3358 IA97 Coinan The Musical Lady THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES T HE MUSICAL LADY, A FARC E. Ask is ACTED at the THEATRE-ROYAL in DRURY-LANE, Ri&tw , Chorda qu* femfer oberrat e*dem. Hct> DUBLIN: Frinted for A. LEATHLY, P WILSON, H BRAPL.'.;, VV SLATOR, D- CHAMBER! AIKE, J POTTS, \\ . SMITH, Jun. R. WATTS, VV. V/IIEIS.. &. WATSON. MDCC LXII, PROLOGUE -aaJrg- UPON- PRJ(S 7 L O GUES. Written by Mr. GARRICK. Spoken by Mr. KING. And, 'egad, it will do for any other Play, as well as- this. BAYES, AN old trite Proverb let me quote /' As is your cloth, [o cut your coat, To fuit our Author, and bis Farce, Short let me be ! Jar ivit is [caret. Nor would I jheiv it, bad I any ; 'The rea/ons ivby are flrong and many. Should I have cloaths, or clean linen to pay her a vifn ! Laund. Ah ! Heaven blefs your honour ! if you had but fome of thofe broider'd cloaths, and rings, and watches, and fwords, and fine linen, that I have car- ried to the three blue balls in Fetter Lane, for your honour, you might be dreft out as fine as a lord. That you might, and we had but a trifle, as a body may fay, upon them neither. Majk. Cor.round the Blue Balls! I would pawn myfelr now to raife five guineas. Every thing is at ftake. Laund. Lack-a-day now, how unluckily matters fall out ! I have known the time 1 could have contrived to have lent you ever fo many cloaths and curious linen of fome of my other matters and to be fure, there's his honour 'fquire What d'ye call him, the Weft India gentleman, has a power of fine cloaths, all over gold and filver, but then all his things have been carried to young madam's lodgings' in Hart-ftreet, and he has not been'near chambers thefe three weeks. I have no other gentlemen in town but 'fquire Mac-George, and he has no handfome cloaths except the coat with filver button holes, and he wears that every day himfelf. As for my other matter, Mr. Barefield, poor gentleman, I don't reckon him for he has but one fhirt in the world of his own and that's marked W. M. Mask. 'Sdeath ! what luck To forfeit my hopes when I am within an ace of fuccefs To be the very next ticket to the ten thoufand pounds ! To fcrew her mufical heart juft into right tune, and then to have the things fnap under one's fingers for want of a little rofin ! What can I do ? (loud knocking without.} Ha ! here he is, I dare fay Go to the door - but if it is any body but Mr. Freeman, I am not at home not in town You know nothing of me, d'ye hear ? (Retiring. Laund. I warrant your honour. (Opens the door. Enter Freeman. Mask, (coming forward) O my dear Freeman ! is it B z you? 8 The MUSICAL LADY. you ? I have been on thorns for fear you fhould not come. (LaunJrefs retires into the inner chamber.) Freem. Come ! I have been in fearch of you this hour and thought I ftould have been obliged to go back again without feeing you 1 have been into every nook and corner of the Temple ran through twenty windings and turnings and courts, and lanes, and blind alleys and (hen up as many flairs, as if I had been going to the top of the Monument. Mask. Why I have changed the fcene a little fince I faw you laft, to be fure Elegant chambers! Free- man J have them ready furriifhed you fee Freem, Won't the old gentleman be extremely fur- prized at the vaft progrefs you've made in the law ? Mask. My father! prodigioufly furprized And I expeft him in town everyday But no matter For all my diflrefs, Freeman, I am happy, and even luccefsful My affair with Sophy goes on fwim- rningly. Freem. Tflia, Is that al 1 ? - A Mtifica-1 Lady! I would as foon take the Savoyard girl for a wife, with no other portion than her cymbal. Mask. Ay, buf my miflrefs's lyre is flrung with gold, you know. Thirty thoufand in her own difpofal h Be- iides, I dare fay this paffion for mufic is but one of the irregular appetites of virginity : You hardly ever knew a lady lo devoted to her harplicord, but fhe fuffered it to go out of tune after matrimony. Freem. This is all mighty pretty in theory But even fuppofing that you can fo eafily reconcile you-rfelf to all her airs and crotchets, I fee very little profpecl of her being fo enamoured of you. Majk. To the very brink of defperation and matri- mony. Freem. What ! marry you ? fhe never will, depend on it. Majk. O you're miftaken You have too high an opinion of her understanding, and too mean a one of mine. Sophy is like one of her own inftruments: it re- quires fome fkill to manage her, I confefs. But I am a connoifleur in the art, and know every one of her flops. Freem. Her flops? ha! ha! That would be a mighty The M U S T C A L L A D Y. 9 mighty pretty conceit, if you was to carry on your courtfhip in mufic. Mafk. And why not? Love, perhaps, may as well be fung as faid, and is hardly more ridiculous one way than the other ; not to