees nothing of it? Let him have his humour — but set the doors wide open, that we may see how all goes on. So natural! d'ye see now, neighbours? the ring i'faith. To have and to hold! right again — well play'd, doctor; well play'd, Son Thomas . Come, come, I'm satisfy'd — now for the fiddles and dances.
Steward . Sir Roger , you are very merry.

So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er ,
The dreadful reck'ning, and men smile no more. I wish you joy of your Play, and of your daughter. I had no way but this to repair the injury your son had done my child — she shall study to deserve your favour.
Sir Roger . Married! how married! can the marriage of Filbert and Carrot have any thing to do with my son?
Steward . But the marriage of Thomas and Katherine may, Sir Roger .
Sir Roger . What a plague, am I trick'd then? I must have a stage Play, with a pox!
Sir Humphry . If this speech be in the play, remember the tankard, Sir Roger .
Squire Thomas . Zooks, these stage plays are plaguy dangerous things — but I am no such fool neither, but I know this was all your contrivance.
Justice Statute . Ay, Sir Roger , you told us it was you that gave him the hint.
Sir Roger . Why blockhead! puppy! had you no more wit than to say the ceremony? he should only have married you in rhime, fool.
Squire Thomas . Why, what did I know, ha? but so it is — and since murder will out, as the saying is; look ye father, I was under some sort of a promise too, d'ye see — so much for that — If I be a husband, I be a husband, there 's an end on't. — sure I must have been married some time or other.
Sir Humphry . In troth, it was in some sort my opinion before; it is good in law.
Justice Statute . Good in law, good in law — but hold, we must not lose the dance.