raising a deserving woman to a station she is capable of adorning, let her birth be what it will.

683

S. Har. Why 'tis very true, my lord. I once knew a gentleman that married his cook-maid: he was a relation of my own-You remember fat Margery, my lady! She was a very good sort of a woman, indeed she was, and made the best suet dumplings I ever tasted.

L. Syc. Will you never learn, Sir Harry, to guard your expressions? Well, but give me leave, my lord, to say a word to you-There are other ill consequences attending such an alliance. 693

L. Aim. One of them I suppose is, that I, a peer, should be obliged to call this good old miller fatherin-law. But where's the shame in that? He is as good as any lord, in being a man; and if we dare suppose a lord that is not an honest man, he is, in my opinion, the more respectable character. Come, Master Fairfield, give me your hand; from henceforth you have done with working; we will pull down your mill, and build you a house in the place of it; and the money I intended for the portion of your daughter, shall now be laid out in purchasing a commission for your son.

Ral. What, my lord, will you make me a captain? L. Aim. Ay, a colonel, if you deserve it.

Ral. Then I'll keep Fan.

708

SCENE XII.

Lord AIMWORTH, Sir HARRY, Lady SYCAMORE, PATTY, THEODOSIA, MERVIN, FAIRFIELD, RALPH, GILES.

Giles. Ods bobs, where am I running-I beg pardon for my audacity.

710

Ral. Hip, farmer; come back, mon, come backSure my lord's going to marry sister himself; feyther's to have a fine house, and I'm to be a captain.

L. Aim. Ho, Master Giles, pray walk in; here is a lady who, I dare swear, will be glad to see you, and give orders that you shall always be made wel

come.

Ral. Yes, farmer, you'll always be welcome in the kitchen.

719

L. Aim. What, have you nothing to say to your old acquaintanceCome, pray let the famer salute you-Nay, a kiss-I insist upon it.

S. Har. Ha, ha, ha-hem!

L. Syc. Sir Harry, I am ready to sink at the mon, strousness of your behaviour.

L. Aim. Fye, Master Giles, don't look so sheepish; you and I were rivals, but not less friends at present. You have acted in this affair like an honest Englishman, who scorned even the shadow of dishonour, and thou shall sit rent-free for a twelvemonth.

With your

S. Har. Come, shan't we all salute

leave, my lord, I'll

L. Syc. Sir Harry!

L. Aim.

The.

S, Har.

AIR.

Yield who will to forms a martyr,
While unaw'd by idle shame,
Pride for happiness I barter,
Heedless of the millions blame.
Thus with love my arms I

quarter;
Women grac'd in nature's frame,
Ev'ry privilege, by charter,

Have a right from man to claim.

Eas'd of doubts and fears presaging,
What new joys within me rise !
While mama, her frowns assuaging,
Dares no longer tyrannize,
So long storms and tempests raging,
When the blust'ring fury dies,
Ah! how lovely, how engaging,
Prospects fair, and cloudless skies !

Dad but this is wondrous pretty,
Singing each a roun-de-lay;
And I'll mingle in the ditty,

Tho' I scarce know what to say.
There's a daughter, brisk and witty;
Here's a wife, can wisely sway:
Trust me, masters, 'twere a pity,
Not to let them have their way.
K

Since the fates have thought them meet:

This good company contented,

All my wishes are complete.

THE

SCHOOL FOR FATHERS;

OR,

LIONEL & CLARISSA

COMIC OPERA.

BY ISAAC BICKERSTAFF.

ADAPTED FOR

THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION,

AS PERFORMED AT THE

THEATRES-ROYAL

DRURY-LANE AND COVENT GARDEN.

REGULATED FROM THE PROMPT BOOK,
By Permission of the Managers.

"The Lines distinguished by inverted Commas, are omitted in the Representation.

LONDON:

Printed for the Proprietors, under the Direction of JOHN BELL, British-Library, STRAND, Bookseller to His Royal Highness the PRINCE of WALES,

M DCC XCI.