mention that it is the only way of fucceeding with Sophy. It is true indeed that notwith- ftanding her rage after the gamut, fhe knows little more of mufic than I doj yet I am fo well convinced of the violence of her attachment to every thing that is mufical and Italian, that I fhould hardly be lurprized at her mar- riage with one of the Sopranos at the opera. Freem. Ay, but as I take it, Mafic, you have no opera talents. Yor can neither fing, play, nor talk Itar lian. Majk. No but I can admire a fine finger, and be in raptures at an air or a chorus; and as for Italian, J have juft gleaned enough of the language to fprinkle my con- verfation with it, as readily as many a fafhionable cox- comb, who has made the tour of Italy. Freem. So your principal recommendations are necef- fity and the bon front Hey ! George ! Well, fuc- cefs attend you ! Majk. I tell you, I am fure of her. I have made fome pretty intelligible overtures to her already, which have been received not unfavourably. I have played off the complete virtuofo upon her, and (he fuppofes me to be very lately returned from Rome. I have been thrown into raptures and mufical extafies and cried UtforeW divino ! and anchora ! louder than herfelf. But that which, I plainly perceive, weighs mod with her, is a ridiculous propofal I have made to carry her over to Italy directly after our marriage. In fliort I have touched the principal ftring, the mafter key of her foul. Nay, /he has even declared that I am a bell' ca- waliero, and a perfon of infinite gufto What do you think of that, Freeman? Freem. Why, I think the only thing you have to do is to follow her up with fpirit. Majk. And fo I have nay, I have even gone fo far, as to frighten her with the apprehenfions of lofing me. Freem. A dreadful fentence ! But how ? i.. By a pretended match with a lady in the coun- B 3 try, io The MUSICAL LADY, try, which, I have told her, my father is determined to force me into ; and that I expefthim in town every day to conclude the bufinefs with his eounfel. Freem. Make hafte then, and conclude your own bu- finefs with her before he really arrives. VYhy don't you vifit her ? Mask. Vifit her! So I have again and again. Jam honoured with her particular commands for this very morning: and did not doubt of making this my laft vifir. But fome fmaU impediments, I was afraid, would have prevented ray waiting on her. for this week paft, my affairs have been, as you may perceive, in fome little confufion I, you fee, am rather in difha- bille. Freem. Ha, ha, ha .' - This is, altogether, as droll; an amour, and as whimlica! a piece of ccumfhip, a -s ever I heard of. Mask. So much the better The oddity of it charms me. I hate your Strephons and Chloes, your fentimen- tal lovers, fighing and languishing for two years to- gether. Freem. Well but your commands for me ! TeH me in two words, What is it you want ? < Mask. In two words then every thing. Freem. I'm glad on't. Mask. Howfo? Freem. Becaufe every thing in my power is entirely &*. your fervice. Mask, My beft Freeman ! Freem. Come then Away with me this inftanf, or you'll be too late You fKall drefs foi your part at my houfe, and fee now that you play it with fpirit. Mask. Never doubt it Ten thoufand thanks, my dear Freeman ! Some other circumftances of this affair, as well as my conjugal plan, I'll acquaint you with, as we go along. I'll be with her in lefs than half an hour, and make love to fome tune, I warrant you. [Exeunt, Enter Laundrefs, from the inner room, -with a paper and a bottle. Laund. Ah, the times are fadly changed with my poor The MUSICAL LADY. M poor matter here! I have known the day I' eould have carried things enow from chambers to keep my whole family. But now, if I was to take fo much as an end of candle, poor gentleman ! he muft go to bed in the dark* The only things I can find are thefe leav- ings of a quartern of Bohea, and the bottom of a bottle of rum. Hard times for poor folks ! And yet, give him his due he's a noble gentleman, that I muft fay for him. When he has it, away it goes, and every body's the better for it. Ah, blefs him, he is the no- bleft matter I ever had in my life. But thefe confound- ed gaming people cheat him of every thing. [Exit with the paper and lottlt. SC E N E, a Room in Sophy'; houfe. Enter Sophy, and Lady, Scrape. Sop. O Piano ! my dear lady Scrape, Piano f The Opera is my darling amufement* it's true. I am infi- nitely concerned at their difcord But I can never think of endeavouring to bring Signior Staccato and the dear Caprice loan accommodation on fuch mean con- ditions. Lady Scrape. Mean conditions! Surely, furely, Mifs Sophy, a falary of a thoufand pounds with an agreement to provide her a houfe ready furnifhed -* to keep her a coach and a French cook and a Ro- mifh chaplain into the bargain, are no fuch defpicable offers for one feafon's performance. And as to Signor Staccato, the terms prOpofed are Sop. Nothing to what they have had abroad: Are not they the praife aivd admiration of all Europe? Were not they loaded with prefents by alt the Nobles at Venice? Univerfally carefled at Naples entertain- ed in the moft fumptuous manner by the Prince of Wit- temberg, taken under the immediate protection of the Emprefs at Vienna, admired at Paris, adored at BrufleJs and treated with the utmoft refpect in every country but our own ? O the Goths and Vandals ! L. Scrape. Pardon me, Mifs Sophy ! thefe perfor- mers, I believe-, have been no where better received, OT iz The MUSICAL LADY, or met with more encouragement. Signor Ela, the di- rector, my Lord and Lady Minum, Myfelf, Madam, and many other Subfcribers to the Opera, think the conditions offered at leaft equal to their merit. Sop. Oh, their merit is above all recompence. They are a perfect treafure of tafte and vertu f O the dear Caprice! Such cadences! fuch foflenutos ! - and her graces, (hakes, flurs, and trilloes ravifhing be- yond expreffion ! And then Signor Staccato's execu- tion! What enchanting tones? what a noble forte!' what a tender piano f and fuch amazing harpegia- turas f The very foul of harmony feems to breathe from the inftrurnent. L. Scrape. Their merit ought indeed to be very ex- traordinary, to come in the leaft degree of comparifon: with their infolence. Sop. Infolence! your ladyfhip knows they are incapa- ble of it. L. Scrape. I wifh I did, Madam! Has not the Ca- price more than once affronted the whole town ? Has not (he difappointed them in the grofleft manner and lefufed to fing even on the Opera nights ? Sop. Accident and indifpofition. l^oi amanfi, &c. [Humming a tune ivit/j affeded indijje renc e. L. Scrape. And has not Signor Staccato laid by the compofitions of the beft matters for the fake of his own- concertos ? Sop. Ravifhing concertos ! L. Scrape. And has he not at laft thrown the whole Orcheftra into diforder and confufion ? Sop. Refentment and great provocation ! La la ]a la , &c. [Humming. L. Scrape. Nay, is it not notorious to the whole world, Madam, that their infolence is owing merely ta the great encouragement they have received, and that they depend entirely Sop. Moderate ! Moderate ! Madam Your Lady- fhip's abfolutely in alt. L. Scrape. In alt! Madam? Sop. Yes, in Alt Give me leave to tell your Lady- fliip, that you have raifed your voice a full Odave higher fince you came into the room. But to no purpofe The- The M U S I C A L L A D Y. 13 The director of the Opera, and the Opera itfelf, fhall fuffer for it Signer Staccato and the Caprice (hall perform no where but in my houfe, and thofe of a few other perfons ofgufto Nay, we'll have a Concert eve- ry Opera night every Opera night, Madam L. Scrape. Mighty well ! Madam. Sop. Which will demolifli his entertainment, and ruin his fubfcription. L Scrape O you may find yourfelf deceived, Madam, r Signer Ela, and thole of the Nobility, who in- sert themfelves in this affair, are not without refburces A foreign minifter's Lady has fent over for hands and voices fuperior lo your friends, Madam befides, Madam, let me tell you that Signora Trebletti is reco- vered of her cold; yes, Madam, Signora Trebletti is recovered of he'r cold, and we don't doubt of pro- viding a moft exquifue Opera, without the affiftance of either Signer Staccato or the Caprice. [Exit. Sof>. Oh the Tramontane creature ! But I'll not fuffer her to diiconce^ the-harmony of my temper Here, Signor Rofini Enter Rcfin. Give rre the Viol-di-Gambo a leflon on the Bafs will compofe my mind [Tunes the inftrument, and turns over fever a I pieces of muftc. \ Well, I declare now this little Venetian ballad- tune, which ivlr. Mafk has brought over with him, is let with an infinite deal of tafte and there is a moft fprightly extravaganza in the words he has adapted to it Signor Rolini, pleafe to take the in- ftrument I'll O over this air and do you accom- pany me on the Viol-di Gambo. SONG. Love's a fweet and foft Mun'cian, Who derives his fkill from thed Plays on every difpofition, Strikes the foul on ev'ry key. Deep Defpair now thrums Adagio* Lively Hope now founds-Corragio. O the ravilhing tranfition ! Tweedle Dum and TweedJe Dee. Enter 14 The MUSICAL LADY. Enter Servant. Ser. Madam the man is below with the Monica. Sop. The what? Ser. I forgot the name, Ma'am but it is a fet Of mufical glafles, that you befpoke laft week. Sof>. O, the Armonica. I am ravifhed to hear it Bid the Monica come up Poor fellow ! And d'ye hear tell them to get every thing ready for a Con- cert in the hall this morning And d'ye hear, I am at home to nobody but Mr. Mafk And hid them lay the Guitar and the Viol d'amour on the Harpficord I fhall make ufe of them both [Exit Servant.] Signor Rofini ! will you be fo good as to look over the fcores, and fee that the inftruments are in tune and every thing in order I expect a great Virtuofo this morning a complete judge of Compofition and a perfect matter of the Contra-punto So pray be careful! [Exit Rofin. I am aftonifhed Mr. Mafk is not come yet well, I fwear he s a charming creature He hits my unifon to a miracle if he did but fmg he would be a moll: complete Virtuofo. [Sings.] I proteft I am quite in voice to-day [Sings.] Lord I wifh he was here I lhall abfolutely ravifh him. [Exitftnging. End of the Firjl A3. ACT II. SCENE, Sophy'; Hou/e. Enter Sophy, and Mafk. A Y, now, I am fure you flatter me Is my ftile fo truly Italian ? Have I quite got rid of the horrid Englifh cadence? Mask. Let me die, Madam, if your whole conver- fation and behaviour do not make me fancy myfelf in Italy The MUSICAL L 'A D Y. 15 Italy Signora Lorenza at Florence was the very type of you. Sof. Well, I fwear now, you are almoft the only creature one meets with in this barbarous country that has the leaft tafte Our travelling gentry either return from the tour of Europe as meer Englifh boors as they went John Trot ftill or come home at beft mere 1 French petit maitres But as to Italy, not one of them but Signor Mafquali Mafquali ! how very foft and prettily that founds now f You muft give me leave to call you Mafquali inftead of plain Mafk, with a vile Englifh K in it O fie it might as well have been an X a perfon that has any ear can't endure it. Mask. Mafquali! The moft beautiful refinement in the world! But now 1 think of it, your name, Ma- dam, may admit of fome improvement too. Sophy is, to be lure the prettieft of Englilh names ; yet it is too near Molly, and Betfy, and Bridget, and Alice to dif- tinguifh you. What d'ye think I would wifli to call you ? Sop. I long to know What ? Mask. I would call you then I am fure you'll like it THE SOFHINI. Sop. THE SOPHINI ! I am pleafed with it prodigi- oufly the fweeteft concetto ! 'The Sophini ! But. pray, Signor, for I will call you Signer--- was not you charmed at the concerto laft week ? -.- The Ca- price was amazing, and great beyond expreflion in the long of Fonti Amicbe. [Singing. Mask. The ftile of that air was excellent. The chro- matico I remember. But pray now tell me tru- ly, (taking her tenderly by the hand.') were there not fome ftrokesof your compofition in it ? I know all the Virtuofi confultyou on thefe occafions I thought I could ditcern your manner. Come, confefs, 1 am fure it was fo. Sop. Nay, now P'fhah you know that I never and yet (fmiling and languijbing ) You have an infinite deal of tafte you have indeed I was always reckoned remarkable for the chromatico. (conceitedly. Mask. That air was ravilhing. But you muft oblige me with it yourfelf. 16 The M U S I C A L L A D Y. Sop. What after the Caprice? not for the World. Mask. I (hall die if you refufe me. (tenderly. Sop. Lard ! How can you be fo troublefome ? (langttijbitigly.) Stay ! la-la-la-la (as tuning.} Lord, bow hoarfe I am ! --- I have a moft terrible cold. Come, begin ! (to the Mufick.) but pray be careful of the accompagninenti. Adagio, ma non troppo. (Jings an Italian air. Fonti Amicht, Aure leggier e, Mormorando-, KuJJurrando, Voi mi dite, Che io godro. During the fang Maik exclaims* Divino ! fquifito ! braviflimo! &c. Sop. And you really think it is let prettily, (conceitedly. Mask. Delightfully ! con amore, Madam and fung --- O heavens ! Sop. O, you're too good to me And yet, ha ! ha ! And yet, I hope it is a little better than the horrid 'Englifh ballad-finging. Mask. Englifh ballad finging! O the ridiculous idea ! - To hear a huge fellow with a rough horrible voice roaring out, O the roaft beef of old England! Or a pale faced chit of a girl, when lome country neigh- bour afks her in company, " Pray, Ma'am, could yoa " favour us with Go, Rofe /" No, Sir, not that, but " another if you pleafe ;" and then begins fcreaming, Jf love's a fiveet paffion, fqualling to the antient Britifh melody of the bag pipe, the Welch harp, and the dulcimer. Sop. Horrible! ha! ha! ha ! horrible! What a picture of Englifli talte ! --- Oh --- the people here are all downright Goths. Mask. Abfolute favages - An Englifh catch, a Scotch jigg, and an Irifh howl are ail their ideas of harmony Their voices are a fcale of diicord - Mufick oh mufick flourishes nowhere but in Italy. Sop. O ravifhing Italy !--- I'd give the \vorldtobe there The MUSICAL LADY. 17 there 'Tis a heaven upan earth the land ofGu/lo, Verlu, and Felicitd. Majk. Oh ! what would I give to have the happinefs of trar.fporting fo ineftimable a treafure as the Sophini t to that region of tafte ! Suffer me to renew the fuic I have fo often urged to you ! Let me, nay you rnuft let me, attend you thither. Sop. Nay ptithee now \languijhing. Mask. Such tafte ! fuch voice ! fuch execution ! Hea- vens, Madam ! you would be the admiration of all the Conofcenti Nay, tho' a lady, 1 make no doubt but you would receive honours from the academy della Crufca. Sop. Lord ! I proteft now You put me quite into confufion For heaven's fake Mask. O fee me at your feet ! Take pity on me ! upon yourfelf ! Confider my rifle of lofing you by that horrid country-match I told you of! Fly, O, let us fly from this Gothic country, and take refuge in Italy ! and permit your Mafquali to attend you L as your faithful Cicijbei Sop. Let me beg, Sir ! Mask. Take him for your humble Cicerone, to fhevr you the beauties of the place Sop. Pray now ! Maik. Your Nomenclatore to introduce you to the vir- Sop. How can you be fo ? Mask. Take him I won't fliock your ear with the Englifti found of Huiband but what is more foft and tender Take him for youry/>o/o / your cart jpofo. Sop. Lord ! this is fo ftrange But (lay ! let me order Rofini to get the band in order ! You have not had the mufick I promifed you this morning. Mask. Oh, I am too impatient to delay my fupremc happinefs on any confideration. We can have the mu- fick afterwards. So/>. Afterwards? Signor? [fomenubat angrily. Mask. Yes, my dear Sophini, afterwards. And then, you know, it may ferve for a wedding concert We may have it by way of a concerto nuttiale What d'ye think of that ? C Stf. i8 The MUSICAL LADY. Sop. A concerto nuttiale f Oh heavens! I am tranf- ported with the thought To have the fingular plea- lure of celebrating my marriage with a Pafticcio made up of the choiceft pieces of my own compofition ! What yould infpire you with fo divine an imagination ? The very idea abfolutely overcomes me. Mask. And you confent to make me happy Come then ! my foul is on the wing Let us away thisinftant! Sop. What can I do ? Well after all - there is fomething fo tender (o-ajfeltuofo in your manner! G you wicked creature ! I wifh I could refufe you? Mask. O the mufic of the found ! O cara ! earn ! [KiJ/ing her hand. Sop. But on condition we go directly to Italy. Mask. Immediately. The ceremony may be perform- ed to-day, this hour, and we may leave England to-morrow. Oh ! with what pleafure do I change my ftate, and leave this barbarous country to attend the So~ fbini to Italy ! Farewell! Old England! liberty! ettutto! Hail foreign climes ! and marriage benvenuto ! [Exeunt. SCENE changes to the Temple nvoJks. Enter Old Mafk. So fo fo! tricked, cheated, impofed on, fool - ej and bamboozled by an ungracious rogue of a fon ! a young knave ! with his letters about fpecial arguments at Weftminfter, and tryals at Guildhall, and his fto- ries of circuits and feflions, and his jargon from Plowden and Coke. Ods-my-life ! I am in fuch a paflion I could knock down every man I meet with for very anger. Enter Freeman. Freem. Blefs me ! is not that old Mr. Mafk ? Your fervant, Sir ! you're welcome to town. O.Mask. O your fervant, Sir! Your mod humble fervant ! So your friend George is ruined, I find. George, The MUSICAL LADY. 19 George, Sir, your old cror>y, and fchool-fellow George is undone. Freem. Heaven forbid ! O. Mask. What? you know nothing of the matter^ hey .' you're not acquainted with the pranks he has play'd Not you to be fure ! Here have beerr rare doings! Fine ftudies at the Temple! A new a- bridgment of the law! Freem. So all's out, I find, [d/tile.] Pleafe to ex- plain, Sir ! Have you feen your Ion ? have you been at his chambers? O. Mask. Chambers! chambers, d'ye call them ? Kennels, dog-holes. I purchafed him a handfome- fet of chambers in King's Bench walk, as handfome as any in the Temp!e--Ay and furnifhed them as hand- fomely. But the young man is removed, ] find : and where ? why, into a blind alley, a dark cor- ner of the Inns of Court, up four pair of flairs, in- to a couple of vile fhelving garrets, where I could fcarce ftand upright, or find a chair to fit down with a worfe fmell than the county gaol, and a beautiful profpefl into White Friars. And then his ftudy! A hundred and fifty pounds worth of law books I gave- him all neatly bound in white calf's fkin", gone ! The duce a law book has he in the world but Littleton's Tenures in duodecimo, and the Game laws fewed in blue paper, which, with an odd volume of Triftram Shandy, fome loofe pamphlets and news-pa- pers, and fix or feven (helves of empty bottles, make up the whole of his library. An extravagant profligate !: Freem. Ha! ha, ha ! I fee, fir, you have taken an exaft inventory of his effects. But this is nothing. Almoft every young fellow falls into diftrefTes one time or other. An over-provident farther makes a prodi- gal (on. You kept him too bare of money you did* indeed, fir ! O. Mask. Money ! did not I give him a profeffion? did not I put him to the law ! Ods-my-life ! the riches, that by pains and application, he might have got by his profeffion Freem. His profeffion! ha, ha, ha! that's incom- parable. His profeffion ! Ah, my dear fir, the pro C 2. 20 The MUSICAL LADY. feffion and he will never be a whit the better for each other. The law is a noble itudy, it is true, fol- lowed by feveral learned and worthy men. O. Mask A fure road to wealth and preferment Freem. Very true, fir, but your fon could as foon bring himfelf to take a purfe upon the road, as follow the road to riches, which you have chalked out for him. O. Mask. Never tell me, I know that with his talents, he might have done what he pleafed. George has lively parts. An abandoned profligate I- to ruin himfeif ! And was always a fmart lad, a keen fhrewd young rogue ! A fool to throw him- felf away ! and might have got into practice and high reputation, and made a fortune by his profelTion. Freem. Never! take my word for it. It is not his turn not in the leaft his talent. Diametrically op- pofite to his genius and difpofition. Lively parts ! a fine notion ! as if becauie he can diftinguifh black from white, he fhould be able' to confound black and white with each other. O. Mask. He has ruined himfelf by his idlcnefs and extravagance. Ah, what a profpefl has he loft! Had he lluck to his iludies, and made a figure at the bar, we might have got him a feat in parliament, and then of coarte a filk gown, and then, by degrees, the follicitor-generalfliip, and then the attorney-ge- neralftip, and then a judge or a chief juftice, and then, ods my life, he might have been as great a man as my lord Coke himfelf. Freem. Oh rare ! there's the true logick of every fa- ther in the kingdom ! There is not a country farmer, who fends his fon a fervitor to the univerfity, but what promifes himfelf the honour of lawn fleeves in his fa- mily. O. Mafk. Weil, well, it dees not fignify talk- ing. I'il never acknowledge him as long as I live. - Neglect his ftudies ! his goods feized ! over head and ears in debt ! a wretch ! a vagabond ! a prodigal ! Freetn. Oh! moderate your anger! If he is in dillrefs, you'll relieve Kim ; if he has any debts, you'll pay them, and then all's well again. 0. MasL The MUSICAL LADY. *i O. Majk. Me! I'll not advance a penny let him go to gaol let him ftarve I'll never fee his face a- gain. Freem. You will, I am fure. O. Majk. Never J'll difinherit him Iwon't leave him a groat I'll cut him off with a Shilling. He'* ruined for ever. Freem. He'll make his fortune. O. Majk. He's undone; Freem. He's made for ever. O. Majk. He'll be liang'd Freem. He's married. O. Majk. Who! what! when! where! fcow! Freem. He's married. O. Mask. Married ! to whom ? Freem. To a lady of fortune rich, young, and> handfome A girl with thirty thoufand pound in hand money, Mr. Mafk. O. Mask. What! -George?: Freem Yes, George. O. Mask. George ! married ! whep ? Freem.^ Within this halt" hour. O. Mask. To thirty thoufand ? Freem. And better. O. Mask. Indeed ! well faid, George, Ffaith. He's a fine boy I knew he would do He was al- ways an arch rogue . But how d'ye know ? Freem. I'm fure on't he difpatched one of my own fervants to me with the intelligence My chaiiot car- ried them to church. O. Mask. Excellent ! he's a rare fellow I'll leave him every farthing 1 have in the %vorld I'll fettle But who is this lady ? Where dees flie live ? Freem. If you pleafe, Sir I'll conduct vou to the houfe perhaps we may arrive there before their re- turn and he (hall prefent you with your lair daugh- ter-in-law as a peace offering O. Mask Come along then ! It flvill go hard but I'll- dance at t/ie young route's wedding I'll fettle- five hundred. a ytar on the licit bo/ Did net I tell yon. he was a f.:mi lad, and would thihe in the. wori:)-? C 3. O.V- 2 z The M U S I C A L L A D Y. Ods-my-life ftrip him ftark naked, and throw him into the fea, he would rife up again with a fvvord and bag wig. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to the Hall at Sophy's Muficians Mujtc (lands and every thing prepared for a Concert. Rofin. Come! are the fcores all right ? are you all ready in your parts ? Singer. I'm afraid, we're not quite perfeft in this ftrange Trio which Mr. Mafk has left with us. Rojin. Strange Trio, d'ye call it ? Let me fee [ Reads the paptr. And, alfo, nor, neither, For, becaufe, or, either ; I But, that, although, therefore, If, yet t unlefs, 'wherefore. Very pretty words, and extremely mufical ! Suppofe you run them over you'll have time enough. Singer. With all my heart. The TRIO. Words by Dr. BUSBY. Mufic by Mr. BATTISHULL. And, alfo, nor, neither, For, becaufe, or, either ; But, that, although, therefore, Jf, yet, unlefs, ivherefore. Towards the End of the Song, enter OLD MASK and FREEMAN. O. Mask. Ods-my-life! A very handfome houfe What a magnificent tide-board of plate in the parlour we came thro' ! Fretm. The MUSICAL LAD Y. 23 Freem. Oh ! Sir. you'll find every thing agreeable to your wifhes, and the Account I have given you. O. Mask. But is ihe fo mufical ? d'ye fay ? . Freem. Hift ! they're here Let us retire a-while ! * Enter Mafk and Sophy. Sop. Di due belle alme (imanti, &c. [Singing^ Freem. {advancing.} How now, Maik? May we give you joy? You're married, I hope. Mafk. Ay-ay raft enough, Freeman. Sophy. O yes married in a filthy church without art- organ in it.- But, Signer Mafquali ! d'ye know that gentleman ? (Seeing Old Mafk, ivho advances.) Mafk. My Father ! I'll carry it through, boldly however, [dftde.} You fee, my dear, I told you he would be in town. [To Sophy. J This is a pleafure 1 had not flatter'd myfelf in the expectation of Give me Jeavtf, Sir, to prefent you with this Lady whom I have juft now had the bappincfs to make my wife, and your daughter. O. Majh. Madam, I give you joy and my fon joy and myfelf joy - I have heard of all your pranks, George; and if you had not overcome me with this agreeable furprize -- Ods-my life, I fhould have taken you foundly to tafk, I can tell you. [//fart to Majk. Sop. Well, I proteft I am glad to fee fo much good company. I have a Concerto ready -- you will be ra- viflied with it --all the airs are of my own compofuion. O. Mask. A Concert! --- With fubmiflion, Ma'am, a good country dance would make us a thoufand times merrier. Odsmy-life! give me but a lively partner, and I'll crofs over r and figure in, and right-hand and left till fix in the morning. --- Toll de roll, de roll. [Singinfr a dance- tune. Sop. O rnonfirous ! Signer Malquali, d'ye hear ? Is it polfible this can be a father of yours, and have lo lit- tle gufto ? O. Mask. His father ? Yes, Ma*am, and you'll find him his father's own fon, I believe --- a chip of the old block, I promiie you. i Sop. Oh ! he's the very abftraft of /'V/w -- O. Mask. , The MUSICAL LADY, O. Mask. Yes yes -- George has virtue enough for that matter. Sop. Vertu Gujlo Mufical Tafte, Sir ! j O. Mask, What, George? Sop. A complete Conofcente O. Mask. My Son ? Sop. A moft excellent judge of flile and eompofition. O. Mask. He ! Sop. And a perfon of the niceft ear in the world. O. Mask. O dear ! O dear ! O dear ! What has the young rogue made you believe that he underftands mu- fick? Sop. Oh Sir ! I am not eafily deceived in thofe par- ticulars. . [Conceitedly. O. Mask. A fly dog! -He was always an arch rogue ha, ha, ha, ha ! Why this is all a Barn, Madam ! Sop. A Bam? Sir! what d'ye mean? O Mask. The young rogue has played on us both, Ma'am ! Tafte ! He knows no more of Vertu, as you call it, than, I find he does of the Law. A fly dog ! Mufick ! He! why, he has no notion or a tune beyond Derry doivn, or the hundredth Pfalm. As to finging, he has no more mufical notes in his voice than a Cuckow And the ear is, I believe, the laft part of the human frame by which he would chuie to be diftin- guiflied. Sop. Nay now, Sir, you carry your raillery too far. I am too well acquainted with his accomplifhments. Don't 1 know that he mixt with all the Vrrtuofi in Italy? Does not he abominate filthy Englifh, and idolize dear Italian ? And is not he juft returned from being the object of publick admiration at Rome?- *O. Mask. Rome! George been at Rome! Wha< has he perluaded you into that too ? ha, ha, ha, ha! An arch dog ! [Laughing heartily.] Whv,. Ma'am,, he never was out of England in. his life. He knows no more of Rome than the Pope does of my feat ia Wiltshire Sop. How ! O, Mask. And as to Italian, he is not acquainted with twenty. Words of the language $&. The MUSICAL LADY. 25 Sp. Impoi'fible ! O.Mask I tell you, Ma'am, again and again, it's all a Bam upon you George is an arch rogue, and has been too hard for us both ha, ha, ha, ha ! [Maflc winks and makes ftgns to him. Ah f what fignifies your winking and nodding to me? < Isn't it all true ? firrah ! Sap. And do you confefs this charge ? Sir ! \to Mask. Mask. Guilty, upon my honour ! Before marriage, as I faw it pleafed you, ! was content to feem an Italian ; but now, my love, you fhali find rr.e a true Briton, 1 promise you. 0. Mask. Look ye there ! did not I tell you fo ? ha, ha, ha, ha ! 1 Sop. Nay now. Sir, I fee you are in jeft for I'm convinced that Sighor Mafquali IWask. Mafquali ! Maflc. Maflc is my name, my dear ! and your name too thanks to the parfon. Sop. Maflc ! I ihail never bear to be called Maflc Mrs. Mafk ! Such an unmufical appellation ! I fhall never endure it. Mask. Yes, yes, you will endure it very well ; and a great deal more too, 1 warrant you. Sop. Why, furely, Signor ! Mask. Signor ! I am no Signor. Mr Mafk or, if you pJeafe, George Mafk - an En^lifli Gentle- man worth twenty Marquifes from France, or Counts from Italy. O. Mask. Ods-my life [ he'll fret her guts to fiddle- fhings. Sop. And you are really no firtuofo ? not a peifon of ' guflo. Mask. In nothing, Ma'am, but in my paffion for you. Sop. Aftonifhing ! I fhall flill have one conlblation however and that a great one I fhall have the plea- fure of forming your tafle myfelf and as a good lellbn I'll have the Concerto performed immediately. Where are all my people ? Here Roftni ! Caprice ! Scrapelli ! Squeelalli ! [Calling the Singers. O. Mask. Ods-my-life, the whole kernel ! Silver and Truman ! Svveetjips and Dido ! 26 The MUSICAL LADY. Sop. Ah Tramontanil what horrible difcord ! no- thing but the performance of my Concerto Mask Come, come, my dear Sophy, we'll have no Concerto nothing Italian We'll celebrate cur nup- tials after the old Englifh fafhion Sop. What! Mask. I'll give away five guineas to the bell-tin gers Sop. Horrible! Mask. All the fervants fliall go roaring drunk to bed Sop. Monftrous ! Mask. And to-morrow morning, my love, you fhall be roufed with the drums, and the ttue Britifh Sere- nade of marrow-bones and cleavers Sop. Barbarous and horrible ! is this the Affettuo'fo Mafquali? Is this the tender Spofo? Mask. Englifh ! my dear Sophy, fpeak Englifh for Heaven's fake ! I can converfe in no other language. Sop. How am I deceived and impofed on? And don't you intend to carry me to Italy ? Majk. To Italy! ridiculous! No, no, my love, we'll ftay here in the comfortable enjoyment of beef, liberty, and Old England. Sop. Difappointed in every thing ! deluded ! cajoled ? coaxed! Wheedled into a marriage with a horrid En- glifh _ ^ Mask. Have a care, 'Jophy ! no hard words to your lord and hufband ! Sop. Hufhanrl ! I fhall faint at the found. Freem. Have patience, Madam ! and reconcile your- felf to your fituation ! To be laugh'd out of one's fol- lies, is the beft and moft agreeable method of being cured of them. O. Mask. Ods-my-life, daughter! - I have a right to call you daughter now --- Down on your knees, and thank heaven that you have had fuch an efcape ! Why it was a thoufand to one but what you had married a fidler You have met with one of the archeft young rogues ia the world. I'll anfwer for it, that his fortune fhall be little inferior to your own. --- and I warrant that he will make the beft of hufbands. Sop. Beft of hufbands, indeed ! and deny me the en- joyment of mufick and Veriu. Mask. The M U S I C A L L A D Y. 27 Mask. That, my deareft Sophy, (hall be almoft the only thing I will deny you. And you will thank me hereafter for oppofing a foible, which eclipfed your good fenfe, and ferved only to make you ridiculous Nay more, to convince you that I can endure thejfound of an inftrument do but defer your concert till the even- ing, you fliall invite what company you pleafe, and my father may be indulged with his country- dance after- wards into the bargain. O. Mask Afterwards? 'We'll have a dance now Away with your mufic-ftands and big-bellied bafs- viols, and let the fiddles ftrike up here, and call in your fingers and go down the dance with us. Mask. With all my heart But I have more won- ders for you. Sop. What d'ye mean! Mask. I'll (hew you - Rojini ! [To Rofin, ivbo advance!. Rof. Signor! Mask. Signor !- don't Signor me, puppy. Sophy, do you know this gentleman ? Sop. Nobody better ; it is fignor Rojini. Mask. See now, how eafy it is to impofe on you. He is as great a cheat as myfelf. This is no fignor Rofi- ni ! but honed Jack Rofin, from Comus his court ; one of the choice fpirits, the chief leader in all MY concertos, and by my direction he crept into your pay as fignor Rofini. Sop. Indeed ! I muft fairly own that this l?.ft cir- currftance mortifies me, and makes me more afhamed of my mufical attachment than all the reft. To be duped by Mr. Rofin, is too palpable a weaknefs not to be repented ! But now, Sir, if I confent to lower my note, (to make ufe of a mufical phrafe once more) may I not hope that you will lower your note too ? Mask. In every particular that does not hurt your fortune or injure your charafter, you (hall find me the tendered and moft compliant of hufbands. And now, Sophy, do but chearfully refign this one foible, we fliall be the happieft couple in Great Britain. And though there 2 8 The MUSICAL LADY. there has been fome little difcord between us at firft, we (hall agree for the future as well as bafs and treble. And give me leave to congratulate you, that inftead of Signer MASQJJALI, you have got honeft GEORGE MASK. THE END. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 10w-ll,'50(2555)470 TTfE LIBRARY U3SfIVEI?fVT OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ay PAMPHLET BINDER X? / / IIHIIIIIIII Mill Hill III" III" "l"" Lj ay lord E= A 000 000 837 5 acuse, N. Y. ckton, Calif.